Sunday, May 19, 2013

May 18, 2013: 9th Avenue International Food Festival

Date: May 18, 2013
Event: 9th Avenue International Food Festival
Cost: FREE to get in; cost of food varied depending on what you got
Summary: A Feast for the eyes as well as the stomach.

This week. I’m telling you, this week. Amazing just kind of New York day on Tuesday, TNT upfronts Wednesday, USA upfronts Thursday, then Saturday brought the first day of a two-day huge street food festival. It was 15 blocks (from 42nd St to 57th St) on 9th Avenue lined with booths of food and other vendors (though mostly just food), with many of the restaurants along 9th Ave participating.

For more official information, you can check out their website here: 9th Ave Int. Food Festival
http://ninthavenuefoodfestival.com/

For my own experience, read on. For it was true feast for the senses. Most of the food was prepped right on the street so there were smells and sounds of sizzling, the food itself looked marvelous, the cookie I had *tasted* marvelous, everyone was out walking and eating all sorts of tasty morsels, the NYPD were out keeping us safe and everyone seemed to be having a yummy and fun time.




This post will mostly be pictures, lots and lots of pictures. The cookie I mentioned earlier (and a handful of free kettle corn they were giving out) was the only food I actually ate. I know it seems strange to go to a food festival just to take photos, but that’s the way I roll.

Anyway, let me first give you a little feel for what it all looked like.

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Impressive, no? Yep, that’s what 15 blocks of food festival looks like. YUM!

Most of the cross streets were closed, but some remained open, so officers were posted there. They’re so photogenic. :D

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And this little scene, ugh, this little scene. This was an old gentleman wearing a Yankees cap and carrying a cane, holding court with several officers. Such a wonderful snapshot that just captures the neighborhood feel New York, as big as it is, frequently has.

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The Restaurants
As I said, many restaurants along 9th Ave participated. Some of them just had a simple booth, but some really seemed to do it up. I’m not sure if all of these are actually 9th Ave restaurants (though many are) but these are a number of the booths that I liked the most.

Thai: I was most just intrigued by the “Thai Pastrami Meatball” on the menu.
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Cajun: The Delta Grill brought out some live music, even. Fun!
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Cuban: I just liked the name “Empanada Mama”
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BBQ: Love the mascot, BBQues!
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Japanese: Interesting. They had one filled with boiled octopus. I passed on it.
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Texas: The Flaming Saddles Saloon. Awesome.
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BBQ: Great name, great use of what appears to be a real, working, stoplight!
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Southern: They really did it up with the bay hales. Well played, Southern Hospitality.
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Italian Portugese: How can one resist saying out loud “MMMMMMeatBalls” when one sees this sign?
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The Eaters
The other fun thing to observe (other than the food) were the people attending the festival. Every other person it felt like sometimes was walking past you with some sort of dish in their hand (or in their mouth). And they all appeared to be enjoying their dishes!

Chocolate covered strawberries on a stick. NOM.
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Is there anything more American than sharing a plate of pirogues in front of a pina colada stand?
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I almost stole these people’s food.
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NOM!
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This one just made me laugh because THAT POOR DOG! LOL, it was just hoping for something, anything, to get dropped.
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THE FOOD
And then, of course, was THE FOOD. The whole point of the festival. And boy was there FOOD!

Thai food (Thai noodles)
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Spanish Food (paella)
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Bloomin’ Onions (I’m going to go with Australian food for that one, lol)
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Greek food (Gyros)
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Texas food (frito pies from The Flaming Saddles Saloon)
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American food (meat and vegetables cooked over flame)
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BBQ food (hot wings from Spankin’ Good wings)
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Cajun food (crawfish stew… right on next to the LIVE BUCKET OF CRAWFISH) from Delta Grill
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Mexican food (chips with fresh guac and salsa)
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And many many more. And then…then there were the DESSERTS.

Yes the desserts.
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And the desserts.
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And more desserts.
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And still more desserts.
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*dies*
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Next year, I’m hoping for a little more sun. And I think I’ll also not eat before I go so I can partake in the yummy!

Nom!


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