The Tribeca Farmer’s Market stakes the intersection of Greenwich and Duane Streets every Wednesday and Saturday. But on Saturday, May 19, the market shared its space with the Taste of Tribeca food festival.
Taste of Tribeca is a fundraiser that was started 13 years ago by parents of children in P.S.150 and P.S. 234, both just blocks away from Stuyvesant, in order to pay for the schools’ art and music programs. Restaurants from around the city donate food and manpower to the event, where attendees can get six “tastes” per ticket ($40 for just the food; more for perks, such as your own table).
Up Greenwich and along Duane, covered tables lined the street, with the wind whipping up the tablecloths and light drizzle dampening the paper plates. Nevertheless, Tribeca residents came out in droves, even during the early hours of the event. One of the first tables open—the festival officially started at 11:30 a.m., but many restaurants took their time getting ready—was Walker’s, which served BBQ pulled pork sandwiches, coleslaw and watermelon wedges. A daylong favorite, it was one of the more filling booths. Many others, such as Tribeca Grill, offered only small food bites. The “heirloom tomato and feta cheese salad with white balsamic vinegar” had a name larger than its portion size. Another tasty and appetizing table was Mai House’s, where Vietnamese-spiced grilled corn—whole cobs—was the dish du jour.
The festival’s non-culinary events were really what contributed most to the familyfriendly atmosphere that attracted so many parents and their young children. There was a “Kid Zone” with a clown, balloons, art supplies—the works. A trendy tshirt stand sold custom duds designed by Steve Allen. One of the largest draws was the stage, set up on the intersection of the two streets where local bands performed. The first performance was that of the Dueling Elvises, who played Costello and Presley covers.
In between “Pump It Up” and “Blue Suede Shoes,” more tables opened up and the multicultural feast began. Towards the small park on Duane was Yaffa’s Tea Room’s minced lamb kebab, juicy lamb-and-pepper burgers served from a sizzling pan onto a piece of hummuscoated pita. Moksha, which doled out chicken tikka masala from large brass urns, had one of the most ornate presentations. The spicy chicken in thick red gravy was the second best dish offered.
The first was the Kobe beef tsukune, specialty beef steaks, from Megu, the renowned steakhouse. Megu had the longest line of tasters by far and its meat, which costs almost $100 a pound, lived up to expectations. The succulent beef was skewered and cooked in front of the crowd on hot rocks. It was a fat and tender cut that was well worth one of the six tastes.
Local restaurants were also out in full force. Balucchi’s had aloo takiyas (potato pancakes) and pakoras (deep-fried chickpea flour fritters), Mocca’s served coffee and rugelach (a Jewish pastry) and Bon Bon Chicken sold—instead of using the taste system—its signature fried chicken. The Soda Shop, which had promised, on the festival’s Web site, “hamburgers, macaroni and cheese and ice cream beverages,” disappointed with a less varied table of candy and cupcakes flanked by four-feet- tall pink nutcrackers.
Stuyvesant students lent a helping hand: 15 ARISTA members volunteered to be runners, who served food to those who paid extra for a private table.
With their help, no one went away disappointed. Despite the overcast, blustery day, hundreds of tickets were sold and many attended the bazaar of food and culture. The 14th festival can’t come soon enough.