An Enterprising Tasting

Summer tasting events are happening left and right and I have yet another to tell you about. Project Enterprise is a provider of micro business loans in New York City that does not require prior business experience, credit history or collateral to provide market-rate financing for small businesses. Working in mostly low-income communities in Upper Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx, the organization provides assistance and support for entrepreneurs while fostering job creation and networking.

Next Wednesday, July 24, Project Enterprise is hosting A Taste of Project Enterprise at Studio Arte (265 West 37th Street, 17thFloor) from 6-9pm. The event will feature favorites from the organization’s food and restaurant entrepreneurs, including: Love Joy Treats, June Lee Catering, Heavenly Crumbs, Kamini Ice, Caribbean Cake Connoisseurs, and more.

Tickets can be purchased in advance for $25 or at the door for $30.

Food Trucks Take Flight

I think I'm still full from Choice Eats. Seriously. But New York is a city that revolves around it's wide array of cuisine and various means of distributing food, so inevitably the blog must go on. The Village Voice recently held their outdoor food truck event, Choice Streets, at the Intrepid and I was invited to go check it out. This event is arranged differently than Choice Eats in that there aren't as many food vendors and the lines are super long, but we still made a night of it, and ate some delicious tidbits from NYC's best mobile vendors.

With our tasting glasses in tow, we started the night at Shock Top where I tried their Honeycrisp Ale, a super refreshing summer beer. If you wanted Lemon Shandy, they were serving it directly from a tap in the trunk of a car!

Because of the staggering lines building at most of the trucks when I arrived, I opted for dessert first, and started at my beloved Cool Haus ice cream sandwiches where I only found about 5 people in line. I tried the snickerdoodle cookie with sea salt caramel ice cream. Yum! And I was very appreciative that they weren't serving full-sized ice cream sandwiches for that would have been a mess.

Snickerdoodle cookie and sea salt caramel ice cream (Cool Haus)

Next Up was Mexico Blvd, one of my favorites of the night with their Adobo Taco--pork loin marinated in adobo served with cilantro, onion and salsa. Next door was Mausam Curry 'n Bites, which served a fairly typical chicken tikka, not bad, but fairly generic in my opinion.

Adobo Taco (Mexico Blvd)

Chicken Tikke (Mausam Curry 'n Bites)

I tried two different mini empanadas from Nuchas and some "Authentic Indian Street Food" from Desi Food Truck (not quite sure what was in it, but there was definitely rice, potatoes and curry involved).

Mini Empanadas (Nuchas)

"Authentic Indian Street Food" (Desi Food Truck)

Tacos (or taco-like foods) were definitely a theme of the night. Big D's Grub served up some spicy pork tacos that definitely had a kick, whereas Mike n' Willies served up their take on a flauta, stuffing falafel into a fried corn tortilla and covering it in tahini. I really enjoyed the latter.

Spicy Pork Taco (Big D's Grub)

Falafel Flauta (Mike n' Willies)

Souvlaki GR was a hit among my friends, but to be honest it didn't do it for me. The charcoal grilled chicken had a funny taste, but maybe I just had a bad batch. The Greek fries were pretty awesome though.

Charcoal Grilled Chicken and Greek Fries (Souvlaki GR)

Wafels & Dinges was one truck I was highly anticipating and it did not disappoint. They were serving up full sized wafels with candied bacon, caramel and whipped cream. Deeee-lish!

Wafels & Dinges

Wafel with candied bacon, caramel and whipped cream (Wafels & Dinges)

At this point unfortunately my camera started to go wonky, and the following pictures are either blurry and/or borrowed (thanks Laura!). Regardless, the burger at Rhong Tiam was amazing and I felt equally excited about the pupusas at Solber pupusas (glad I finally know what that is!) and the arepas at Palenque Homemade Colombian Food.

Burger (Rhong Tiam)

Meat Pupusa (Solber Pupusas)

Corn Arepa with Chicken and Portobello Mushrooms (Palenque Homemade Colombian Food)

We topped everything off with an Arnold Palmer Kelvin Slush and called it a night. Unfortunately Mac Truck sported lines 50-people deep all night and ran out before I gave them a try. I was equally disappointed that Gorilla Cheese NYC didn't even show up. Next idea for an event...an all mac 'n' cheese/grilled cheese food extravaganza!! Who'd be up for that?

AWESOME DEAL: 40% Off the Entire Peanut Butter & Co. Online Store

There are some deals in life that are just too good to pass up. For example, amazing peanut butter and accompaniments for 40% off...

Yes, you heard me right loyal readers. Today ONLY, the world-famous (well at least NYC-famous) Peanut Butter & Co. is offering 40% off their entire store. That means you can get your fill of White Chocolate Wonderful, The Bee's Knees, and Mighty Maple (my 3 faves) for $3.60 a jar compared with the normal $6 price tag.

You can also stock up on gifts for your peanut butter loving friends like this PB for My Sweetie gift set just in time for Valentine's Day ($19.20 down from $32).

Or if you want to make someone REALLY happy, you can get the Total Nut Case gift set which comes with spicy peanut brittle ($76.80 down from $128)!

Anyway you order, you're sure to be satisfied. Just make sure you use the coupon code TASTEAMAZING at the online store and place your order before midnight EST tonight 2/5.

It's a Smorgasbrewery

I have to admit, I'm sorry to just be finding out about the Smorgasbrewery event going on at Brooklyn Brewery this Sunday 1/8 (and every Sunday through March). On top of their normally free on-the-hour brewery tours, the beloved beer aficionados who run the place are bringing in all sorts of local food vendors from noon to 5 pm.

This Sunday you can salivate over pork sandwiches (I'm assuming) from Porchetta, bivalves from Brooklyn Oyster Party, sweet and savory pies from Rachel's Pies, baked goods from Commerce Bakery and sugary confections from Lush Candy. And you musn't forget a Brooklyn Lager, IPA or maybe a Cuvee Noir...

Color Me (Locally) Caffeinated

Strolling through Nolita, you might find several of your average bodegas, a one-off pizza place and other quotidien storefronts, but then you wander down Mott Street and something slightly new and different catches your eye. Nolita Mart & Espresso Bar, just about six weeks new, is the brainchild of the super passionate James Wong and his effervescent wife Selina Ho.

Not your average market, you enter and are warmly greeted by a beautiful coffee bar made from reclaimed wood out of an old barn from Albany, artfully decorated for the holidays with the most elaborate and professional looking paper snowflakes you have ever seen. You walk past the display case filled with delectable croissants and pastries from Colson Patisserie and discover a bounty of gourmet and local food finds in the market section at the back of the store. With everything from McClure’s Pickles, Feather Ridge Farm eggs, Anarchy in a Jar jams, Rao's pastas and sauces and Ciao Bella gelatos, this store is a haven for local foodies.

Now, there's something I've left out but really I just wanted to save the best for last. Nolita Mart & Espresso Bar is one of few vendors in the city, and the only one in Nolita, that sells Stumptown Coffee and employs Stumptown-trained baristas. These people take their beans seriously. With coffee as a New Yorker's life-sustaining elixir, it's no wonder that Stumptown, the Portland-based roaster, has risen to the top of the pack as one of NYCs most cherished coffee producers. I was invited to Nolita Mart to try a latte, made with super creamy milk from Battenkill Valley Creamery (a brand also sold in the back of the store), and I must say that I'm converted. Easily the most awesome latte I've ever had in my life - no joke. It even had what looked like a fern drawn into the foam on top.

Next time you develop a taste for awesome coffee, which let's face it is always since you live in the city, I'd highly recommend a trip over to Nolita Mart & Espresso Bar for a nice cup of joe and buttery croissant. While you're there tell James and Selina I say hello!