A friend of a friend works for a major rum distributor, which you better believe has its perks. I got comped a ticket to an “epicurean trend” event at Pier 94 this afternoon called “Cook. Eat. Drink. Live.” I’m not sure who this show was targeting, but tickets listed for $300+ and there was tons of free food and drinks, chef demonstrations, a luxury car showroom (an apparent new trend coming soon to a dealer near you: cars with matte paint jobs), and free massages, the waiting time for which was so long, I passed for the opportunity to get seconds of shredded barbecued beef over corn bread from the booth of caterer Great American BBQ Co.
Let’s see: I also tried beef carpaccio with toasted pine nuts and pumpkin seeds from Abboccato Ristorante, savory chicken stew (with nice firm carrots) from Paris Commune, lobster cannellini with butternut squash puree from Cer Té, kobe beef from Primehouse New York, beef kabobs with mushrooms, peppers and onion from Dos Caminos, white stilton with mango and ginger from igourmet.com, salmon with foie gras and aged balsamic from The Forum, and large slices of dry streak sandwiches from Gallagher’s Steak House.
For drinks there were two cachaça suppliers so you better bet I got caipirinhas. I requested an extra-peaty single-malt from a scotch distributor and received a delicious Lagavulin 16-year-old, "the aristocrat of Islays." The bartenders from Smith & Mills, including one who has a 1920’s moustache with waxed tips, poured bourbon into large waxed-paper cups of extra-hot mulled cider. Delicious. And a bunch of wine; each attendee’s complementary vinyl tote bag contained a wine glass, which made it a little too convenient.
“Cook. Eat. Drink. Live.”
- Pier 94 (12th Avenue at 55th Street)
- Meal 47 of 52: about 15 pounds of free food and alcohol.