Queens Taste 2013: Another Year, Another Successful Gala with the Borough’s Best Culinary, Beverage, Business and Entertainment Industries
(Flushing, NY) — A wide variety of top-notch food and drink options provided the basis for a festive atmosphere as 40 vendors and more than 900 attendees filled their bellies and networked during Queens Taste 2013 at Citi Field’s Caesars Club on May 14.
Hosted by the Queens Economic Development Corporation, the eleventh annual extravaganza included performances by a Big Apple Circus clown, an appearance by 1969 Miracle Met Ed Kranepool, a booth displaying work by local emerging artists curated by Jackson Heights-based Zoescope and a stand up routine by Steve Hofstetter of the Laughing Devil Comedy Club in Long Island City.
Crowd shot taken behind the table where O Lavrador was serving bacalao.
There was also a taste competition as judged by a team of local foodies and media types. The Pine Restaurant, which is located at the Holiday Inn LaGuardia in Corona, and Woodside’s Ottomanelli’s shared Best Entrée honors. The Pine served Chicken Scarpariello, while Ottomanelli’s offered specially spiced hamburgers.
McClure’s Pickles, which was providing spicy and garlicky gherkins, won Best Appetizer, while Take a Break and I’ll Bake, which specializes in high-quality baked goods for fundraisers, special events and restaurants, won Best Dessert. This brand new company’s table was full of cream cheese pies with berries on top, muffins and pineapple upside down cakes.
La Fusta chef carving meat
“We are extremely happy with how everything turned out, and I’m already looking forward to next year,” stated QEDC Executive Director Seth Bornstein. “The food, the beverages, the networking and the upbeat, almost giddy, atmosphere really couldn’t be beaten, and it looked like everybody had a great time. A special thanks to lead sponsors Fairway Market and Citi and the USTA, our honoree.”
Participants included Austin Steak Ale House, Becky’s Bites, Brooklyn Brewery, Bourbon Street, Cabot Cheese, Chee Bonnet Cheesecake Balls, Chic-a-Peas, Christos Steak House, Cookie Fairy Sweets, Court Square Wines, Cupcakes on Heels, De Mole, Dog Duck Gastropub, F. Ottomanelli Burgers Belgian Fries, Fairway Market, Five Acre Farms, Genesis Beverage Brands, Greenmarket/Grow NYC, Irish Circle, La Adelita, La Fusta, La Rioja, Little Bird Chocolates, Magna Ristorante, Mama’s of Corona, Manhattan Beer Co., McClure’s Pickles, Native Coffee Roasters, Nestor Imports, O Lavrador, Pine Restaurant, Punzone Vodka, Redwood Deli, Rèst Âü Ránt, Rocoto, Riverview Restaurant/Lounge, Rudy’s Bakery Café, Sac’s Place and Take a Break, and I’ll Bake; and Tropisec.
Event sponsors included Citi, Fairway Market, Daily News, Con Edison, Kaufman Astoria Studios, USTA, Port Authority of NY NJ, Cleary Gottlieb, Farrell Fritz, Emily Lin + Associates Architects, The Mattone Group, Queens Center, Resorts World Casino New York City, The DF Development Group, Aurora Electric, Austin Steak Ale House, Bourbon Street, The Driscoll Group, Ares Printing Publishing, Hollis Center Mall, DNA Info New York, Webline Design and herematch.
