Dishing At The Taste of New York

It's a must-do on every New York foodie's annual agenda: New York Magazine's Taste of New York benefit event for City Harvest. And after experiencing last year's festivities, I entered the Puck Building this past Monday night with anticipation and a dollop of dread. I adore the glitterati gourmands that line the ballroom sharing delectable tidbits from their über-fabulous restaurants, but the crushing herd of attendees leaves something to be desired -- mostly elbow room.

Still, sliding in a wee bit early thanks to a press pass, I was able to enjoy my fair share of the fare and even got to chat with celebrated chefs Tom Valenti and Marcus Samuelsson. The big win though came in the form of an exchange with Flatiron Lounge mixology maven Julie Reiner (pictured above), in which she confirmed the rumor that has been circulating among Kings County cocktail cognoscentis: Reiner will indeed be opening a new cocktail lounge on Brooklyn's Smith Street later this year. She's naming the Boerum Hill watering hole after a classic gin drink - The Clover Club - which, cocktail shaker in hand, she merrily whipped up at the event.

After that bit of happy Brooklyn bar news, I sailed through the rest of the bash rather quickly, noticing a decidedly sweet trend this year. Each dessert seemed harder to resist than the next. Los Dados tempted me with deep fried, cinnamon sugar-coated Churros served with a choice of warm Dulce de Leche or Chocolate Sauce.

Pastry master Pichet Ong of P*ONG illicited moans of pleasure with a twist on a New York City classic - Cheesecake. His beguiling version was composed of goat's milk chevre, surrounded by a toasted walnut crust and graced with a splash of cabernet-poached huckleberries and basil oil.

Even Chinese-themed treats made the rounds. Rickshaw Dumpling Bar served up Chocolate Shanghai Soup Dumplings coated with black sesame seeds, squirting hot, molten chocolate lava when you took a bite, and Chinatown Brasserie offered up whimsically decorated Coconut Custard Bao which were exotic, playful and delicious all at once.

A Taste of New York - How sweet it is!