A Melting Pot at Basketball City

By Dawn Straccia

  The Village Voice has done it again, this time bigger and better!!  The 7th Annual Choice Eats 2014 was held at Pier 36 in Basketball City. During the year, Basketball City, which houses 7 courts is the host to adult leagues, youth programs, court rentals, even better, take the walls down to create an event space that has been used for non profit fundraisers, corporate events and in tonight's case, a gathering place to sample fare from over 100 restaurants in all five boroughs of NYC.

 The night started out upstairs in the VIP section with just a handful of restaurants offering the best of their best.. Owner Ron Johnson of Mrs Dorsey's Kitchen is putting a twist on the traditional Grilled Cheese and   served up a Jarlsburg Onion Jam Grilled Cheese!!  Grandaisy Bakery, their motto, "all we knead is love" you can taste it in their handcrafted rustic Italian breads & Roman-Style Pizza's that are topped with either mushrooms, zucchini, thinly sliced potato's and more.  Morgan's Brooklyn Barbecue was slicing and serving Beef Brisket with a side of slaw that was slightly sweet with just a hint of tang.   Then there was the sweet from Carlo's Bakery to Doughnut Plant, which has been in business since 1994 and was offering yeast & cake doughnuts.  These light, fluffy delicate doughnuts were filled with the most intriguing flavors from; Cashew & Orange Blossom, Coconut Cream, Blackberry Cream to a Chocolate Hazelnut. All I need to say is, spread the love Doughnut Planet.

That was just the tip of the iceberg, and we're not just talking lettuce.  As I made my way downstairs it all started out with the Meatball Shop, then one of my absolute favorites "SCRATCHbread".  I have been known to do some traveling for a good pastry or two, even a loaf of prosciutto bread.  So if your not in Brooklyn, then you need to take a ride to try Matthew's baba ganoush, red roasted pepper spread, along with the rosemary bread, you won't be disappointed there.  Red Hook Lobster Pound was serving up their Lobster Bisque while on the other side, Luke's Lobster offered Crab Rolls.   Ovelia Psistaria Bar,marinated skirt steak with coffee,  light and delicate Ginger Dumplings, tapas of Chicken Pate, to a company called Dirt Candy, who is all about the vegetable's, dished out Broccoli Hot Dogs, yes you read it right, Broccoli Hot Dogs. Don't be to scared, it is in genius, healthy and not just for the Vegan alone.

The hotter the better, then you might want to make your way to Queens Comfort in Astoria for their Atomic Mac & Cheese.  Traditional thick, creamy Mac & Cheese, but they took it to a whole other level by bringing on the heat factor.    

 A Date wrapped with premo Bacon then topped with a Blue Cheese creama is a little bite of sweet & salty from Swine. 

So far, I haven't even made my way half way through and wound up along the back wall where all the decadent sweets were. Cake, Cupcakes and Ice Cream, ohhh my.
Ovenly was specializing in Sweet & Savory  Sconewiches

 Robicelli's introduced their Pretzel Cookie Bar

and then there was Ample Hills Creamery with flavors like Gather Round the Campfire, Sweet as Honey and Salted Cracked Caramel that will surly turn you into an Ice Cream addict.

Round up on the East coast, there might have been just as many barbecue joints under one roof then in Texas.  Glad to say this is not just for Southerns anymore.  John Brown's Smokehouse in Long Island City, "Liquid Country Gold" from Mable's Smoke House to Fletcher's Brooklyn Barbecue, which has become so popular with us east coast folks.

One must not forget, while there was plenty of fare for sampling, there was just as much Spirit's to wash it all down.  Barefoot Wine & Bubbly, Stella Artois Beer Garden, Four Roses Bourbon, White Pike Whiskey, New Holland Brewing plus much, much more.

Before the night was over I made my way over to Butter & Scotch, these girls are genius!!  Not only were they the first to discover that alcohol can be infused into a cupcake batter, now this!! With three flavors; Green Chili Margarita Caramel Corn, The Dark & Stormy Caramel Corn  & The Hot Toddy Caramel Corn, there is no reason to go back to our childhood days of eating regular popcorn.  

  

  Tonight attendees sampled some of the most eclectic, innovative & traditional fare, old to new, from across the borough's, combined it with great spirits and live music made it one of the biggest gatherings of the year.

If you missed out this year, make sure to put it on the calendar for next..
In the meantime Choice Streets is coming to The Intrepid, May 7, 2014
Tickets on sale now!!
www.villagevoice.com