The Food We’re Most Looking Forward to Trying in 2019

The korean sticky ribs at Hometown Bar-B-Que are one of its most interesting items. Hometown’s Billy Durney is opening two more restaurants in 2019 that will also have some eye-catching food.

The korean sticky ribs at Hometown Bar-B-Que are one of its most interesting items. Hometown’s Billy Durney is opening two more restaurants in 2019 that will also have some eye-catching food.

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Happy New Year everyone! As 2019 begins, it’s time to start intention setting, mapping out resolutions, and generally planning our year. When it comes to mapping out what's to come for restaurants and food events there are a few question marks, but we do know a few things for sure.

This month, Billy Durney of Hometown Bar-B-Que fame is planning to open two new restaurants in Brooklyn — Red Hook Tavern and Hometown Deli. Red Hook Tavern is located a few blocks north of Hometown Bar-B-Que and will focus on burgers, fried chicken, and other tavern food. Hometown Deli is located in Sunset Park and will focus on sandwiches like pastrami, corned beef, and more. Given Hometown’s pedigree, I can’t wait to try both of these new places.

In April, a new vegan barbecue spot in East Village called Honeybee’s will be opening. Dishes will reportedly include “pulled pork,” “brisket,” “burgers,” and “fried chicken” made entirely from vegetables. While BBQ purists will consider this sacrilege, I’ve written in Gothamist that this type of experimentation with the form is exciting and that we should give it a chance.

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We also can look forward to great food events coming up in 2019. The  Beer, Bourbon, and BBQ Festival takes place later this month (details below), Brisket King will be taking place in April, the Big Apple Barbecue Block Party might return in June, and Pig Island will be back in September. As more events get added this year, I’ll be sure to report on them here.

I hope you all had fantastic New Year’s celebrations and are ready to dive in 2019. I know I am.

Sean Ludwig
Founder, NYC BBQ

EAT ALL ABOUT IT

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Here are the top BBQ and food stories in New York area this week:

  • NYC BBQ joints Pig Beach and Pig Bleecker are collaborating with Filipino restaurant Flip Sigi to serve a unique special throughout January called the “Baboy Beach Bowl.” (See the dish above.) It includes smoked lechon pork, garlic coconut fried rice, pickled onions, tomatoes, scallions, and peanut butter hoisin sauce topped with chicharrones. It’s available at Pig Beach, Pig Bleecker, and Flip Sigi West Village until the end of January.

  • Brooklyn-based BBQ vendor Carnal, which operates an incredibly popular Smorgasburg stall and has toured their food around country, has started a GoFundMe to raise money for a brick-and-mortar restaurant. Carnal’s beef short ribs are outstanding and always attract long lines, so let’s hope they are able to get this restaurant going soon.

  • Chris Scott, who competed on season 15 of Top Chef, quietly closed his two restaurants in Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn at the end of the year, according to Eater NY. One was soul food restaurant Butterfunk Kitchen, while the other was Butterfunk’s sibling restaurant next door, Sumner’s Luncheonette. Scott and his wife plan to open a new restaurant in Bridgeport, Connecticut in early 2019.

IRL BBQ

Here are the top BBQ (and related) food events coming soon to the New York metro area:

  • January 15: Prolific food influencers Gotham Burger Social Club will be hosting a high-end event called Calling All Carnivores! at the James Beard House. Local chefs Matt Abdoo, Paul Denamiel, Dominick Pepe, Jerome Dihui, Harold Moore will be serving up special meat-centric dishes. Reserve a table here.

  • January 26: The eighth annual Beer, Bourbon, and BBQ Festival takes place on the west side of Manhattan. It will feature two sessions, with the first (The Bacon and The Beast) happening from 12 to 4 p.m. and the second (The Whole Hog Pickin’ Session) happening from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. More than 60 beers, 40 bourbons, and several BBQ vendors will be available. Buy tickets here.

  • January 26: The third annual Best of Brooklyn Food & Beer Festival will take place in Industry City, Brooklyn. It will feature a collection of Brooklyn's best craft brews, food tastings from more than 20 top chefs, music from curated DJs, and more. Buy tickets here.

  • January 26: The 11th Annual Cassoulet Cookoff will take place at Biba in Williamsburg, Brooklyn from 1 to 4 p.m. Cassoulet is the ultimate winter dish. Typically it is a slow-cooked casserole containing meat, pork skin, and white beans, but here it will be made in many different ways. The event will include 10+ cassoulets and a wide selection of cider, craft beer, wine, and whiskey. Buy tickets here.

  • February 1: Enjoy a wide selection of whiskeys and spirits at the Jersey City Whiskey and Spirits Festival, held at the Harborside Atrium. It will include beautiful skyline views, live music, games, and food for purchase. Buy tickets here.

  • February 2: Get warmed up in Brooklyn with unlimited seasonal craft beers, spiked drinks, and delicious food at the NYC Winter Warmer, held at the Brooklyn Expo Center in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Food vendors include Memphis Seoul, Empanada Papa, Brooklyn Baked & Fried, Angry Archie’s, and more. Buy tickets here.


SAY HELLO

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Sean LudwigNYC BBQ Weekly