Bites Of The Apple
BROADWAY BITES (by Urban Space) | Greeley Square Park | urbanspacenyc.com/broadway-bites | 
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IN THIS GREAT VAST CITY we call New York, it is quite the shame to become one of those people who "don't get out much". But if you live here during spring and autumn, if you don't take advantage of the myriad ways to enjoy this beautiful city, then why are you here in the first place?
Especially in a town where new, exciting, delicious food is being constantly created, cooked, nd being made available in so many different ways. One such venue is URBAN SPACE'S Broadway Bites, a food festival taking over Greeley Square Park near Macy's in Midtown West.
The festival started three weeks ago; I couldn't make it down until yesterday, the first day of it's last week—finally succumbing to the lure of autumn weather and a whole bunch of different foods in one spot.
Also prompting me to attend was the booth of my restaurant of employ, DORRIAN'S RED HAND. We have a booth featuring the staple of the old Old Germantown of Dorrian's original neighborhood: the bratwurst. The neighborhood is now called Yorkville shedding much of its Germanic and Bavarian character for the much shorter attention spans of new post-collegiate revelers whose parents co-sign their two-year leases. But back in the day, you could find a beautiful, snappy, boldly-seasoned, juicy bratwurst on almost every corner.
Dorrian's Red Hand is selling a few varieties of bratwurst, including the Broadway Bites-popular Bratwurst with Bavarian Cheddar. It was the first item I enjoyed at the event, and enjoy it I did (with a Badass Hard Cider. Yes, the got beer on tap too)!
Expertly grilled, topped with red cabbage, grilled red onions, and mustard, it is more than the hearty, flavorful, heady mouthful than you'd expect from a simple brat.
Yet even in a town that has globally expanded its food acumen, something like a bratwurst now seems quiant, almost back to the point of exotic. For diners who like their meat sandwiches more mainstream, Dorrian's Winter Harvest also offers a crowd favorite Steak Sandwich, served in a warm crusty roll with bacon, grilled onions and horseradish sauce.
Now, having not covered a food festival, I believe, since the FIRST HESTER STREET FAIR SOME YEARS AGO, I took it upon myself to use the unusually seasonal weather to try out some of the food fare from the other vendors, of which there were plenty.
Those last two I actually ate as well—from SIGMUND'S PRETZELS and SEOUL LEE KOREAN BARBECUE—and, as well, they were well above par of expectation. A more-hot-than-sweet spicy sauce balanced some very juicy and tender pork, opening up the nose at the end of each bite with some smoky aroma.
And since you are now a culture of de facto food photographers and Instagram-aholics, wherever and when ever a booth could, they featured their wares on display with appetizing presentations.
Many, if not most, booths having skilled cooks and chefs make dishes to order for full visual effect.
And those food vendors that weren't cooking, were definitely prepared to sell some great product.
Of course there was many other booths to visit, dishes to try, but there are only so many hours in the day. Actually, more like only so much volume even a larger gentleman like myself can handle. And as Broadway Bites officially closes its booths for good at end of day, this Sunday, November 24th, I have to make an effort to get back down there to further broaden my research.
And during what is so far a beautiful autumn season, I highly recommend you do the same. (The lines get long quickly, especially at Dorrian's Winter Harvest.)
Bun Apple Tea!
KACNYC
BROADWAY BITES (by Urban Space) | Greeley Square Park | urbanspacenyc.com/broadway-bites | |
