Review: Choice Eats 2010

Atmosphere at the 69th Armory on Lexington Avenue at the 2010 Village Voice Choice Eats.

REVIEW

At Early Bird Rates, $35 for general admission and $65 for VIP tickets, Village Voice’s annual Choice Eats event is a bargain by NYC standards.  It was no surprise that the line snaked around the square block which houses the 69th Armory.  With 90+ restaurants and beverage companies to choose from, after an hour of sampling and fighting my way from table to table, it all became a blur.  Only the best tasting samples lingered and I went back to get that second serving.

Here are my picks:

Clockwise:
(1) Porchetta @ 110 E 7th Street, Roast Pork with crispy seasoned skin. [Why?  The pork was fresh, moist and succulent.  I could taste the star anise which gave the pork more depth.]
(2) Aperol, an Italian apertif with a bitter-sweet orange taste.  It also helped that they served the apertif with an orange LED flashing stirrer.  In the dimly lit armory, Aperol stood out like twinkling stars. [Why? I was first drawn to the LED lights.  After the first taste, I was hooked.  It complemented all the samples I tasted.]
(3) An Choi @ 85 Orchard Street, Pork Belly with Pickled Escarole. [Why? It was served hot and the pork belly melted in my mouth like wagyu.]
(4) Del Posto @ 85 10th Avenue, Olive Oil Gelato Lollipops coated in chocolate with salted breadcrumbs.  [Why? At first,  the frozen olive oil tasted strange but as the taste of the salt kicked in, the gelato made sense.  You just have to try it.]

My strategy for next year – purchase the Early Bird VIP tickets to beat the crowds.