AlwaysNYCWFF: Chelsea After Dark

The Hungry Goat — October 09, 2009

The scene inside Chelsea Market during the New York Wine & Food Festival’s “Chelsea After Dark.”

What food lover hasn’t fantasized about being locked in a gourmet market after hours with no-holds-barred access to all the free food and drink you can handle? That was essentially the concept in Chelsea Market for last night’s Chelsea After Dark, one of the kickoff events for this year’s New York Wine & Food Festival (site). Of course, in this fantasy, you have co-host, Guy Fieri jamming to Journey’s Don’t Stop Believin’ and signing autographs like a rock star, co-host Sandra Lee grooving to Justin Timberlake, and Jacques Torres asking every woman that walks by if he can “paint them in chocolate.”

Swarms of people crowded the long halls of Chelsea Market (site) to visit the stores, mix, mingle and sample all the food and free-flowing Georges DuBoeuf wine they desired. Several members of the gastro-elite were also there, including Jeffrey Steingarten, who claimed that he’s not AlwaysHungry for anything (ok, sure if you want to play that game), but did reveal that the best thing he’d eaten recently was a steak in Spain from a 15-year-old steer, whose meat had been aged for 120 days.

Morimoto’s Yellowtail Pastrami Sandwich was the standout bite at the evening, but The Lobster Place’s Scallop and Bacon chowder and Buddakan’s Shaken Chili Beef Tartare deserve honorable mention. Below are pictures of food from the event for your enjoyment.

 

Morimoto’s Yellowtail Pastrami Sandwich.

 

Buddakan’s Shaken Chili Beef Tartare.

 

Guy Fieri’s Pork en Fuego.

 

Guy Fieri’s Bacon-Wrapped Prawns with Chipotle BBQ Sauce.

 

Wellfleet and Skookum Inlet Oysters from The Lobster Place.

 

Crostini by Amy’s Bread: Black Olive Crostini with Hummus and Olive Oil Drizzle, and Semolina Raisin Fennel Crostini with Local Ricotta, Honey Drizzle and Sea Salt.

 

A 202 Restaurant Tuna Burger.

 

Pasta by BuonItalia with Pomodoro and Cream Sauce.

 

By Chelsea Thai Wholesale: Pickled Mixed Vegetables and Larb Gai.

 

Provided by Friedmans Lunch Chelsea Catering: Turkey & Pastrami Sandwiches and Sweet Potato Fries.

 

Cupcakes in Eleni’s on display.

 

Chocolates by Jacques Torres.