Taste Of Gramercy – Downtown Magazine

Truffle Mac and Cheese by The Stand

On Saturday September 13th, the Gramercy Neighborhood Association held its Second Annual Taste of Gramercy Neighborhood event on Irving Place. The event aimed to spread awareness about local businesses and introduce residents of New York City to all the wonderful food options Gramercy has to offer. In addition, the net proceeds were donated to benefit local schools, PS 40 and School of the Future, and the leftover food from the event was donated to the homeless in NYC via the Bowery Mission.

DOWNTOWN representatives headed out to Irving Place to see what Taste of Gramercy was all about and we were delighted with the fabulous array of foods presented. Who would have ever thought that a cheeseburger turned into soup would taste so delicious? Big Daddy’s showed us just how great it could be. Granted anything with a tater tot on top is sure to win some bonus points. The Stand made mac and cheese fancier with truffles so now you can treat yourself to your favorite indulgence with a touch of class. For those of you who are addicted to dumplings like we are, we have found the ultimate flavor. The squash dumpling made with Brown Butter, Truffled Chestnuts and Sage by Ichabod’s was one of our greatest discoveries of the day.

It was a cloudy, gray day in New York City, but that didn’t stop everybody from having a great time. Luckily for all the vendors involved the rain held off until after the event.

Participating restaurants at the event included the 71 Irving Place Coffee & Tea Bar, Barbounia, Bedford Cheese Shop, Big Daddy’s, Breads Bakery, Casa Mono & Bar Jamon, City Crab & Seafood Company, Duke’s, Friend of a Farmer, Go Burger Truck, Ichabod’s, La Follia Osteria, Little Town, Paul & Jimmy’s, Pete’s Tavern, Ponty Bistro, and The Strand.

Check out some of our favorite dishes below and head out and support these great local businesses!

-Lauren Price

Cheeseburger Soup with Tots by Big Daddy’s

Great, natural sandwiches by Exki

Short Rib Sliders by La Follia

Sweet and savory by The Stand

Squash Dumplings: Brown Butter, Truffled Chestnuts and Sage by Ichabod’s

Smoked Octopus with Watermelon by City Crab

Savory Sauces by Paul and Jimmy’s

Luigi Rosabianca of Rosabianca and Associates Grace A. Capobianco, CEO & Publisher of DOWNTOWN Magazine NYC, Mr. Renato, RE investor, and interior designer Mrs. Gianna Cassano

CEO & Publisher of DOWNTOWN Magazine NYC, Grace A. Capobianco, Chef from the Institute of Culinary Cuisine and Editorial Director of DOWNTOWN Magazine NYC, Maya Prejbisz

A shot from last year’s Taste of Gramercy Neighborhood. Credit: Gramercy Neighborhood Associates

This Saturday the Gramercy Neighborhood Association will be holding its Second Annual Taste of Gramercy Neighborhood event on Irving Place. The event was originally started to assist local businesses and introduce residents of New York City to all the wonderful food options Gramercy has to offer. Last year’s event was such a hit they decided to make it a regular event. With over 500 tickets sold and 20 participating restaurants, the net proceeds were donated to benefit local schools and the leftover food from the event went to feed the homeless that day in NYC.

So lets help make this year an even bigger success! The Taste of Gramercy Neighborhood event, in addition to raising awareness about local dining options and bolstering a sense of community in the area, raises money to help local schools, PS 40 and School of the Future, implement healthier lunch programs for students. Similar to last year, whatever food is leftover from the event will be distributed to the homeless via the Bowery Mission.

The purchase of a ticket for the “TOGN” event costs between thirty and sixty dollars and allows you six tastings of your choice! This year, participating restaurants include 71 Irving Place Coffee & Tea Bar, Barbounia, Bedford Cheese Shop, Big Daddy’s, Breads Bakery, Casa Mono & Bar Jamon, City Crab & Seafood Company, Duke’s, Friend of a Farmer, Go Burger Truck, Ichabod’s, La Follia Osteria, Little Town, Paul & Jimmy’s, Pete’s Tavern, Ponty Bistro, The Strand and more! With this all-star list of restaurants there will be food that satisfies all different tastes, and no one will leave unsatisfied.

So grab your ticket and head out this Saturday the 13th to Irving Place between 17th and 18th Street from 11am-3pm to sample some delicious foods and support your local schools and businesses! See you there!

-Lauren Price