Join Us For a Taste of Pig Island

by Viktoriya Syrov

On Saturday, October 2, Governor's Island will be transformed into a pork-lover's paradise. Welcome to Pig Island, featuring an impressive cast of chefs showing off their pork know-how’s accompanied by craft beer, New York State wines and live entertainment, all done with Good Food standards in mind -- it is guaranteed to be an amazing day out.

Twenty chefs from New York City restaurants are expected to participate in a public culinary festival, that will emphasize locally-sourced ingredients, featuring locally sourced pork purchased directly from New York State Farms, including Mary Cleaver of The Green Table, Sara Jenkins of Porchetta, Patrick Connolly of Bobo, along with other barbecue masters from Cabrito, Resto, Northern Spy, Jimmy’s No 43, Marlow & Sons, and many more.

To ensure the highest quality of ingredients, chefs will be provided with meat and other produce for the event. Approximately sixty pigs will be purchased for the culinary festival from Violet Hill Farm, The Piggery, and Heritage Meats. Other barbecue accompaniments such as corn will be served to celebrate the height of the harvest season.

Ticket holders will enjoy a walk-around tasting from the expert chefs, beers from Sixpoint Craft Ales, which will premiere a new pilsner at the event, and wines from local wineries. A section will also be open to the public with a limited number of sample tastings and a craft beer garden for those not holding tickets. A live bluegrass band will complete the barbecue experience.

“We want to focus on local produce and building relationships with farmers,” said Jimmy Carbone, the events organizer, of his plans for the food festivities. Supporting local farmers and good food advocacy is nothing new to Carbone, who, as co-founder of the Good Beer Seal and Taste of Tribeca chair, has been hosting similar events to raise public awareness and support non-profits such as Slow Food NYC and Just Food for many years.

A charitable donation will be made to the Food Systems Network NYC. For a full list of participating chefs and to purchase tickets, visit the event website at www.ilikepig.com.

Date: Saturday, October 2, 2010
Time: 11:30am - 4:30pm
Location: Governor's Island
Tickets: $85 ($75 advance until Sept. 26).
Website: www.ilikepig.com