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Jimmy Carbone
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High Plains Bison Hosts Hottest Culinary Cook-off at Meatopia: BBQ NYC
Celebrity Chefs Battle with Bison at July 11th Festival
July 9, 2010 (New York, NY) – Meatopia: BBQ NYC sponsor High Plains Bison is serving up a celebrity-filled High Plains Bison High “Steaks” Challenge this Sunday, July 11th at 1:30 PM, at Meatopia: BBQ NYC on Governor’s Island. Top Chef Alumnus and exclusive Norwood Club Head Chef Andrew D’Ambrosi is pitted against Michelin-starred SHO Executive Chef Shaun Hergatt in a bison grilling challenge during which the chefs will have 30 minutes to prepare and plate their favorite take on a bison tenderloin entrée using only ten ingredients and the limited equipment of the festival’s outdoor “kitchen.”
The judging panel will include famed James Beard Award-winning food writer Josh Ozersky; The Food Network’s Jake Schiffman; Author of The Art Eating In, Cathy Erway; and High Plains Bison’s own Chef Forrest. Cooking competition veteran MC Matt Timms of The Takedown will MC the event.
“As someone who lives, breathes and, of course, eats bison meat, I’m thrilled to witness to what heights other chefs can take a bison tenderloin,” said High Plains Bison Chef Forrest Waldo, “This is sure to be the highlight of the day’s events!” High Plains Bison Marketing Director Neeta Vallab adds, “People know our bison meat is healthy, lean and delicious, but the High Plains Bison High “Steaks” Challenge will also demonstrate how easy it is to grill up an amazing gourmet bison meat meal.”
Held annually as the “Woodstock of Edible Animals” this celebrated barbecue event, which regularly features some of the city’s top chefs, this year will be open to the public for the first time ever. Meatopia: BBQ NYC is a celebration of traditional cooking techniques and heritage meats taking place on historic Governors Island, in New York Harbor, as its premier summer event on July 11th, 2010. Ozersky, joined by Taste of Tribeca organizer Jimmy Carbone, of Jimmy’s No 43, alongside Six Point Craft Ales, will host over 30 of the best chefs in the country as they present their takes on barbecue with Bev Eggleston, champion of Eco-Friendly Foods as the event’s acting grand marshal.
Benefiting Slow Food NYC and Just Food NYC, Meatopia: BBQ NYC will feature, among others, 2009 Jack Daniels World Barbecue Champions I Que, as well as chefs such as Seamus Mullen of Boqueria, Michael White of Osteria Morini, Convivio and Marea, and Zak Pelaccio and Robbie Richter of Fatty ‘Cue. In the true spirit of the slow food community, each of the participating chefs will partner with a local farmer who will provide locally raised, sustainable meat for their featured recipes. “This is a never before seen confluence of meaty genius, healthy food, craft beer, and the beauty of Governors Island,” Ozersky says. “Everyone involved is thrilled about it. The consciences and stomachs of New York’s foodies are aquiver.”
The signature event in Mayor Bloomberg’s officially proclaimed “Good Beer Month,” Meatopia: BBQ NYC will also support the local craft-beer community with walk-around tastings, a bespoke Meatopia brew created especially for the event by Sixpoint Craft Ales, and other beer-related activities. “Meatopia is the coming together of so many parts of the food community in New York,” said Jimmy Carbone. “The hard work and participation of our host committee and community organizations are what make Meatopia such a model for what a community can accomplish when every member does its part.” Educational panels, cooking demonstrations, a beer garden, a slight-of-hand magician, bluegrass music, ice cream, live entertainment will round out the afternoon and make for a family-friendly atmosphere for New Yorkers and visitors of all ages.
Ferries will depart for Governors Island from Brooklyn and lower Manhattan every fifteen minutes. For a full list of participating chefs and to purchase tickets, please visit www.meatopia.org
Sponsors for the inaugural Meatopia: BBQ NYC event include Chipotle and High Plains Bison.
For more information about High Plains Bison, visit www.highplainsbison.com
About The Good Beer Seal of Approval
The Good Beer Seal of Approval, which actively promotes New York City as a destination for lovers of good beer, is awarded to bars and restaurants who have 80% craft domestic or special imported beers, serve a good portion of their beers via a draft beer and/or cask ale program, maintain a strong “Pub-like” vibe as a nice, local place to drink a beer and visit with friends. Good Beer Seal of Approval bars and restaurants have an active community presence, as well as being an independently operated establishment.
For more information about The Good Beer Seal of Approval visit www.goodbeerseal.com
About Slow Food NYC
Slow Food NYC is the New York City chapter of Slow Food, a non-profit, member-supported organization founded in 1989 that engages in education, advocacy and activism in support of a food system that is good, clean and fair. Slow Food stands against the disappearance of local food traditions and people’s dwindling interest in the food they eat, where it comes from, how it tastes and how our food choices affect the rest of the world.
For more information about Slow Food NYC visit www.slowfoodnyc.org
About Just Food
Just Food has been the leader in connecting local farms to NYC neighborhoods and communities since 1995. Their mission is to unite local farms and city residents of all economic backgrounds with fresh, seasonal, sustainably grown food. In New York City, Just Food tackles deficiencies in food access and security by increasing the production, marketing and distribution of fresh food from community gardens and urban agriculture sites, on the one hand, and promoting Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) initiatives (food-buying clubs), on the other. Just Food’s aim is to turn “food deserts” (i.e., neighborhoods underserved by supermarkets and other food retailers) into “islands of sustainability.” Just Food fosters new marketing and food-growing opportunities that address the needs of small and medium family farms, urban gardeners, and NYC neighborhoods. Through training, leadership development and organizing efforts, Just Food builds diverse partnerships to advance dialogue and action on farming, hunger and nutrition.
For more information about Just Food visit www.justfood.org
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