Five Fab Foodie Events

By Troy Segal

Over the next two months, New York venues are serving up a rich array of programs for the culinary-minded. Here are some of the tastiest, categorically arranged.

1. You Don’t Have to Be Jewish …

…to love Jewish cuisine. On May 20, David Kolotkin, chef of the highly ranked Kosher restaurant The Prime Grill, offers a talk and tasting of his signature treats at the 92nd Street Y. Food journalist Laura Silver, author of Knish: In Search of the Jewish Soul Food, discusses her fascination with the savory stuffed pastry on Jun. 11 at the Tenement Museum and Jun. 15 at the Museum of Jewish Heritage (yes, samples will be provided!).

2. Asian Appeal

Have a yen for Japanese fare? In “Discovering Udon,” a master noodle maker describes, demonstrates, and tells you everything you ever wanted to know about this slurpy staple of the Nipponese diet on May 21 at the Japan Society. On Jun. 12, the Society holds its annual sake tasting: 30 varieties of the rice wine will be sampled, as expert John Gauntner speaks on pairing sake with food (not just Japanese, either).

3. And He Can Cook, Too

Not every chef spends all his time in the kitchen. You may know Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson (above) as the drummer for The Roots, but the man has a serious food fetish as well (he has a catering company and has been a Top Chef guest judge). He dishes about cookin’ both on-stage and in the kitchen on Jun. 8 at the 92nd Street Y. When he’s not shooting hoops, New York Knicks forward Amar’e Stoudemire loves to stir the pot; on Jun. 10, he talks up his first cookbook, Cooking with Amar’e: 100 Easy Recipes for Pros and Rookies in the Kitchen at Barnes & Noble — Citigroup Center.

4. Author! Author!

If you like your cuisine spiced with some social significance, several book talks offer food for thought. Chef Dan Barber of the restaurants Blue Hill and Blue Hill at Stone Barns discusses nothing less than a food revolution, and signs copies of his latest work, The Third Plate, at the 92nd Street Y on May 20 and Jun. 11. The Tenement Museum’s May 21 panel discussion “Urban Appetites” includes historian Cindy R. Lobel describing the 19th-century New York food scene (the subject of her new tome), and its relevance for today. On a lighter — but no less tasty — note, Neal Corman, owner of Virgil’s restaurants, shares stories about the smoked stuff from his Virgil’s Barbecue Road Trip Cookbook at Barnes & Noble — TriBeCa on Jun. 25.

5. Some Light Nibbles

A glass of good wine, a cube of cheese – what more do you need on a summer’s eve?  Nothing, say sommelier Josh Wesson and Fairway fromager Steve Jenkins — and they’re giving “A Talk and Tasting,” describing how to pair these two favorites, to prove it on Jun. 29 at the 92nd St. Y.