If there’s one New York neighborhood you’d expect to be getting down on a Tuesday night, it certainly wouldn’t be Park Slope. However, if you throw in unlimited tastings of both food and alcohol, the residents can and will make an exception. This past Tuesday’s Taste of Fifth proved to be a massive hit, with hoards of people eating and dancing their way through the swanky yet funky event space of The Grand Prospect Hall. If Jay Gatsby were to have hosted his own food festival, he would’ve definitely put this venue on his list.
[pullquote]Taste of Fifth continues to be a festive and filling gathering of neighborhood foodies, families, and New Yorkers looking for a good time and a good bite, of course.[/pullquote]With three full banquet rooms of 40+ businesses, Park Slope’s varied dining scene was truly showcased; Vendors served everything from Thai street food and ice cream (Sky Ice) to miniature tacos (Calexico). With an ever increasing amount of cafes and restaurants stepping up to the challenge of conquering the Fifth Avenue dining scene, the yearly Taste of 5th is easily the most fun, cost efficient, and timely way of deciding where your next go-to spot in town will be…and reversibly, which ones you may want to avoid! While Park Slope boasts an overwhelming amount of taco joints, both fusion and traditionally presented, not all vendors managed to match the savory flavors and fires of your true, authentic street taco. Similarly, the vast number of dessert providers had great ideas in concept, but in flavor may have fallen short in texture and quality. Regardless, Taste of 5th easily displayed just how diverse Park Slope can really be in its food scene, as I myself walked away with double samples and my own mental list of places I’ll be sure to grab full meals from later on.
A speakeasy serving up Tito’s Vodka cocktails provided a true getaway for folks seeking alcoholic provisions, while live jazz band Hot Club of Flatbush fueled both foodies and drinkers with an excess of strong energy and plenty of high-tempo jams to dance off the calories. Plenty of wine and beer vendors also managed create “warm spirits” throughout the evening. Not to mention, this was an altruistic occasion. 33% of the cost for every ticket went to a local charity of the buyer’s choice. Thanks to a myriad of humble and local sponsors, Taste of Fifth continues to be a festive and filling gathering of neighborhood foodies, families, and New Yorkers looking for a good time and a good bite, of course.
Katrina Yentch
Katrina Yentch is a writer, caffeine purveyor and L.A. native with a newfound addiction to New York pizza. She can be reached at kyentch@gmail.com.