This past weekend, foodies descended upon New York City for Meatopia NYC, the world’s most famous meat festival. This annual festival, created and envisioned by the late carnivorous visionary, Josh Ozersky, a James Beard Award-winning food writer. This past weekend, I headed to NYC with my friends to check out this massive meat festival.
The Scene: As we arrived to the rooftop of Pier 92, we were taken by the delicious scent of smoked meat. The venue had an amazing view of New York City. One thing is for sure: we didn’t even know where to start! That being said, we grabbed a glass of Sauvignon Blanc and got the party started. The crowd was diverse, from young to old, there was one common denominator: everyone loves food.
The Setup: The venue was set up in three different areas. The first one is the outdoor area where I witnessed whole split cooked pigs and smokers working overtime. There was a huge bar area with plenty of beer, wine, and cocktails to choose from. The second area was indoor with a live brass band, several bars (yeay), and more vendors. The last station had awesome music (all of our college classics were playing), more booze, and more delicious food. One of the things I have noticed from many food festivals is that you spend more time waiting in line than eating. Not the case with Meatopia NYC. The lines moved very fast and there was no wait for drinks. Best organization I have seen in a food festival so far.
The Food: There was plenty to taste at Meatopia NYC and not enough space in our bellies. There were local favorites such as Hill Country Barbecue and others who came as far as Vieques, Puerto Rico such as El Blok. We loved the take on the cubano sandwich at Asia de Cuba with juicy pork and plantain chips. Another fave was the brisket from El Blok. From the juicy hot beef tongue sandwich from Harry and Ida’s Meat and Supply Co. to smoky chicken tacos from Johnny Sanchez, there was plenty of variety for the meat lovers out there. Vegetarians need not apply….
The Verdict: Meatopia NYC is definitely worth the $175 price tag given that you will have three uninterrupted hours of delicious food and drinks. My best friend said about the event: “the people were so friendly, you felt encouraged to eat”. I agree 100%. Great views, friendly staff/guests, open bar, and endless meat… what else can you ask for?
