Start loading up on salads now, because this weekend, the epic annual pig-party Cochon 555 is coming to town with all of its whole-hog glory. The 10-city pork extravaganza is kicking off at the Lighthouse in Chelsea Piers this Sunday, and lo, there shall be swine. more ›

Now that winter is officially upon us, it's time to fatten up—forget whatever New Year's resolution you made, because Chilifest is coming! Yes, that's right, the annual celebration of all that is beefy and beany (or not, if you're from Texas) is taking place at Chelsea Market on Sunday, January 29, and the chef lineup at this one looks to be a doozy. more ›

As you already know, this Friday is Festivus (Observed). It's also the last day of business this year for the Big Gay Ice Cream Shop in the East Village, and they'd like to to offer you the opportunity to Air your Grievances while getting a last lick of Salty Pimp at the same time. more ›

On Wednesday night Nueske’s, the beloved smoked meats purveyor, will be taking over Bark Hot Dogs in Park Slope for a five-course tasting menu paired with various Sixpoint beers, including a new beer that hasn't been released yet, the Mad Scientist #7. Bark says they'll be incorporating products from the Wisconsin-based smokehouse for each course, and Vera Obias, the pastry chef at Buddakan, will round out the meal by making a special bacon-infused dessert: Almond Brioche Bread Pudding with Smoked Bacon Maple Sauce & Vanilla Rum Ice Cream. more ›

The relationship between Jews and Chinese food on Christmas runs deep through history, touching on immigration patterns, religious customs, and plain old pragmatism—what other restaurants are open on Christmas Eve? Of course, Jews aren't the only ones who need to eat on the holiday—there are also all of the Asians who keep their restaurants open, and the legions of Festivus observers across the country. And now, Queen's Kickshaw, the fancy grilled cheese restaurant in Astoria, is hosting a cross-cultural Christmas Eve dinner to bring everyone together under one roof: meet Woks and Lox. more ›

Get a little culture with your cutlets this weekend at UnionDocs, a Williamsburg documentary center that's screening some meat-centric programming, with a helping of commentary from a handful of the city's top chefs and butchers on the side. more ›

Brooklynites, indulge in the ultimate trifecta of borough foodie fadishness: whiskey, pickles and jerky—locally-sourced, of course—all together under one convenient roof. Brooklyn Oenology Winery in Williamsburg is hosting a tasting next weekend with the three so-hot-right-now ingredients, and you're all but guaranteed to meet the tattoo-covered urban homesteader of your dreams. more ›

Barcade, the much-loved Williamsburg bar that combines beer with arcade games (it also has outposts in Jersey City and Philadelphia), wants to take you on a beer-heavy road trip this holiday season (don't worry—they're driving). The bar is teaming up with Sixpoint Brewery for a holiday fundraiser called "Highway To Help," which, cheesy title aside, sounds like a pretty solid way to spend a Saturday. more ›

Just in time to help you fatten up for winter, Meat Week, a celebration of all things animal-based, is coming to town next week. From November 7-12, Meat Week, which is brought to you by the people behind Pig Island, Greenmarket, and Just Food, will be "celebrating the farmers, markets and chefs who bring sustainable meat to our tables"—cause for your tongue to celebrate, too, if not necessarily your arteries. more ›

For the past few years the celebrated English chef Fergus Henderson (St. John) has been coming to New York for a brief tour of April Bloomfield's restaurants affectionately dubbed 'FergusStock.' Well, Henderson is back and this year you don't even need a reservation to taste his offal-centric fare (think pig's head with beans for two). Just a lot of patience. The seating for all three of his engagements this week are first come, first served. more ›

Big name American chefs like Mario Batali are partnering with their Italian colleagues at Eataly next week for Identita New York, a two day series of intimate cooking demonstrations, wine tastings, and old-fashioned Italian eating. The second annual event is presented by Identita Golose, a culinary organization that promotes Italian food. We're not sure that Italian food really needs any further promotion, but if you're into cooking, you may want to check this out. On October 31st, for instance, chef Missy Robbins (A Voce) will team up with Emanuele Scarello (Agli Amici, Udine, Italy) for demonstration on how to make Ricotta Filled Pasta. more ›

Eating bugs, so hot right now. Not only is the El Rey del Sabor purposely offering grasshoppers in their tacos this week, but on Friday the New York Botanical Garden is holding an entire event devoted to devouring creepy crawlies with tasty beers. Yum! more ›

It's time to get red-faced, teary-eyed and laugh boisterously in unison while back-slapping businessmen singing karaoke: on Friday night exactly 326 varieties of sake "in peak condition" will be uncorked at the annual Joy of Sake tasting event. Presented by the Foreign Ministry of Japan at the Altman Building in Chelsea, this is the largest sake-tasting outside Japan, and this year 30% of ticket sales will go to brewery families who lost their homes in the Great East Japan Tsunami. The more you drink, the more virtuous you become. more ›

Sure, you might live in Brooklyn now, with your bird tattoos and your freelance design job, but there was a time—a time that you don’t like to talk about—when you lived in the Midwest, perhaps as a child. And in that time, you loved to eat the quintessential Midwestern mom dish: casseroles. Don’t be ashamed. Revel in your love of the one-pot dish: the flaky crust, the hearty filling, the cheesy topping. Then take that love and show the world you’re not afraid at the 7th annual Casserole Party, October 24 at the Brooklyn Kitchen. more ›

Germany's Oktoberfest may have come and gone, but there's still time to get your German jollies even if you missed that flight to Munich. Head up to Hostelling International's castle-esque Upper West Side headquarters (yes, there's a hostel in NYC, and they throw surprisingly good parties) this Saturday for their Hostelberfest celebration of beer, brats and brass bands. more ›

October is beer month at Gothamist, and our mission is to bring you a new beer-related post every day, until our hangovers become so crippling we wind up forgetting what we promised halfway through the month. For today's beer-related report, we'd like to call attention to our BFFs at the Village Voice, who will be throwing a big craft beer bash in Brooklyn on Saturday, October 15th. And this isn't happening at any old Brooklyn dump; the first annual Brooklyn Pour will go down at the old Williamsburg Savings Bank in Ft. Greene, which is now called Skylight One Hanson. This place is spectacular, and everybody's gonna get laid. more ›

Saddle up for the 2011 Tour del Taco, a bike ride through the finest taco establishments this town has to offer. Organized by three taco-loving friends, the Brooklyn by Bike tour on October 9 will hit five spots in Brooklyn and Queens: Los Hermanos in Bushwick, La Esquina in Williamsburg, El Gobo in Corona, Roosevelt Ave taco trucks in Queens, and one TBD Sunset Park stop. Who will reign supreme? more ›

Does looking at all that food porn on your tiny computer screen leave you feeling unsatisfied? The fifth annual NYC Food Film Festival is here to fix you right up. The interactive fest is taking over Tribeca Cinemas from October 13-16, with a whole slew of hunger-inducing films, conveniently paired with the real-life foods they focus on. Taste what you see—that means no more watching Chocolat alone on your couch while inhaling Three Musketeers! more ›

A quick reminder that many of our farmer friends in upstate New York were hit hard by Irene—remember the sad pumpkins? Guess what though? You can help this weekend, by doing little more than eating out at one of the dozens of restaurants that have banded together for Dine Out Irene. more ›

It's the most wonderful time of the year—the time when you can hide your glutton-esque ways under sweet sweet layers of clothing. What better way to fatten up than with a walk-around food market in the great outdoors? The Madison Square Market is back for the season, and they've got some solid eats. more ›

Hammer & Claws Blue Crab Feast allows you to enjoy unlimited crabs, sides, and beer, oh, and you'll probably have slimy hands. more ›