Take a break from huffing pumpkin spice everything and appreciate autumn's other special bounty: the apple. Specifically, the delicious creation that comes about when apples are left to ferment, get funky and, ultimately, get boozy. We're talking, of course, about cider—not the plastic jugs from the refrigerated section or even the tasty hot stuff at the farmer's market—but honest to goodness fermented apple juice. Whether you're a celiac sufferer or just plain tired of drinking beer, cider offers enough variety to keep your taste buds occupied while simultaneously getting you tipsy. Win-win!
Starting next Friday, Cider Week kicks off, bringing tasting events, pairings and cooking demos chock full of apple-y goodness.
The week-long celebration begins on the 18th with The Intoxicating Apple: An Evening with Rowan Jacobson, where the James Beard Award-winning author talks about his forthcoming book on apples and offers four ciders paired with cheese at Williamsburg's Wythe Hotel.
On the 18th, eat as many cider doughnuts as you can and learn how to make your own cider at the Apple and Cider Festival at the Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket.
For the seriously gluten-averse, Pie by the Pound throws a Gluten Free Pizza and Cider Tasting from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. with unlimited samples of over 20 types of gluten-free pizza and 10 tickets for cider samples. Tickets go for $35 and include apple pie dessert pizza.
Queens Kickshaw hosts a Five Course Cider-Paired Dinner on the 23rd and 24th, featuring a vegetarian meal of Pot Pie and Quince Tart paired with ciders like Breezy Hill French Style Cider and Eve's Sow The Seeds. The Astoria restaurant also has an all-cider tap takeover during Cider Week.
The festivities conclude with Applepalooza at the Astor Center, an "autumnal tasting extravaganza" where they'll be pouring apple spirits, ciders and apple cocktails in addition to some delectable apple fritters.
Check out the full calendar of Cider Week events for more information on meeting the cider makers and tasting their delicious creations.
