(Photo: Big Apple Barbecue Block Party)
As we enter high hog season, some of the city’s biggest barbecue bashes have just unveiled their lineups. Waddle over to these fests and feasts if you dig the pig.
Big Apple Barbecue Block Party
June 7 and 8 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Madison Square Park
This year’s cavalcade of smoked meat in the street finds Williamsburg’s Daniel Delaney joining pit masters who’ve been participating for years: Patrick Martin of Nashville, Mike Emerson of Pappy’s Smokehouse in St. Louis, Scott Roberts of The Salt Lick in Texas, and of course locals from Blue Smoke, Dinosaur Bar-B-Cue, and Hill Country. Brooklyn’s Black Taxi — among others — will be belting out genre-bending tunes.
“Break Down” and “Pig Out”
June 1 at L’Apicio, 13 E 1st St, East Village
If you want to meet — not just eat — your pig, this is the event for you: East Village’s buzzy Italian spot L’Apicio hosts a 5 p.m. class ($100) during which esteemed meat purveyor Pat LaFrieda, accompanied by chef Gabe Thompson, will show you how to butcher a hog. Then at 6 p.m., the restaurant hosts a feast ($65) featuring “endless cuts of pork,” from lardo crostini to pulled pork sliders to Tuscan ribs. There will also be beers, cocktails and live music.
Pig Island
September 6 from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Erie Basin Park, 1 Beard Street, Red Hook; early bird tix $65
Jimmy Carbone of Jimmy’s No. 43 just announced the initial lineup for the 5th installment of this annual pigout: among the 20+ chefs who’ll cook up 80+ hogs are Joe Dobias of Joe and Mrs. Doe in the East Village, Evan Hanczor of Williamsburg’s Egg, Patti Jackson of Delaware and Hudson (which recently took over Egg’s old space), Shanna Pacifico (formerly of Back Forty, now of Boteco). Reppin’ Red Hook, where the blowout will take place, are Ft. Defiance, The Good Fork, and Sixpoint beer (there’ll also be northeast ciders).
And don’t forget…
Baby’s All Right will roast a suckling pig for you no matter what the ocaj.
Correction: The original version of this post was revised because it misidentified the date of Pig Island.