BROOKLYN EATS™
FOOD, WINE & BEER TASTING FESTIVAL
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PRESENTING BROOKLYN’S BEST FOODS & BEVERAGES

Brooklyn and great food go hand-in-hand.  Food is big business in Brooklyn.  There are more than 1,000 restaurants across the borough and more than 100 food and beverage manufacturers.  No matter how you slice it, bake it or brew it, food is one of the main ingredients in the Brooklyn economy.

Brooklyn Eats™ 2009 turned out to be a terrific evening of feasting, toasting and promotion of the ethnic and cultural diversity of our borough!  Foodies returned to Abigail Kirsch at Stage 6, Steiner Studios in the Brooklyn Navy Yard to taste their way through the various cuisines of Brooklyn’s diverse neighborhoods, enjoy the unique cultural experience each community offers and peek into the burgeoning lounge scene.  Scroll below for scenes from the 2009 event.

Restaurateurs and caterers interested in exhibiting at the 2010 event may contact Event Producer Martha Bear Dallis, Bear Dallis Associates, at 718-522-0209 or at events@beardallis.com.

Brooklyn Eats™ Timeline
Brooklyn Eats has grown steadily since its premiere event in 1997, and garners more media excitement and attention with each event:

1997 – 20 restaurants
Launch of the 1st Annual Brooklyn Eats™ presented by the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce at Lepercq Space, Brooklyn Academy of Music for 200 food enthusiasts.  Brooklyn Eats™ is a food, wine and beer tasting festival presenting Brooklyn’s best foods and beverages.

Launch of the 1st Edition of Brooklyn Eats™ –The Guide to Brooklyn Restaurants, the first ever comprehensive dining guide to Brooklyn.

1998 – 30 restaurants
2nd Annual Brooklyn Eats™ presented by the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce at the newly opened New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge.

1999 – 36 restaurants
3rd Annual Brooklyn Eats™ event launches the 2nd Edition of Brooklyn Eats™ – The Guide to Brooklyn Restaurants, the Brooklyn Chamber’s gastronomical guidebook to Brooklyn.  This essential guide features over 200 listings of our favorite eateries, from classic pizzerias to new hot spots, from Coney Island to Greenpoint, and every neighborhood in between.

2000 – 40 restaurants
4th Annual Brooklyn Eats™ to launch Brooklyn Eats™ Online, an online version of our Brooklyn Eats™ guidebook and the easiest way to access Brooklyn restaurant information on the Internet at ibrooklyn.com, the Brooklyn Chamber's Web site.

2001 – 51 restaurants
5th Annual Brooklyn Eats™ to launch the first-ever Brooklyn Eats™ Out coupon book featuring valuable coupons redeemable at restaurants from Williamsburg to Bay Ridge.

2002  - 53 restaurants
6th Annual Brooklyn Eats™ to launch the 1st Annual Brooklyn Eats™ Scholarships awarded to three hospitality management students: Ms. Donna Crayne, Ms. Sarah Fagan and Mr. Fermin Martinez from the New York City College of Technology, CUNY.  Awardees are chosen not only for their demonstrated abilities as student chefs, but also for their outstanding community service and general academic excellence.

2003 - 58 restaurants
7th Annual Brooklyn Eats™ to relaunch the newly-expanded and updated brooklyneats.com, which can also be accessed from ibrooklyn.com.  Featuring neighborhood maps and more than 750 restaurant listings, brooklyneats.com makes it easier than ever to go out and get a taste of Brooklyn.

The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce awards the 2nd Annual Brooklyn Eats™ Scholarships to three hospitality management students: Mr. Ebow Dadzie, Ms. ‘Monica’ Chun Hui Ng, and Mr. Peter Pinkhasov from the New York City College of Technology, CUNY.

2004 - 68 restaurants
While welcoming 16 new restaurants to the 8th Annual Brooklyn Eats™, seven veteran restaurants that have participated at the event for five or more years were designated "Brooklyn Classics": Akwaaba Café, Archives Restaurant, Aunt Suzie's, Brawta Caribbean Café, Junior's, Lundy Bros. Restaurant and Marco Polo Restaurant.

The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce awarded the 3rd Annual Brooklyn Eats™ Scholarships to Ronney Williams, Latoya Mason and Shakia Hall, hospitality management students at the New York City College of Technology, CUNY.

2005 - 67 restaurants
9th Annual Brooklyn Eats™ welcomed 21 first-time food exhibitors, the largest number of new participants since its inception, demonstrating the continuing growth and vitality of the restaurant industry in Brooklyn.

The Brooklyn Chamber presented a "Meet the Authors" book signing featuring Steve Hindy and Tom Potter, co-founders of the Brooklyn Brewery and co-authors of their new book, Beer School: Bottling Success at the Brooklyn Brewery.

The Brooklyn Chamber held a special fundraiser "Brooklyn Eats™ for Dooky Chase," to help rebuild Dooky Chase, a 65 year-old New Orleans landmark institution, which sustained considerable water damage after Hurricane Katrina.  Leah Chase, the restaurant's renowned chef and author of The Dooky Chase Cookbook, was present at the event.  Click here to read more and see the list of prizes and winners.
 
The Brooklyn Chamber awarded the 4th Annual Brooklyn Eats™ Scholarships to Michell Mingo, Kimberly Goodman and Jesus Melendez, hospitality management students at the New York City College of Technology, CUNY, for their recipe "Jammin' Caribbean Pineapple Cake," created especially for the event. 

2006 – 44 restaurants
10th Annual Brooklyn Eats™ welcomed nine first-time food exhibitors, and showcased eight “Real Brooklyn” food manufacturers that continue the tradition of  excellence in specialty foods and dining establishments in our vibrant Brooklyn hospitality industry.

The VIP Room was abuzz with merriment! Commerce Bank coined the first-ever signature ‘YES-tini’s’ with mixologist Johnny Hope, Magnolia Restaurant and Stolichnaya Citron Vodka courtesy of Pernod Ricard USA. VIP guests kept with a Brooklyn Eats tradition of toasting to the 10th Anniversary with Champagne Perrier-Jouët courtesy of Pernod Ricard USA.

The Brooklyn Chamber awarded the 5th Annual Brooklyn Eats™ Scholarships to Veronica Maldonado, Rhonda Rondon and Jude Nwabuoku who are hospitality management students at the New York City College of Technology, CUNY.  The scholarship winners were chosen not only for their demonstrated abilities as student cooks, but also for their outstanding community service and general academic excellence. The talented pastry chefs unveiled their fabulous recipe for City Tech’s Wild Raspberry Cake at Brooklyn Eats. It’s time to bring out your cake pans and bake this delicious recipe at home!

2008 – 35 restaurants
The 11th edition of Brooklyn Eats™ returned after a yearlong hiatus in a new venue, Abigail Kirsch at Stage 6, Steiner Studios in Brooklyn Navy Yard, and with a new twist – food and beverage exhibitors were presented within the context of their local arts and cultural organizations.  The revamped, scaled back event showcased 13 cultural organizations for the first time, along with our restaurant and beverage exhibitors, including 14 newcomers.
 
Also in attendance for the first time were the New York City Association of Hotel Concierges and Tour Operators and the Guides Association of New York City.  The addition of these organizations to the 2008 event brought Brooklyn’s hospitality industry to the realms of business event planning, incentive travel, meetings and tours, thereby attracting spending to local businesses that otherwise would not have access to these audiences.
 
The Brooklyn Chamber awarded the 6th Annual Brooklyn Eats™ Scholarships to hospitality management students Reem Assad, Ronish Hamilton and Natasha Wheatley from the New York City College of Technology, CUNY.  Their winning recipe, City Tech Zen Cookies – butter cookies dipped in chocolate with candied ginger – was a hit!

2009 – 32 restaurants
The 12th Annual Brooklyn Eats™ returned to Abigail Kirsch at Stage 6, Steiner Studios – and was a resounding success yet again!  More than 400 people from New York City and beyond came to enjoy the unique cuisine, burgeoning “Lounge Scene” and cultural experience that is drawing visitors from around the city to our borough.  Featured were 32 restaurants, five lounges, nine beverage distributors and six cultural organizations, 19 of which exhibited for the first time.

Brooklyn Eats continues to demonstrate the success of our borough’s thriving and important restaurant and tourism industries.  We were pleased to welcome back the New York City Association of Hotel Concierges and Tour Operators and the Guides Association of New York City whose participation helps us expand the market for Brooklyn’s businesses.

As has become tradition, the Brooklyn Chamber proudly awarded the 7th Annual Brooklyn Eats™ Scholarships to Theresa Evans, Ashley Alioto and David A. Fiumano, hospitality management students at the New York City College of Technology/CUNY.  The scholarship winners were chosen based on their demonstrated abilities as student chefs, outstanding community service and general academic excellence.  The talented future chefs unveiled their Big "Apple" Trio dessert created especially for Brooklyn Eats.  Click here for the tasty recipe!

Brooklyn Eats™ is produced by the Brooklyn Alliance, the nonprofit, economic development affiliate of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce. The 2009 event was presented in cooperation with the Brooklyn Delegation to the New York City Council, with special thanks to Christine Quinn, Speaker of the New York City Council. Additional support was provided by the New York City Department of Small Business Services, Brooklyn Eats event corporate sponsors and the Brookyn Chamber's Innovators, Chairman’s Circle, Leadership Circle and Champion sponsors.  Event production by Bear Dallis Associates, Inc.