FOOD ARCHIVES Hot Sauce Expo and Jewish Comfort Food on This Weekend’s To-Do List
by Billy Lyons
Need a warm-up to get you through to April? Try a few events featuring hot sauce or warm matzo ball soup this weekend.
Hot Sauce Expo, Penn Plaza Pavilion, 401 Seventh Avenue, Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m.
Hot sauce fiends should head out to this two-day affair featuring eating competitions, craft beer, and plenty of gifts. A few of the top events on the calendar include a bloody mary mix competition and a Guinness Book of World Records challenge to see who can eat the most reaper peppers — which are extremely hot. Ticket packages start at $10.
Harlem Food Truck Rally, Frederick Douglass Boulevard between 117th and 118th Street, Saturday, 11 a.m.
Tired of tracking down that elusive food truck you’ve been hearing so much about? Head up to Harlem for a rally that will feature mobile mongers like Luke’s Lobster, Colombian street food specialist Palenque, Mr. Nice Guy, and Lebanese truck Toum. An arts and crafts station will be available for families, and trucks will be parked until 5 p.m.
Coffee Fest, La Boulangerie Lopez, 647 Fifth Avenue, Brooklyn, Sunday, 2 p.m.
This popular Mexican American brunch spot is celebrating coffee with a free afternoon tasting. Beans from Ethiopia, Guatemala, and Mexico will be on display with the staff ready to discuss the unique notes of each sample. Look for pours of seven to 10 varieties; the event is scheduled to run until 5 p.m.
Jewish Comfort Food, Bowery Culinary Center – Whole Foods, 95 East Houston Street, Sunday, 2 p.m.
With Passover quickly approaching, it’s essential to have a warm matzo ball soup recipe on hand. Learn how to make the traditional Kosher soup along with a potato kugel and a healthier version of schmaltz. Class registration is $45 and can be purchased through the Bowery Culinary Center website.