Times Square
Friday, June 26, 12 noon – 10:00, and Saturday, June 27, 11:50 am – 8:00 pm, free admission
tasteasia.org
The second annual Taste of Asia festival in Times Square celebrates the culture and cuisine of China, Japan, Korea, India, Thailand, and other Southeast Asian nations with live music and dance, cooking and martial arts demonstrations, and lots of food. Performers on Friday include Sounds of Korea, Sirasdance, the Masayo Ishigure & Miyabi Koto Shamisen Ensemble, Saung Budaya, the Golden Rooster, Samurai Sword Soul, Behri, and Sharon Cheng, while cooking demonstrations will be led by chef ambassadors Zizhao Luo, Pitipong Bowornneeranart, Esther Choi, Brian Tsao, David Bouley, Yuji Wakiya, and many more. There will also be awards ceremonies for best restaurants, fashion shows, a dumpling making workshop, and, even better, a dumpling eating contest. On Saturday, the seventh NTD International Chinese Culinary Competition will honor the best in Cantonese, Northeastern, Shandong, Sichuan, and Huaiyang cuisines, with plenty to eat for everyone.