24
Sep/15

NYC DUMPLING FESTIVAL

24
Sep/15

Dumpling eating contest is centerpiece of festival (photo by twi-ny/mdr)

Sara D. Roosevelt Park
East Houston St. between Forsythe & Chrystie Sts.
Saturday, September 26, 12 noon – 5:00 pm
Tasting tickets: $20 for four plates
www.dumplingfestival.com

Nearly every culture makes some kind of dumpling, involving meat and/or vegetables tucked inside a wrapper made of flour or rice. So the NYC Dumpling Festival, held on the outskirts of Chinatown in Sara D. Roosevelt Park, is not merely a celebration of the Chinese delicacy but of dough-encased delights from all over the world. In past years, you could find such “dumplings” as pierogi, ravioli, empanada, mandoo, bao, shumai, and momo. The twelfth annual festivities, emceed by Danielle Chang and Anita Marks and featuring a special appearance by competitive eating favorite Takeru Kobayashi, includes fare from Dumpling Go, Bibigo, Tang’s Natural, Mika, TBaar, and festival sponsor Chef One, which serves frozen bagged dumplings. Of course, the highlight is the dumpling eating contest; last year’s men’s champion, James “the Bear” McDonald, downed eighty-six dumplings in two minutes, while women’s champ Molly Schuyler beat the Bear with a record ninety. In addition, there will be live performances by beatboxer Sung Lee, Korean drummers KTMDI (Janggu), the Lion Dance Crew from Wan Chi Ming Hung Gar Institute, Bellyqueen, and Yut and the Hot Four. All proceeds from the festival benefit the Food Bank for New York City, so you won’t have to feel too guilty about stuffing your face, if you’re patient enough to navigate the long lines.