Brooklyn Botanic Garden
900 Washington Ave.
Saturday, October 2, $10-$15, 12 noon – 6:00 pm
718-623-7200
www.bbg.org
Things are going to get mighty spicy at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden on Saturday as the annual Chile Pepper Fiesta arrives, ready to burn through an afternoon of special events galore. There will be fiery cooking demonstrations by Dave Schuttenberg of Cabrito (12:30), Corwin Kave of Fatty Crab and Fatty ’Cue (2:00), Karthik Kumar of Brick Lane Curry House (3:30), and Simon Glenn of Tchoup Shop (5:00), along with plenty of tantalizing tastings that should go well with cocktails prepared by spicy mixologist Kara Newman, who will also be signing copies of her recently published book SPICE & ICE. Chocolate lovers can participate in the Brooklyn Chile Chocolate Takedown and partake of particularly peppery chocolate desserts, hot cocoa, and chocolatey beer. The Chile Goddess will be offering gardening tips at the Lily Pool Terrace (1:00 – 5:00), and tours of the garden’s chile plants are scheduled for 3:00 and 4:00. Live music, featuring bands from international regions that love their chile peppers, will run all day on the Cherry Esplanade Stage, with Mandingo Ambassadors (West Africa, 12:15), Red Baraat! (North India, 1:45), Atlas Soul (North Africa / Middle East, 3:15), and Boukman Eksperyans (Haiti, 4:45). Dawn Drake & Zapote (12 noon & 3:15) and the Ukuladies (1:15 & 4:15) will grace the Chile Chocolate Stage at the Meadow. Rain or shine, it should be one helluva hot time.