Get Your Tickets! 8th Annual New Taste of the Upper West Side

The New Taste of the Upper West Side is almost here! There's just a few days left to grab your tickets to this annual event. 

The Soirée in the Park will kick off the New Taste of the Upper West Side festivities on May 28th, to raise funds for New York City's beautiful Theodore Roosevelt Park, surrounding the American Museum of Natural History. With proceeds benefitting the park, this cocktail event will have live chamber music and feature champagne and hors d'oeuvres prepared by a host of local restaurants. 

On May 29th, Adam Richman, host of NBC's Food Fighters and author of the upcoming book "Straight Up Tasty" will be hosting Comfort Classics, and will be joined by Food Network's Katie Lee, who will be autographing her new book, "Endless Summer Cookbook." During Comfort Classics, forty Upper West Side restaurants will display their most innovative and creative "home-style" fare, while competing to win the title of "Best Comfort Food Dish."

Limited Offer: The next 50 Comfort Classic ticket buyers will receive a free autographed copy of adam's first cookbook, Straight Up Tasty! 

On May 30th, the celebratory Best of the West will be hosted by Marc Murphy, a judge on Food Networks Chopped / owner and executive chef of Benchmarc Restaurants and Anne Burrell, co-host of Food Network's Worst Cooks in America. 

Take a look at my recap from last year's New Taste of the Upper West Side Best of the West event here. 

- Kim Weling

6th Annual New Taste of the Upper West Side

The New Taste of the Upper West Side is back, celebrating its 6th anniversary! Adam Richman (Travel Channel) will once again be hosting Comfort Classics and Gail Simmons (Bravo's Top Chef) will be hosting Best of the West, honoring Danny Meyer (Union Square Hospitality Group) and Randy Garutti (CEO of Shake Shack). Over 70 amazing restaurants are participating, including Dovetail, Jean Georges, Tavern on the Green, Sugar & Plumm, Red Farm, Jacques Torres and Bar Boulud.

The festival takes place May 29th, 31st & June 1st with all proceeds benefitting the Columbus Project and The O'Shea Wellness in School programs.

New this year and kicking off Whole Foods New Taste of the Upper West Side on Wednesday, May 29th is Soirée in the Park at 7pm, in Theodore Roosevelt Park. Hosted by the Columbus Avenue Business Improvement District (BID), the festive fundraiser will feature champagne and hors d'oeuvres by chefs John Fraser (Dovetail), Maria Loi (Loi) and Cesare Casella (Salumeria Rosi Parmacotta).

For more information and to purchase tickets, go to newtasteuws.com. Take a look at my coverage from lasy year's Comfort Classics and Best of the West for a look at my favorite dishes and delectable desserts.

- Kim Weling