FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM MAY 31, 2018 • THE QUEENS COURIER 23
Eighth-annual ‘Taste of Sunnyside’
draws in hundreds of eager foodies
BY JENNA BAGCAL
jbagcal@qns.com/@jenna_bagcal
Rain couldn’t stop hundreds of eager
foodies and beer enthusiasts from coming
to Sunnyside on May 22 for the eighth
Taste of Sunnyside food festival.
Sunnyside Shines Business
Improvement District once again hosted
the event, under the leadership of the
organization’s executive director, Jaime-
Faye Bean. Prior to the festival, Bean
expressed her excitement over the successful
ticket sales to the event.
“Th e Taste has always been a wonderful
community event, and our outdoor beer
garden, games, live entertainment and
more food than ever are going to ensure
a really memorable experience for attendees,”
Bean said.
Event attendees at the Sunnyside event
experienced a unique opportunity to
try food and drink from local restaurants,
pubs, bars and breweries at the P.C
Richards parking lot at 52-02 Queens
Blvd. In past years, the event was held in
the parking structure under the 7 Train,
but moved this year to accommodate the
growing number of vendors and guests.
Guests had the option to purchase several
levels of tickets. General admission
tickets were $40 and allowed attendees to
enter the event when it began at 6:30 p.m.,
while the $70 VIP option let guests enter
the festival an hour earlier to get a head
start on a night of eating and drinking.
Tuesday’s Taste of Sunnyside featured
an array of selections from over 20 eateries
representing the cultural variety of the
neighborhood.
Th e selections ranged from skirt
steak slathered in mole from De Mole
(Mexican), chicken inasal and lechon
kawali from Tito Rad’s Grill (Filipino),
almond-stuffed dates wrapped in
bacon from Bantry Bay Publick House
(Gastropub) and ghost pepper grilled
cheese sandwiches and wings from
Jack’s Fire Department (American Pub
Favorites).
Other restaurants in attendance included
Sidetracks (Modern Pub), Cumbia
y Sabor (Colombian), Th e Lowery Bar
and Kitchen (Gastropub), Bliss 46 Bistro
(French), I Love Paraguay (Paraguayan),
Senso Unico (Italian) and Ottomanelli
Burgers and Fries (gourmet burgers) each
off ering unique samples off their restaurant
menus.
Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer
attended the festivities, and spoke in support
of all the local businesses. He encouraged
attendees to not only eat and drink
from the local businesses in attendance,
but also to check them out aft er Taste of
Sunnyside.
Attendees also received a Taste of
Sunnyside passport book fi lled with coupons
to encourage guests to patronize
the restaurants and other businesses even
aft er the festival was over.
Guests who were 21 and older also
had the option to try beers from some of
Queens’ local breweries and bars, including
Big aLICe Brewing, Queens Brewery,
War Flag Brewing, LIC Beer Project as
well as some international beers served
by Five Points Trading Company and
Pilsner Urquell. Other beverages were
provided by global wine distributors
and other drink sponsors who provided
non-alcoholic drinks.
Afro-Latineers and Underground
Horns provided live musical entertainment
as guests noshed on their selections
and local game bar Solid State supplied
several table-top games and served as host
for Taste of Sunnyside’s aft er-party.
Photo by Jenna Bagcal/QNS
Sidetracks was one of the over 20 local eateries at Taste of Sunnyside on May 22.
/@jenna_bagcal
