On Friday October 5th I attended the Eataly Fall Food & Wine Fest which was held at the downtown store at 4 World Trade Center. That’s second Eataly to open in New York City, the first in 2010 at the former Toy Building on 5th Avenue in the Flatiron neighborhood of Manhattan. I’ve been to the Flatiron store many times but this was my first visit to the downtown store. Both stores are food theme parks where you can spend the entire day wandering around the store aisles eating and drinking.
Eataly is an Italian marketplace and mega store founded in 2007 in a former vermouth factory in Turin, Italy (A store I’ve been to). They now have stores worldwide and in Chicago, Los Angeles and Boston.
The food and wine festa featured over 40 regional Italian wines which were paired with small dishes from specific regions in Italy. I was an interesting mix of wines from several appellations and not surprisingly given the venue, the food was excellent.
I like the way the tasting was laid out. Instead of everyone crammed into a room, the wine and food stations were sprinkled throughout the store so you would have to stroll throughout the store to sample everything.
Some of my favorites:
Eats
Gnocchi con salsiccia e cime di rapa (Friuli) Gnocchi with sausage and broccoli rabe. (very delicious)
Halibut Barcaccia (Calabria) Halibut marinated in red wine vinegar, ginger and lime with Calabrian chilis. (loved the sweet, sour, salty combo on this)
Polenta Fritta (Trentino) Fried polenta with Parmigiano and rosemary.
Octopus Barcaccasi (Sardegna) Octopus marinated in extra virgin olive oil and red wine vinegar with potato, celery, chili flakes and sea salt.
Pane con Fonduta (Liguria) Housemade bread with a Parmigiano and Fontina dip.
Wines
Barone Pizzini: 2014 Saten Franciacorta, NV Anima Extra Brut
Altesino: 2016 Rosso IGT, 2016 Rosso di Montalcino
Castello de Neive: 2013 Dolcetto d’Alba, 2015 Barberesco
Secodo Marco: 2013 Valpolicella Ripasso, 2011 Amarone
Boroli: 2012 Barolo Classico, 2012 Barolo Vittero
Tua Rita: 2016 Rosso dei Notri, 2014 Perlato del Bosco
Rainoldi: 2017 Rosso di Valtellina, 2017 Grumello
Colle Massari: 2014 Montecucco Riserva
Galardi: 2012 & 2013 Terra di Lavoro
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