Fourth Arts Block East Village Eats Food Tour Preview

Fourth Arts Block, a non-profit located on East 4th Street Cultural District is hosting an East Village Food Tour & Fund-raising event. $35 gets you access to 15 restaurants in the East Village as well as discount drinks at a few bars in the area (buy your tix now, they go up to $45 tomorrow).  I mentioned this tour before, but last Friday I was lucky enough to go on a preview & try out 5 of the dishes that we’ll be scoffing this Saturday (Oct. 23rd 11am -4pm).  Joined by Ed of The Lo-Down (an awesome LES blog, his take on the tasting here), FAB?s director of special projects, Lauren Parrish & her assistant Tamara.

We started close at Bond Street Chocolate for some amazing dark chocolate with Szechuan Peppers.  Next up was half of a Shrimp Roll at Luke’s Lobster, a personal favorite.  Amazingly fresh & covered in ‘special spices’, it was very good.  Nicky’s Vietnamese was next & I must admit that I’ve totally forgotten that this place existed!  We tried the classic pork sandwich with pickled vegetables & a delicious hint of pate.  Needless to say, I won’t be forgetting about Nicky’s anytime soon.

Then it was off to Nomad, a Mediterranean tapas restaurant for hummus, toasted pita & chicken satay.  The tour ended with a vegetarian antipasto dish at Cucina de Pesce.  Housemade Mozzarella with basil & tomatoes accompanied 2 bruschettas (the white bean spread was to die for) & grilled zucchini with goat cheese.  Needless to say, we were all stuffed & if this is any indication of what is to be expected on Saturday, I can honestly tell you that there will be hundreds of people roaming the East Village in self-induced food comas.

So do yourself a favor, buy your discounted ticket today, help a great organization & taste what the East Village has to offer!  The event kicks off at 11am at the East Village Visitor’s Center (61 East 4th Street), you’ll get a wristband, a map & an ever-so -handy spork.