Scouting Summer Corn

It happens at every farmers' market once summer corn is in season.  Now that it is, every farm that sells corn has to deal with obsessed shoppers ripping back corn husks looking for what they think is an optimally ripened piece.  There are other ways to tell though, apart from tearing back corn's clothes.

Obviously, a bigger ear of corn is better if you want a bigger ear of corn.  It'll have more kernals, but bigger isn't always better when it comes to summer's sweet crop.  What matters is that the cob has no holes or missing kernels.  You don't have to go all toddler-on-Christmas-morning to find out.  Instead, just feel for divits and soft spots that might have resulted from worms or uneven ripening.

Justin Warner Talks About Being the Next Food Network Star

Justin Warner became the next Food Network star two weeks ago.  Voting was left open to the public and it voted 4.5 million strong in favor of the Bed-Stuy food wiz.  Employee's at his restaurant Do or Dine all wore "Team Alton" T-shirts during the voting period.  Bed Stuy Patch got ahold of Justin to talk about his new path. 

“I didn’t really think I was gonna win in all honesty, because I do weird stuff, and I didn’t know for sure that America was ready,” Warner told Bed-Stuy Patch. “But what I’m really excited about is, because it came down to a national vote, it’s really an endorsement of America than it is of myself.

Filming dates for the new show haven't been revealed but shooting will definitely start sooner than later.  The show is set to premiere this fall.

Donde Dinner?

Friday is Donde Dinner? day.  Digest NY wants to make your next restaurant outing an adventure.  So, we picked a restaurant and are going to post its address for you.  The catch is, that's all the information you get.  No name, no type of cuisine, and no Googling allowed!  Price, quality, and accessibility are all being taken into concern.  We promise you won't be waiting at the bar for two hours with $15 cocktails, and since we're not fancy folk, you never have to worry about a dress code.  Just hop on the train, or your feet, or your bike, and head to:

30 East 13th Street (btwn University and 5th)

Signage Up At Pork Slope

Last week, Digest NY introduced Triple Play to bring continued coverage on the development of Calexico, Terroir, and Pork Slope; all opening within the same two blocks on 5th Avenue in Park Slope.  Today's update is to reveal the signage up at Pork Slope, set to open two weeks from tomorrow on August 18th.

Another new sign up on the front door encourages job seekers to "Inquire Within."  This could be done through a propped open front door.  Digest NY knocked and got a peak but construction workers were reluctant to permit photos without consent from the owner's, who weren't there at the time.

We'll head back soon.  Stay tuned.

Shuck Yea!

This Sunday is National Oyster Day.  If you need some ideas for where to partake, check out our list of mollusk menus we put together a couple of months ago.

Word comes via Grub Street that restaurant group BR Guest is getting in on Sunday's shuck show.  The group's seafood and steakhouse restaurants are serving $1.50 oysters all day with a $5 glass of muscadet if you order a half dozen or more bivalves.

Pig Island Sails to Governor's Island Labor Day Weekend

Pig Island is an annual celebration of pork and booze held on Governor's Island.  Tickets are available here.  General admission is $85 but there's an Early Bird package for $70 available for purchase until August 17th.  Ticket price includes food and booze.

The event includes 25 of the best chefs from around the city, butchering and cooking demos, local beer, local pigs, and local wine from New York State's Finger Lakes and North Fork.  King Phojanakong (featured in the video) will be there.  As will Anthony Sasso of Casa Mono and John Stage, the man behind Dinosaur BBQ.  Dale Talde will also take a boat to the island for the event September 1st.  It'll probably his first chance to leave Brooklyn as his latest project Pork Slope, opening August 18th, will be just two weeks old.

Pig Island | Saturday, September 1st | 1130am - 4pm | rain or shine

Party With The Pines this Saturday

Signs advertising a backyard party this Saturday, August 4th are hanging up in the windows at The Pines.  The restaurant's website confirms.  The Pines is the new project from the guys behind neighboring Gowanus storefront Littleneck.  RSVP through info@thepinesbrooklyn.com and get a sneak peek at chef Angelo Romano's cooking.  You can get another peek by dining at Littleneck on Wednesday nights when Angelo is in the kitchen making dishes he plans on serving at The Pines when it opens in September.

The menu for Saturday's party looks to the Caribbean for inspiration: pigeon peas & rice, jerk chicken, and curry goat are part of the $30 ticket price.

Orange You Glad I Didn't Say White Wine?

Grub Street published an article today by Matthew Latkiewicz that sheds some light on orange wines. One of many reasons why these wines are unique is because they are often created through natural, organic, and biodynamic winemaking methods. It is a trend that continues to gain momentum in both New World and Old World wine making countries. The popularity of these wines has risen over the past few years and restaurants have started dedicating small sections on their wine lists to these peculiar favorites. Osteria Morini has a few and Digest NY happened to have one when we were there for "Industry Night" last Monday. In keeping up with the trend, let us tell you about it.

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