BY: Betina Crione Guest Writer for World Liberty TV

Taste of Sunnyside, a one-of-a-kind culinary event that promotes local restaurants and beverage purveyors. The evening festival took place on Tuesday, May 23, 2017 in a block-long tent, under the elevated 7 train at 46th Street and Queens Boulevard, right in the heart of Sunnyside, Queens.

Sunnyside Shines Business Improvement District produces the event to showcase the neighborhood as a dining destination, and to encourage locals and visitors to discover local restaurants.

The Taste of Sunnyside provides adventurous eaters the chance to sample food and beverages from 30 local restaurants and beverage purveyors — all in one night! More than just a neighborhood event, the Taste of Sunnyside is a culinary passport, transporting food lovers all over the world with a chance to try authentic flavors created by some of the most passionate local chefs.

Tasters  enjoyed bites from some of Sunnyside’s hottest spots, including Italian eatery Soleluna and convivial Mexican joint Arriba Arriba. The event also featured new additions Boon by Moldova, Dayboat, Ida’s Nearabout, and Lowery Bar and Kitchen as well as small batch ice cream maker Bliss Street Creamery.

The full list of eateries  included: 43 Bar and Grill (Irish American Pub), Arriba Arriba (Mexican), Bliss 46 Bistro (French), Bliss Street Creamery (Small batch ice cream), Boon by Moldova (Moldovan/Romanian), Dayboat (Ceviche/Peruvian), Dazies Restaurant (Italian), De Mole (Mexican), I Love Paraguay (Paraguayan), Ida’s Nearabout (American), Jack’s Fire Department (Pub), Lowery Bar and Kitchen (New American), Sidetracks (Irish American Pub), Soleluna (Italian), Tibetan Dumpling Cafe (Tibetan), and Tito Rad’s Grill (Filipino).

This year’s event included plenty of local beverages as well.  Two Queens-based breweries served tastes of their beers, including Big aLICe Brewing and the Queens Brewery, along with The Bronx Brewery and local wine purveyors Lowery Wines and Liquors. Non-alcoholic beverages were also  available for attendees of all ages. The event  also featured live entertainment and a raffle featuring a variety of prizes.

“The Taste of Sunnyside is one of Sunnyside’s biggest annual events for a reason—the combination of diversity and community spirit is like no place else,” said Jaime-Faye Bean, Executive Director of Sunnyside Shines. “95% of attendees have told us that they plan to return to a restaurant they sampled the first time at the Taste, which says a lot about the quality of their experience.”

The event draws attendees from throughout Queens and beyond. In an analysis of last year’s attendees, 2/3 of ticket buyers were from Queens, with an additional 21% traveling from other boroughs and the remainder venturing from outside New York City.

Live entertainment from the Afro-Latineers and the Underground Horns rounded off the evening.

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