LuckyRice

Kick off the LUCKYRICE Festival with a not-to-be-missed party where all the drinks served are inspired by Asian drinking traditions and trends. Curated by Albert Trummer, the mastermind behind the Chinatown speakeasy Apothéke, experience the new wave of cocktail culture: hand-crafted artisanal spirits mixed with kitchen-fresh ingredients, Chinese medicinal herbs and Asian fruits. Tasty Asian drinking snacks will be served up along with music to groove to in the Bowery Hotel’s swank second floor lounge.

Participating bars include: Apothéke, B Flat, Bar Pleiades, The Bowery Hotel, DANIEL, Death & Co., Double Crown, Dutch Kills, Fatty Crab, Freemans, Macao Trading Co., Pegu Club, PDT, The Summit Bar, Tippling Bros., WD-50 with celebrity guest DJs

Join us for an enlightening conversation between acclaimed Chefs Eric Ripert of Le Bernardin, David Chang of Momofuku and Buddhist authority Professor Robert Thurman of Columbia University and Tibet House as they discuss the connection between Buddhist ethics and food as well as the impact of Buddhism on their lives, in and out of the kitchen. We’ll also discover the subtle flavors of “peace food” as interpreted by Buddhists from Thailand to Tibet. Alternately referred to as “devotion cuisine” (“shojin ryori” in Japanese), “temple food” (“sachal eumsik” in Korean) or simply “vegetarian food” (“zhaicai” in Chinese), Buddhist cuisine makes creative use of gluten, tofu, soy, agar and plant products in place of animal meat.

The talk will be followed by a champagne reception and tasting of ancient shojin cuisine at MoMA overlooking the spectacular sculpture garden.

Inspired by the festive night markets of Asia–from Taipei and Singapore to Hong Kong and Kyoto–LUCKYRICE is throwing a giant block party with Momofuku chef David Chang and surprise friends. Centralized under the historical and newly re-opened Archway Under the Manhattan Bridge in Brooklyn’s DUMBO, the outdoor feast will serve up traditional Asian night market grub as well as some not-so-traditional street food interpreted by some of the city’s gastro-hipsters. Whether Korean tacos stuffed with kimchee, hotdogs topped with Thai pickled cucumbers and mango or mouth-watering Vietnamese baguette sandwiches (banh mi), Asian street food is the undisputed rock star of the culinary world. In the spirit of Asian night markets, there will also be plenty to drink–tapioca tea, beer, shochu cocktails and more–at this outdoor festivity.

Behind-the-Scenes with chefs from the LUCKYRICE Culinary Council

Spend Sunday the Chinese way: grocery shopping followed by a dim sum brunch! New York City is home to one of the largest immigrant communities of Chinese in America. Whereas the Cantonese have settled into Manhattan’s legendary Chinatown for generations, newer immigrants from Fujian province have congregated instead in Flushing, Queens. Led by our Culinary Council, we’ll start in Manhattan and travel our way together to Flushing–and, along the way, we’ll learn how the pros shop at live seafood stalls, check out fresh Asian produce and revel in the culinary history and delights of each neighborhood and feast over a dim sum lunch in one of Flushing’s famed banquet halls.

At this ultimate food celebration, travel and feast your way through Asia’s diverse cuisines and cultures without leaving the magnificent Mandarin Oriental ballroom overlooking Central Park. Over 20 acclaimed chefs–including those from the LUCKYRICE Culinary Council as well as top chefs not known for Asian cuisine–will create special tastings that reflect their artistry while celebrating the flavors of Asia. Hosted by Emmy award-winning journalist LISA LING, this gathering will artfully present curated pavilions of food and drink while entertaining guests with surprise spectacles intersecting Asian fashion, music and art. If you can make it to only one event, make it the Grand Feast. Featuring the chefs and restaurants from the LUCKYRICE Culinary Council and additional restaurants selected by the Council. Sake + Shochu Bar by EN Japanese Brasserie. Japanese Whiskey Bar by Brandy Library. Global wines paired with Asian flavors. Asian Cocktail Bars by Apothéke and Fatty Crab. Asian Beer Hall. Teas and coffees.

Hooray for dumplings, those lovable nuggets of dough and pockets of deliciousness! Bring the kiddies and learn how to make dumplings: both traditional Chinese dumplings and some not-so-traditional ones of our own creation. After an intimate, hands-on workshop where groups of children and families will learn to roll and stuff dumplings, we will feast on–what else–dumplings!

At this sit-down, multi-course dessert tasting and tea pairing, get ready to indulge your sweet tooth! The city’s most ambitious pastry chefs–as selected by LUCKYRICE Culinary Council Chef Pichet Ong (Spot)–will dish out desserts–sweet and savory–that wink at their Asian inspiration, be it in the form of matcha green tea cupcakes, ginger creme brulee or black sesame and red bean mochi balls. All the treats will be complemented by different brews selected for each course and led by our tea sommelier.

For one week only, top New York City Asian restaurants will offer specially-designed lunch and dinner prix-fixe menus. Participating restaurants are invited by LUCKYRICE’s Culinary Council. Check back soon for a list of participating restaurants.

Tickets will go on sale in February 2010.