June 5, 2017 By Christian Murray
The Chocolate Factory Theater is celebrating its twelfth year hosting the annual Taste of LIC Tuesday, which will be taking place for the first time at Kaufman Astoria Studios.
The event has been held on the waterfront at Gantry Plaza State Park for the past eight years but organizers said the location has changed to accommodate those chefs looking to cook with open flames and where there is greater access to electricity.
The Taste will take place on the studios’ outdoor film lot on 36th Street between 34th and 35th avenues.
Sheila Lewandowski, the executive director of the Chocolate Factory, said that many chefs want to cook on site so they can showcase the quality of their food. At Kaufman Astoria there are less restrictions than at the park.
“It’s also good to change things up a little,” Lewandowski said.
The event, which started in 2005 with a dozen vendors inside the Chocolate Factory theater space, will bring more than 40 local restaurants, markets, eateries, bars and breweries to the new venue.
Advance tickets are still available and attendees will be able to purchase them at the event.
VIP tickets cost $150, providing ticketholders with three hours to sample food from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm. General admission costs $65, with ticketholders given two hours of noshing from 6:30 pm to 8:30pm.
General admission tickets purchased at the door will be $75.
Proceeds benefit the Chocolate Factory’s 2017-18 performance season.
This year’s event will feature many high-end Long Island City restaurants as well as several Astoria restaurants.
Long Island City restaurants include M. Wells Steakhouse, Casa Enrique, Blend on the Water, Kavala Estiatorio and Crabhouse LIC.
Astoria restaurants include Kurry Qulture, Zenon Taverna, Warique and The Thirsty Koala.
For tickets, click here
