James Beard Award winner and chef behind New York's FieldTrip, JJ Johnson also wears the title of cultural tastemaker quite well, thanks to his all-out bash, The Cookout. Last year, the chef held his first cookout event in New York, casually closing out one of the city's top food festivals, Food Network New York City Food and Wine Fest. This year, he is doing it yet again, and you are most definitely invited.
On October 18, Johnson and his crew are bringing The Cookout back to NYC. Hosted by Johnson and Angela Yee, the spirited cookout will celebrate Black culture and music all day long. But it wouldn't be a cookout without food, now would it? Answering your question of "Who all gon' to be there?", expect a killer list of established and up-and-coming Black talent, including fine foods from chef Preston Clark of Bar Mercer and Lure Fishbar, Caribbean eats courtesy of Osei “Picky” Blackett, freshly shucked oysters from head "mothershucker" Ben “Moody” Harney of The Real Mothershuckers and sweet, handcradted ice cream treats from Petrushka Bazin Larsen and Nick Larsen of Sugar Hill Creamery. And in between eats, groove to live DJs and more musical guests. Plus, this is a cookout that gives back: 10 percent of all ticket proceeds will be donated to Rethink Food.
General admission tickets start at $174 and include all-day access, unlimited food and drink and open seating. Priced at $231, VIP includes early entry, priority service at chef stations, reserved seating and a complimentary keepsake cup to remember the good times. Tickets are running low, so purchase yours here.