Sometimes life is all about timing. I booked a trip to see my parents in my hometown New York City — and it just happened to be the same weekend as an invite I received to NYC’s finest bacon festival. So what’s a foodie to do? I brought my mom to the 2016 Great Big Bacon Picnic in Williamsburg, Brooklyn in NYC, where I learned the foodie apple doesn’t fall far from the tree — in fact, now I know where I get it from! My mom is really good at food festivals.
Mom and I indulged in the Great Big Bacon Picnic’s brunch session at the Old Pfizer Building on Flushing Avenue. Our first stop was the comprehensive bacon bar, serving about a dozen different kinds of bacon out of your yummiest dreams. There were also lots of vendors who made creatively delicious dishes using the cured meat, like the incredible 5 Shades Of Bacon from 1633 (which must be eaten whole to truly appreciate all five delicious shades), Caramel Chocolate IPA Bacon doughnuts & Pumpkin Spice Latte cold brew from Astoria’s Gossip Coffee (which I had visited earlier in the week!), Bacon Chocolate Chip Cookies from Queens’ Rhoda Cookies, the Sweet Breakfast from Brooklyn’s MIUSA Wine Bar, and the Smoked Crispy Pork Belly Taco with Poblano Lime Ranch & Pickled Onions from Manhattan’s Tres Carnes.
Aside from the bacon, one of the best things was that there were many gluten-free options at the fest, so my mom (who is GF) was able to enjoy so many of the dishes! Mom’s favorites included the Chipotle Bacon Avocado Deviled Eggs from Ho’ Brah, Bacon Wrapped Figs Stuffed with Gorgonzola from Brooklyn’s Naive, BLT Lettuce Wraps from Brooklyn’s Cow & Clover, and Black Pepper Thick Cut Bacon from Long Island’s Tellers.
To wash down all of that deliciousness, there were bacon cocktails were on the menu, like the Bacon Bloody Mary and a Bacon Egg Cream from Corrine’s Concepts in Catering. Fun fact: The Egg Cream was invented in NYC and it’s a quintessential New York drink. Both Mom and I hadn’t had one in years, and this one was good until the last drop — plus it had bacon in it.
Interested to know more about the background of the fest? Read our Q&A with the founders Craig and Lon Taylor.
Check out more photos and GIFs from The Great Big Bacon Picnic below!