This Theater Serves Pork, Not PopcornWarm weather is running out for Harry’s Water Taxi Beach, the aquatic venue that was the site of Meatopia and any number of other summer frolics. But the place has one more big event left in it: this weekend’s barbecue movie series, the last segment of the first annual NYC Food Film Festival. Starting tonight and running through Saturday, catch titles like the much buzzed-about (in BBQ circles, anyway) Barbecue: a Texas Love Story or Dial S for Sausage. All will be accompanied by real barbecue, prepared by Meatopia veterans Scotty Smith of RUB and Robby Richter of Big Island Barbecue. “These are great films which happen to be about barbecue,” says documentarian George Motz, one of the festival’s organizers. “The food, though, will make it a multisensory experience.” After the jump, catch a sneak preview of Barbecue: a Texas Love Story.
Mediavore
More Buzz Over Restaurant Liebrandt; A Meatball for the AgesA second trivial press release (uh, the Oregon Museum of Science gala?) alludes to Restaurant Liebrandt 2007, and the chef’s chef is suddenly besieged with questions, which he vows to answer “in due time.” [Mouthing Off/Food & Wine]
Related: Vegetables Suggest Liebrandt’s New Restaurant Is a Reality
After a nerve-racking two-day delay, a judge has cleared the way for the $565 million Whole Foods–Wild Oats merger. [NYT]
The ruination of Times Square is now officially complete, with news of an IHOP on the way. [NYP]
A counterterrorism detective has been fired for what might be the best defense for failing a drug test ever: marijuana-spiked meatballs. [NYT]
VideoFeed
Meatopia IV: The Movie
By now you’re probably sick of hearing about Meatopia, the “Woodstock of edible animals,” and its infanticidal magnificence. But that’s only because you’ve just been hearing about it. Now, thanks to the magic of Grub Street Video, you can see Meatopia IV: Slaughter of the Innocent yourself, and even get behind the scenes with the chefs as they prepared the sacrificial victims. Be prepared, however: This video may not be safe for vegetarians. On the upside, we won’t talk about it again for another year.
Video: Meatopia IV
Foodievents
Meatopia IV: A Visual Feast
Last night’s Meatopia was everything we could have dreamed of and more: an unforgettable spectacle of infanticide with world-class chefs, world-class gluttons, and the beauty of the Water Taxi Beach as a setting for both. Here’s some hint of its wonders, captured by society photographer Melissa Hom.
Foodievents
Meatopia V: We Have a Winner(s)!The polls have closed on our Meatopia V theme contest, and we have a winner! We sort of have four, actually. Given their truly mind-bending menus, three readers could not be denied entrance to our infanticidal bash. We look forward to meeting them tonight. Our grand-prize winner will not come to Meatopia alone. She may bring three guests along, too. The lucky carnivores are listed below.
Foodievents
Meatopia V: Grilled Gore and Guts The response to our Meatopia V contest has been overwhelming. Grub Street is populated by committed carnivores who have filled our meat cooler with brilliant ideas for next year’s edible animal gala. We’ll highlight some of the best throughout the day and announce the winners tomorrow. (Entry deadline is 6 p.m. today.) Here are three of our favorites.
Foodievents
Win Tickets to Meatopia IV!Truman Capote’s “Black and White” ball. Diddy’s “White Party” in St. Tropez. And “Meatopia IV: Slaughter of the Innocents.” The all-time must-attend events are few and far between, and we only get to go the latter because we happen to be throwing it. And what a party it will be: six great chefs will cook five kinds of baby animal on the banks of the East River while beer flows freely. Invitations are few, but we are making four available to the Grub Street reader with the best concept for Meatopia V. We already have a pretty good one in mind, and last year’s, “Decklefest,” is already taken. But send in your concept — along with what meats it entails — and you might just find yourself hobnobbing with the meat elite next Tuesday. Send your menus to grubstreet@nymag.com.
Meatopia IV Invitation [PDF]
