• Instruct a stranger to kiss your grits after a few of the $3 shot-and-beer specials at the Friday night opening party for Bushwick’s new Southern restaurant Mama Joy’s, which will also feature complimentary hush puppies and promises Southern hospitality. [DNAinfo]
• Jesus Nunez, chef of the Upper West Side Spanish restaurant Gastroarte appeared on Iron Chef America last Sunday: The secret ingredient was octopus, and he lost by a heartbreaking one point. Undeterred, starting August 11, the chef is offering the five courses he prepared in the Kitchen Arena as both a complete tasting menu and à la carte specials at his restaurant. [Grub Street]
• It turns out Pig Island is a place you might want to go, provided you’re not a vegetarian: The swine-centric food festival makes its return to Governors Island on Saturday, September 1. It will be offering up live music, Sixpoint beer, and enough chefs serving pork-based dishes to have you oinking in the mud yourself by the end of the day. [Grub Street]
• The Pines, opening in Gownaus in September, is throwing itself a pre-party: They’re serving a Jamaican menu of curry goat, jerk chicken, and drinks in their backyard for $30. RSVP by e-mailing info@thepinesbrooklyn.com. [Official Site via Eater NY]
• Starting next Monday, get on (Rhode) island time in the West Village with Perilla, who will be partnering with the Narragansett Beer Company to serve the specialties of our smallest state — fried clams and the like — on the last four Mondays of August. It’s $60 for food and drink, call for reservations and mention the beer dinner. [Grub Street]
• Sunday is National Oyster Day and there’s really only one logical way to celebrate: slurping some mollusks. To make this easier, Oceana is offering $1 oysters at their raw bar, bar, and café, starting at 4 p.m. Additionally, several B.R. Guest places (Blue Water Grill, Primehouse, Atlantic Grill, Ocean Grill, and Blue Fin) are offering
$1.50 oysters and $5 Muscadet with dinner. [Grub Street]
