Hip Hip Hooray! The Second Annual Varli Food Festival in NYC

By: Anne M. Raso

After the Rica Swim Party and Cobain Photo Exhibit, I started getting a bit hungry (all that traveling around town really works up an appetite!), so thankfully the last party of the night was the delicious Varli Food Festival. I covered the Varli Food Festival right here on the "pages" of financefoodie.com last year, but this year's event seemed a bit mellower--the music was not as loud and you could actually talk to the numerous Indian chefs and restaurant owners. Much of the proceeds at the door went to various children's charities, and as usual, guests got a coupon book full of $10 and more coupons off at numerous tristate eateries, including the wonderful new high end Indian eatery Junoon that I reviewed here a few months ago.

Guests got to sample anything they wanted from an awesome Indian makeshift market and we enjoyed making mango lassies with the huge cans of Kesar Mango Pulp. Star Basmati Rice, one of the best brands of Indian rices, was generous in giving hundreds of bags out via the market!

I can tell you my "dream dish" of the evening's numerous tasting stations--it was the Chicken Tikka Masala and herbed basmati rice from Heritage Caterers in New Hyde Park, New York (for more info, go to heritageindiancuisine.com) and Nan King's Crispy Lotus. Nan King may be a small New Jersey based chain but they have a sophisticated menu and also have a branch in Times Square (for more info, see nankingrestaurantgroup.com).