Taste Talks Brooklyn

The Roots drummer-cum-food nerd Questlove curates this annual no-holds-barred, three-day Brooklyn grub fest. The lineup is packed with 25 tastings, parties and workshops that range from an oyster cocktail hour followed by a multicourse dinner ($90) to a free future food expo and the festival's pièce de résistance, an all-star BBQ ($45) with offerings from big-name toques, including veal ribs from Justin Smillie (Upland), deep-sea red crab from Hugue DuFour (M. Wells Steakhouse) and queso-slathered short rib burgers from Alex Stupak (Empellón Cocina). To kick off the week, join Quest and sweets wizard Dominique Ansel on September 11 for a rooftop dessert party at the McCarren Hotel & Pool ($90).