The Duckathlon

Don't let the name fool you—this is no fowl-filled triathlon. Instead, this culinary competition, open to the public for the first year, includes challenges like a gin-and-homemade-jam cocktail-crafting session presented by Tuthilltown Spirits, and identifying cuts of meat with Balthazar's Shane McBride and Painted Hills Farm's Will Homer. Celebrated chefs will also battle against each other: Watch pastry master François Payard challenge chocolate king Jacques Torres to make the best "floating island" meringue dessert.