January is looking kind of bleak when it comes to aggressive feasting and/or sunshine, which is a bummer, to say the least. Still, this city will never let you starve, except maybe when you're a couple months behind on rent and you lost your MetroCard and your credit card's maxed out and you're living off of Saltines. Anyway, here's where to eat this week:
On Tuesday, head to DUMBO for the Valrhona Hot Chocolate Festival's kickoff party, held at L'École Valrhona. The festival, which runs from January 23rd to the 31st, will send Valrhona hot chocolate to pastry shops like Dominique Ansel Bakery, Ladurée, and François Payard Patisserie, with 50 cents of each purchase going to City Harvest; Tuesday's festival will feature samplings of the hot chocolates in addition to small bites. The event costs $35 (ticket sales go to City Harvest) to attend and runs from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.; purchase a ticket online.
And on Thursday and Friday, Loosie's Kitchen in Williamsburg will host famed Charleston chef BJ Dennis, who will cook up a six-course Lowcountry and Gullah Geechee cuisine tasting menu. Dishes include Lowcountry shrimp, grits souffle and chicken bog for Thursday and Friday's dinner seatings. There's also a brunch menu on Saturday, with dishes like Johnny cakes and biscuits. The dinner menu is $65 per person, and there are seatings at 6 p.m., 7:30 p.m., 9 p.m., and 11 p.m.; make a reservation online.
