Eat Cetera: German Karneval, Kimchi Taco Truck, Beerunch
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<strong>Karneval:</strong> Why let New Orleans (and its blotto tourists) have all the fun? The Germans know how to cut loose for Carnival tooâthey even spell it Karneval with an Insane Klown Posse "K"! Hold onto your lederhosen, because both locations of the German-inspired Loreley "Biergarten" will be raging all weekend. Owner Michael Momm's hometown of Cologne is the center of German Karneval celebrations and the site of the event's largest parade on Rosenmontag (Rose Monday), which attracts over 1 million people. So yeah, every year Momm goes all in.<p></p>The <em>Magik</em> kicks off Thursday at the Loreley Manhattan with Weiberfastnacht or "Women's Carnival Night." We're told that in Germany, it's the night when women have the most fun: wear a clip-on fellas, because they're allowed to cut off any man's necktie and kiss any man they want. Momm, who DJ'd Laurence Fishburneâs wedding, will be spinning "Karnevalsmusik" all night and a special Karneval food menu will be served. On Friday, the debauchery shifts to Loreley Williamsburg, where at 9 p.m. the French-inspired Les Sans Culottes pop band will debut their version of the song "Viva Colonia," which is the most popular Karneval hit song ever.<p></p> On Sunday, for those left standing, they'll be another Karneval party in Manhattan starting at 9 p.m., and on Monday, at the same location, the annual Karneval dinner with taped broadcasts of the Rosenmontag parades in Cologne, Duesseldorf and Mainz (popular with German expats) will be shown.<p></p><em>Loreley Restaurant & Biergarten, 7 Rivington Street, (212) 253-7077; and Loreley Williamsburg, 64 Frost Street, (718) 599-0025</em>
<em>Courtesy <a href="http://midtownlunch.com/2011/03/01/kimchi-taco-truck-trying-for-midtown-midweek/">Midtown Lunch</a><p></p></em><strong>Kimchi Taco Truck:</strong> The much anticipated <ahref></ahref>Kimchi Taco Truck should bemaking its midtown debut this week. Under the supervision of ChefYoungstun Lee (formerly of Momofuku) the menu boasts a cosmopolitanselection of dishes such as the ingenious $7 Kim-Cheesesteak thatdoesn't spare the Cheez Whiz and the Italian-inspired $3 KimchiArancini. The $7 Kimchi Tacos and $8 Kimchi Bowls come with a choiceof Korean BBQ beef, spicy pork and pulled chicken, while the solevegetarian entrée option is limited to the Tofu Edemame Falafel Taco.As far as we can tell, the $3 Spicy Rice Cakes topped with quesoblanco are the only items on the menu other than soda that aren'tdoused with kimchi.<p></p>They had their grand opening on Long Island City today, but follow theKimchi Taco Truck on <ahref>twitter to find out exactlywhen and where they will touchdown in Manhattan.â<em>Surekha Ratnatunga </em></ahref>
<strong>Beerunch:</strong> <a href="http://www.hopdevil.com/">Hop Devil Grill</a>'s "BEER-unch" has been such a hit on Sundays in the East Village that they recently expanded it to Saturdays, when we're told it's not such a sodden mob scene (yet). $20 gets you unlimited Domestic draft beer from their 24 taps, Mimosas or Bloody Marys (90 minute time limit!), plus any one of a number of menu items. Options include a Pulled Chicken Sandwich (seen here) that is described thus: "It is all in the dry rub. This savory sandwich is topped with a slice of muenster cheese and served on a hearty bun with fries." There are also standards like French toast, waffles, and with Poached Salmon with Dusseldorf Lime Sauce. <p></p> <em>129 St. Marks Place, (212)533-4468</em>