Why Come Here? Opportunity to sample unusual Basque wines, affordable food festival, help a good cause
Txikifest is an annual Basque Festival held in the alley behind Txikito in Chelsea. The event combines tapas-sized portions of food with a number of wines from the Basque region of Spain. I consider any time you can get unlimited food and wine for four hours to be a win, but I especially like this one due to the quality of the restaurants, chance to try lots of unusual wines and price ($50). Also unlike most festivals, the proceeds go to a worthy cause which makes you feel a lot better about being drunk at 2PM on a Sunday. This year’s event benefited Edible Schoolyard, an organization that works with schools in disadvantaged communities to build urban gardens and teach kids about healthy eating. Below are some of the food highlights.
Txikito turned out two stellar dishes for their signature event. A Fideua 
, which is basically a noodle paella and a popular spicy grilled Chorizo 
. Despite having grilled sausage for dinner the night before, I couldn’t help myself from returning over and over to this station. The battle that ensued every time a new piece came out demonstrated I wasn’t the only one.
Most of the bites weren’t actually Spanish, as demonstrated by Hoboken’s Cucharamama. Their Mexican inspired Shrimp Over Corn Polentaย was covered in a mole sauce and served over a corn husk. It was basically a deconstructed tamale, and I have no problem with that.
The most fun dish of the event was the Charred Baby Vidalia Onions w/ Romesco Sausceย 
from Chef Matteo. You literally grab these little suckers by the stem, dip them in sauce and take down the whole onion in a single chomp. The vidalias were driven up from North Carolina for the event were particularity sweet being both young and grilled. They paired well with the spicy, tangy romesco sauce.
Co., whose restaurant shares the alley with Txikito, provided Broccoli Rabe & Chili Toast with Stracciatella cheese . The stringy, salty cheese did a nice job tempering the spicy rabe and chili sauce.
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Txikifest
Annual Festival in the Alley Behind Txikito
9th Avenue b/w 24th & 25th Sts.
New York, NY
