nykeiko eats: Snapshots of Googa Mooga 2012: First year, day one!

My snap shots from Googa Mooga in Prospect Park on Saturday May 19th. This is a great unique event and hope next year will be better. Sure the lines were long but they were worth the wait. The food was delicious and since we didn't drink any wine or beer, we didn't experience whatever fiasco happened earlier on.

Tips: 
-Don't go there super hungry or you'll be pissed waiting in line.
-No need to go to the first ID line by the entrance which was crazy long. There's a guy checking IDs and giving out red bracelets at some of the beverage stands. 0 mins wait.
-Bring a picnic blanket.
-Bring lots of cash. Shit ain't cheap at all. You'll see, I posted the price of the stuff we bought.
-Go early. Some popular places sold out early in the afternoon.
-Go with a group of friends where everyone can take turn waiting in different lines and buy for one another to save time. Some lines were an hour long but some were decent! 

First sight: Discouraging long ass lines

First stop: Hill country BBQ Market tacos. Stood in the wrong line for ten minutes.

The wait was about 20-30 minutes? The Cold brew iced coffee had no wait so I got a $4 cold brew coffee. Expensive but iced drink on hot day is priceless.

Brisket taco. 1 for $8 or 2 for $12. We got 4 cuz we were hungry and also to get for friends.

In line,..again.

Second stop: Frankie's sausage peppers and polento.$10 a bowl.

The wait was about 15 minutes.

It was more effective to have two different people stand in line for different vendors

The wait was about 20 minutes.

Crawfish pasta $10 each

Blue Ribbon fried chicken $10

The line was 45-60 mins for  the Blue Ribbon fried chicken. Dave got a lemon ginger drink from Jean Georges for $5.

We had a picnic blankie so it was nice to chill on the grass and eat and then enjoying the music...
The Roots! Classic!

Live concert from The Roots!

Sea of peeps

Deserts were sold out early

There were a couple of places I wanted to try but was discouraged from the line ups. I'll try Big Gay ice cream another time.

After Googa Mooga, we had more food at DuMont burger in Williamsburg. The wait was shorter here.

www.facebook.com/nykeiko
Tweet @nykeiko_com
Instagram: nykeiko

The first annual Googa Mooga festival at Prospect Park

Update: See my post here with pics of the first day at Googa Mooga.

I'm quite excited about Googa Mooga but don't want to overhype it for myself. Many of our favorite food vendors and restaurants we have tried in the city will be there all in one place so I don't see anything that could be wrong except not having space in my belly to try everything in sight I guess.

Should I starve myself before the event and bring lotsa cash to fill up my belly?
 
By now, most New Yorkers have heard about this great festival bestowed upon foodies in NY city.
Registration for free tickets was open months ago and it was quite hard to get some since the site crashed for a bit. If you were persistent and patient like Dave was, then you were treated with up to 4 tickets for yourself and friends.  Registration for tickets is now closed but there are probably still VIP tickets available where you have access to restricted venues where tv personalities like Anthony Bourdain, actors, mixologists, DJs and top chefs (including Marcus Samuelsson-Red Rooster, David Chang-Momofuku) will be there doing meet and greets, giving seminars and cooking for guests. There will also concerts and free food tasting too! I entered a contest trying to win these VIP tickets which are worth $250!!

Extra VIP Googa Mooga tickets gets you:

• Exclusive Extra Mooga entertainment and special performances
• Themed parties in Extra Mooga venues throughout the day
• All-inclusive food, from tastes to heaping plates of your favorites
• Includes beer, wine and exclusive cocktail offerings 
• Access to a special Main Stage viewing area
• A separate entrance for easy reentry
• Your special Extra Mooga sack filled with goodies
• One-year New York Magazine subscription

Some of the food vendors that will be there (more listed on the Googa website):

I see many vendors I haven't tried nor heard of before even if I've been to Smorgasburg and Hester Street fair a gazillion times already!

Mmm Luke Lobster's (eaten at Hester Street Fair 2011)

Russ and Daughters

Oh I meant to add more pictures but it's just impossible go through all the pictures of places I've eaten at in NY! Impossible!

Air France food truck-complimentary menu creations by Joel Robuchon

I admit, I don't watch tv so I didn't know much about top chef Mr. Joel Robuchon. After Googling him, I thought he looked quite familiar but that is all. Reading about his culinary achievements, he is the chef with the most Michelin stars accumulated from his restaurants worldwide! He has his L'Atelier restaurant in both New York (1 Michelin star) and Taipei (no star) as well as all around the world. I guess I'll get a chance to taste his stuff here in NY one day or maybe Taipei...orrr for free?.. from a food truck? That's what we did today! Actually, I'm not sure to what extent was his involvement in this "menu creations" but I guess he taste approved it?

The promo Air France truck is serving different spots around NY from March 24 through March 28 and we had a chance to catch a complimentary teeny dinner today at the Park Ave/15th st stop after getting our Jamba Juice at Union Square (it's 2 for $5 coupon time!). I thought there would be a long line up and was hesitant to check it out. However, we were right there and there was barely a crowd (maybe due to the location?) and it took us less than 2 minutes to get some grub. It was delicious and served warm!! I loved the macarons and wondered if they were imported from France! The chefs in the truck spoke French so it MUST have been "authentique"!
Yumzy..best free truck food ever...and we hope to win a trip to Paris too!



Here is what was on the menu as they serve breafkast, lunch, dinner and dessert:

Bfast:
-Buckwheat crepes filled with minced chicken, ham, and mushrooms with Mornay sauce.
-Pain au Chocolat
Lunch:
-Cucumber and smoked salmon brochette
-Grilled beef filet with wine truffle sauce and potatoes au gratin
Dinner:
-Smoked salmon and shrimp rondelle
-French Sheperd's Pie with duck confit.
Dessert:
-Assorted French macarons and petits fours.

The finishing touches were all there too. Rosemary on the tournelle.