Jimmy at Meatopia this summer, photo from Gabi Porter for Metromix.com. (Where the never-ending locavore parties hosted or helped by Jimmy are often chronicled.)
The Powerhouse:
Jimmy Carbone
What He Does:
Jimmy Carbone is the owner of craft beer and locavore haven Jimmy’s No. 43 in the East Village, which is Slow Food approved. That’s his day job. Or maybe it’s his night job, because without Jimmy, 75 percent of the sustainable happenings in this town would have to find another home. Carbone uses his restaurant as a portal and a stepping stone: He supports local farmers and producers not just on his menu and his beer list (both excellent), but also through his never-ending roster of laid-back tastings and cook-offs… like a Hot Bread Kitchen contest, where chefs had to use traditional flat bread, or a butchering breakdown by owners of The Piggery, a new pork CSA from upstate with pickups at the restaurant. He also hosts a traditional vegetable CSA pickup from farms that don’t hit Greenmarkets, offering those in his community access to some of the best produce in the State. His restaurant is always among those serving samples to support city farms, farmers markets, good food and good beer. He is also co-founder of The Good Beer Seal, which prompted our own event Good Beer at BAM, as well as Mayor Bloomberg’s declaration that July shall forever be Good Beer Month. If you’ve heard of Meatopia, Taste of Tribeca, Hungry Filmmakers or The Great New York City Shuck ‘N Suck (and weknowyouhave), then you’ve heard of Jimmy Carbone. And did we mention he hosts weekly beer-talk sessions on Heritage Radio Network?
Why We Love Him:
We love Jimmy’s ability to round up New York foodies looking for a good lesson in local in every setting, while curating the top-notch seasonal grub coming out of the restaurant’s cavernous hub: skillet-fried beer sausages, citrus-cured salmon, white bean crostini with pecorino. And we seriously give the man props for helping to spread the love of craft and locally made beer beyond a few dedicated beer geeks. Plus, the man knows how to party.
Where to Find Him:
When he’s not roaming around the city’s Greenmarkets or co-hosting the latest Slow Food-approved event in our fine metropolis, you can find Jimmy in the back of Jimmy’s No. 43 — Jimmy’s No. 43: 43 E. Seventh Street; 212.982-3006; jimmysno43.com — likely talking with a budding farmer from upstate or sampling a smoked Sixpoint beer to see if it’ll pair with his Piggery sausages. But better yet, stop by the man’s next big thing, Pig Island, an all-day locally sourced meat fest at Governor’s Island on October 2nd, where some of the best sustainably minded chefs in the city will be showing off their skills with very fine pork.
From September 26th to October 6th Edible Manhattan, Edible East End and Edible Brooklyn — in conjunction with Edibles statewide and GrowNYC — present Eat Drink Local week, our celebration of the local food chain through heirloom vegetable auctions, wine tastings, DIY challenges, lectures, garden tours, farm to table dinners and countless other events. Over the next few weeks we’re highlighting a few of the restaurants, wine shops and wineries, breweries and beer bars, farms and food artisans and cultural institutions that the week is meant to celebrate.
From September 26th to October 6th Edible Manhattan, Edible East End and Edible Brooklyn — in conjunction with Edibles statewide and GrowNYC — present Eat Drink Local week, our celebration of the local food chain through heirloom vegetable auctions, wine tastings, DIY challenges, lectures, garden tours, farm to table dinners and countless other events. Over the next few weeks we’re highlighting a few of the restaurants, wine shops and wineries, breweries and beer bars, farms and food artisans and cultural institutions that the week is meant to celebrate. 