It’s no joke! Park Slopers can support their favorite local eateries on April 1 — just by ordering takeout and posting about it.
The ninth annual “Taste of Fifth” food festival will be a takeout-only affair this time around, offering local businesses a much-needed boost while they deal with a prolonged slowdown due to the COVID-19 crisis.
“We’re using it as an opportunity to encourage people to get takeout,” said Mark Caserta, executive director of the Fifth Avenue Business Improvement District.
The BID has hosted “Taste of Fifth” since 2011 and, just last year, more than 600 foodies flocked to the event to sample fare from more than 50 of the strip’s best eateries.
The biz-boosting group had originally canceled the event, normally held in the opulent Grand Prospect Hall, once the spread of the coronavirus began and gatherings of over 50 people were banned. However, its members decided to resurrect “Taste of Fifth” in take-out form in order to lend local eateries a helping hand.
“Everyone is trying to get more business from takeout and delivery,” Caserta said. “It’s been difficult for a lot of restaurants, people are concerned about health and they’re watching the economy change.”
This year’s “Taste of Fifth” will go on after all, he said — but in a different way than foodies are used to.
To participate, order from any restaurant in the 11215 or 11217 zip code, then post a picture of your grub on social media with the hashtag #atasteoffifthtakeout. Five participants will be chosen at random to win a $50 gift card to a Park Slope eatery of their choice, with the hope being that they will be used to dine in-house once the ban is lifted, Caserta said.
To find out what restaurants are still open, check here.
