Back to All Events

Bowl of 'Zole Brooklyn

BOWL OF ‘ZOLE™ BROOKLYN ADDS GUEST CHEF ROBERT CRAIG, MEXICO CITY STAR, TO LINEUP
Ahead of a Limited NYC Engagement, Craig Joins Dazzling List of NYC Chefs and Restaurants Dishing Out Outstanding Classic Mexican Cuisine with 120+ Agave Spirits Pairings

NEW YORK CITY, NY – September 24, 2024 – Chef Robert Craig of Mexico’s lauded Puntarena, Primos, Café Torino, and Porco Rosso kicks off a limited engagement in New York City at Bowl of ‘Zole™ Brooklyn on Thursday, October 17, 2024, at Industry City.

Robert Craig, a chef and restaurateur for over 20 years, leads restaurants ranging from fast-casual favorites to acclaimed upscale establishments in Mexico City and Madrid. Born in Mexico and trained in Barcelona, Craig infuses his signature culinary perspective into Bowl of ‘Zole™ Brooklyn. Following the event, Craig will begin a limited engagement at Soledad, the intimate restaurant of fellow Bowl of ‘Zole™ Brooklyn chef Julian Medina.

Craig and Medina are just two of more than 20 award-winning and up-and-coming chefs and restaurants at Bowl of ‘Zole™ Brooklyn, each bringing their best pozoles and traditional Mexican dishes to pair with over 120 vibrant agave spirits like mezcal, tequila, and raicilla from artisan producers, importers, and distributors. 

As part of Bowl of ‘Zole™ Brooklyn’s partnership with City Harvest, all Bowl of ‘Zole™ chefs will prepare extra pozole for donation. City Harvest exists to end hunger in communities throughout New York City through food rescue and distribution, education, and other practical, innovative solutions. This year, City Harvest will rescue 81 million pounds of high-quality food that would otherwise go to waste and deliver it free of charge to hundreds of food pantries and soup kitchens across the five boroughs, helping to provide food for New Yorkers experiencing food insecurity.

Led by a trio of hospitality veterans—Mexican spirits expert Arik Torren of Lot001 Brands, Food Karma Projects event producer and restaurateur Jimmy Carbone, and La Lonchería chef and Mezcal de Leyendas partner Danny Mena—Bowl of ‘Zole™ creates, as Carbone says, “the kind of experience you only get when you're in the industry.” “I am so proud of Bowl of ‘Zole™,” says Mena. “It's unique in that it is as much about the food as it is about the drinks. Mexico has so much food culture, but the beverage culture is so unique and amazing. In Oaxaca they consider mezcal ‘cultura líquida,’ or liquid culture.

At Bowl of ‘Zole™ Brooklyn, attendees can sample every dish and sip every mezcal, tequila, and spirit at an all-inclusive event that spotlights the depth, history, and future of Mexican cuisine. The 2024 Bowl of ‘Zole™ Brooklyn Chef and Restaurant Lineup features:

The selection of agave spirits at Bowl of ‘Zole™ Brooklyn is extensive, featuring pours from some of the most sought-after labels, including El Jolgorio, Real Minero, Del Maguey, and Flor del Desierto. “Finding the stories and these makers and going beyond just the usual gets us excited by the breadth of what Mexico has to offer,” says spirits expert Torren. Sample spirits from:

  • 123 Organic Tequila

  • Agave de Cortés

  • Alma del Jaguar

  • Amatiteña Tequila

  • ArteNOM Tequila

  • Balam Raicilla

  • Banhez Mezcal

  • Confianza

  • Cráneo Mezcal

  • Del Maguey Single Village Mezcal

  • Don Amado Mezcal

  • Don Fulano Tequila

  • El Búho Mezcal

  • El Jolgorio

  • Fabriquero Sotol

  • Flor Del Desierto 

  • Fósforo Mezcal

  • Fuenteseca Tequila

  • Hacienda de Bañuelos

  • Herradura Tequila

  • Lalo Tequila

  • Lapis Tequila

  • Las Perlas de Jalisco

  • Los Magos Sotol

  • Los Nahuales

  • Macurichos Mezcal

  • Mezcal Los Siete Misterios

  • Mezcal de Leyendas

  • Mijenta Tequila

  • Mina Real Mezcal

  • Nuestra Soledad

  • Pal’alma Mezcal

  • Palomas Mensajeras

  • Pechotierra

  • Pelotón de la Muerte

  • PM Spirits Project

  • Real Minero

  • Reyes Agave

  • Santanera Tequila

  • Siete Rayas

  • Sotol Por Siempre

  • Sotoleros

  • Tequila Arette

  • Tequila Fortaleza

  • Uruapan

  • Wild Common

  • Yola Mezcal

  • Yoowe

  • and more!

Tickets are on sale now at bowlofzole.com and start at $55 (plus fee). VIP Tickets ($85 plus) fee include extraordinary perks, including early access to the festival at 5:00 PM, the opportunity to mix and mingle with chefs and spirits producers, and, in a fantastic collaboration with Anova Culinary, Anova Culinary Swag Bags with Anova Precision® Cooker Nano.

Members of the media are invited to attend the event, which will include opportunities for interviews with Bowl of ‘Zole™ Brooklyn participants and Bowl of ‘Zole™ Brooklyn organizers. High-resolution images and additional press materials are available here and upon request. 

For more information about Bowl of ‘Zole™ Brooklyn or to schedule an interview or media visit, please contact Jimmy Carbone at (917) 386-8357 or jimmypotsandpans@gmail.com.

Bowl of ‘Zole™ Brooklyn is an indoor, rain-or-shine event for ages 21 and up. The lineup and offerings are subject to change.

Bowl of 'Zole™ Brooklyn - Tickets

Thursday, October 17, 2024, 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Industry City 5 2 A Venue 33 35th Street Brooklyn, NY 11232

About Food Karma Projects: Food Karma Projects events are grass-roots style celebrations that bring together award-winning and rising star chefs, restaurants, artisan producers, and distributors. Founded by Jimmy Carbone, Jimmy made his mark with Jimmy’s No. 43, an iconic bar in New York City’s East Village known for its approach to craft beer and local food. He expanded his dedication to regional food communities with the founding of Food Karma Projects and under his direction, Food Karma Projects gatherings are platforms for collaborative success stories.

Food Karma Projects’ diverse portfolio ranges from long-standing events to fresh new soirees, including Brisket King® NYC, Rib King NYC™, Pig Island NYC™, Bowl of ‘Zole™, and CiderFeast™. Each festival offers immersive experiences that attract food enthusiasts and industry professionals alike. For more information, visit foodkarmaprojects.com and follow along on Instagram and Facebook. 

About Danny Mena: Danny Mena is one of New York City’s top Mexican chefs, acclaimed for the traditional Mexican food he served at his restaurant Hecho en Dumbo for over 10 years and now at La Lonchería and Conejo in Richmond, VA. After forgoing an engineering career for culinary school and stints at restaurants Blue Hill and The Modern, Mena started Hecho En Dumbo in 2007. He and his team quickly outgrew that space and opened their Manhattan location in 2010.

In 2018, he opened La Lonchería, a rustic Mexican-style luncheonette offering a modern take on traditional dishes. Another Mexican tradition close to Mena’s heart is mezcal. In 2022, he partnered with local restaurateurs in Richmond, VA, to open a new concept called Conejo. Named after a varietal heirloom corn, they opened the pre-eminent Mexican restaurant in the region, focusing on the base of Mexico’s cuisine; the corn, the bean, and the chile. Partnered in two mezcal distilleries, Mezcal de Leyendas and Pelotón de la Muerte, whose mezcals are considered among the very best available in both the U.S. and Mexico and beyond, showcasing mezcal from all over the country. As a trained chef, now working his way to become a sommelier, his knowledge from production to final distillation is unparalleled.

In September 2019, he launched his debut cookbook, Made in Mexico. Inspired by the best restaurants, fondas, loncherías, and taco stands in Mexico City and adapted for the home cook, Made in Mexico is a delicious blend of classic regional and contemporary Mexican cuisine.

About Arik Torren: Arik Torren has 35 years of industry experience, with the last 14 years as an importer and brand developer. He was one of the pioneers of mezcal in the U.S. and a visionary of Mexican spirits beyond mezcal, including Raicilla, Tutsi, Cucharilla, Palmilla, and Lechuguilla. In 2020, he co-founded Bowl of ‘Zole™, creating an environment where traditional and authentic spirits from Mexico connect with industry and consumers alongside pozole made by some of the most exciting chefs. In 2023, Arik launched Lot001 Brands, importing amazing spirits from Mexico. 

Earlier Event: October 17
New York Comic Con 2024
Later Event: October 25
EXXXOTICA 2024