Whether going high-energy in the city, sojourning on Long Island or team building in Westchester, New York delegates are certain to work up big appetites. Here are four choice group selections from the region's extensive culinary menu.
Named for its location at the intersection of two famed financial district streets, the classy Wall & Water (212.699.1700; www.hyatt.com/gallery/wall&water) at the new Andaz Wall Street hotel, its sleek, high-ceilinged interior etched with U.S currency design, showcases market-to-table comfort food sourced from Hudson Valley farms and markets. Chef Maximo Lopez May's cheese, charcuterie and chutney plates alone are worth the booking. Groups have two dynamic spaces, a chef's table for 12 hugging the open kitchen and an uber-sexy private room. Plus, chef May organizes a seasonal farmers market outside the hotel and hosts bi-monthly cooking classes in the restaurant.
"We love partnering with New York farmers to bring Hudson Valley ingredients to Lower Manhattan, and our classes are great ice-breakers for business groups," May says.
A frothy mixer idea comes from Tapped Craft Beer Events (347.559.4827; www.tappedcraftbeer.com), a unique independent firm devoted exclusively to craft beer tastings for corporate and private events in New York City. Founded by Emily Garland, a former corporate recruiter and event planner, and her husband Matt, the company offers packages such as the "The Flavor of New York" and "From Belgium With Love." Hosted by the movers and shakers of Gotham's craft beer scene, the full-service, fully customizable events are held at local venues or on-site at a client location.
Long Island's Suffolk Community College welcomes groups to its Culinary Arts and Hospitality Center (631.548.3700; www.sunysuffolk.edu). At almost 30,000 square feet of space, this versatile facility includes the stadium-style Sub-Zero Wolf Demonstration Theatre, used for hands-on cooking demonstrations, tailored food tastings, team-building events and private parties. With on-site gourmet catering available, groups can also utilize two state-of-the-art commercial kitchens for customized culinary experiences, plus flexible multipurpose meeting rooms for informal gatherings.
Located within walking distance of the Wine Enthusiast's corporate headquarters in Elmsford, Make Your Own Wine (914.741.5425; www.myowine.com) is Westchester County's state-of-the-art, climate-controlled, 5,100-square-foot winemaking school. Hosting corporate and private groups from 15 to 150 people for events including wine making, wine bottling (with corporate labels if preferred), wine appreciation seminars and cooking classes, the popular school provides configurable meeting rooms equipped with wireless Internet access, catering and technical support.
