Food and wine festivals flavor Staten Island’s culinary calendar. And, on the North Shore, a posh seafood eatery makes its debut

by Jessica Jones Gorman

KEEP ON TRUCKIN’
Food event organizer SiROCKSNY.com and School of Rock will present “Foodstock” at the Staten Island Mall from June 7 to 9, a three day food truck festival that celebrates this year the 50th anniversary of Woodstock. Featuring a beer garden, live entertainment, DJ music, and more than 15 food trucks and other local vendors, it will showcase some of the area’s up and coming culinary talents and hottest trends.

SI Rocks Food Truck

The annual gathering which runs from 5 to 10 p.m. on Friday and 1 to 10 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday launched in 2014 at Kaufman Campgrounds with only three trucks, and has grown to encompass kids’ activities and a wider than ever array of food choices. Admission is $5; kids under 12 and those with military ID enter free. “Foodstock” is also a proud supporter of the VFW, American Legion Riders Brooklyn Chapter, and Infinite Wishes Foundation, and a portion of admission go towards these organizations. sirocksny.com

BENVENUTO, BARCA
Famed restaurateur Victor Rallo has added a sleek new seafood destination to his roster, one right across the street from his upscale American BBQ joint, Surf. Barca, which opened a few months ago in Stapleton’s Urby complex, features stunning views of the Upper New York Bay and a menu featuring crudo, antipasti, and handmade pasta, among other dishes. For this new venture, Rallo partnered with Dave Pasternack, executive chef (and an owner) of Manhattan’s Esca, and Katie O’Donnell, who served as a chef de cuisine at Esca several years ago and is now Barca’s executive chef. Menu highlights include spicy spaghetti with lobster, a Sicilian style fish stew with sea urchin and crab meat, baked clams with pancetta, and a plancha roasted Mediterranean sea bass. Its farreaching list of Italian wines is accompanied by signature cocktails like the house Lemoncocco Mojito and Blood Orange Margarita. 44 Navy Pier Court, barcany.com

Barca

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Nicole Spread

UNCORKED
Historic Richmond Town will open its grounds to more than 40 local restaurants, wineries, and breweries on June 8 for Uncorked, the borough’s annual food and wine festival. Guests can sample each establishment’s best dish, while area chef notables demonstrate techniques during live cooking classes. This year, Uncorked will focus on representing the diversity of blends and tastes that the borough has to offer, and guests will have the opportunity to vote for their favorites. Tickets for the event, which runs from 12 to 4 p.m., can be purchased online at historicrichmondtown.org. 441 Clarke Avenue