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New NYC food festival ‘The Great Nosh’ is coming to Governors Island
By
Hannah Frishberg
Published May 7, 2025
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Courtesy of The Great Nosh
By
Hannah Frishberg
Published May 7, 2025
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New York is getting a new food festival this summer, and it’s set to feature a menu from some of the city’s biggest restaurant names that's created just for the event.
Called The Great Nosh (not to be confused with Australia’s longest running trail run of the same name), the event is a giant ticketed picnic of sorts. It’s coming to Governors Island for breakfast into late lunch (11 a.m. to 4 p.m.) on Sunday, June 22.
“I’m kind of obsessed with picnics,” said Naama Shefi, author of 2024 cookbook “The Jewish Holiday Table” and founder of eight-year-old nonprofit the Jewish Food Society, which is putting on The Great Nosh. “This is, like, my favorite thing to do.”
The Great Nosh is Sunday, June 22.
Courtesy of The Great Nosh
Shefi grew up on a kibbutz, where she said picnicking was a frequent event, and said she felt inspired “to bring a little bit of that sense of community to a large-scale celebration of Jewish culture and New York City food, which are so deeply connected.”
She said she hopes The Great Nosh can be a new space to celebrate food and Jewish culture.
Some of the boroughs’ better-known chefs appear to be sold on the concept: The event’s edible lineup includes collaborative food creations from the likes of Thai Diner and Katz’s Delicatessen, creating a roti and corned beef Reuben dish; pastry chef Caroline Schiff and Junior’s, creating black-and-white cookie cheesecake sandwiches with cherry jam; “schnitz and chips,” a marriage of schnitzel and fish and chips served with tehina ketchup with amba from beloved Philly restaurant Zahav and Downtown seafood spot Dame; and a bialy topped with smoky eggplant and zucchini banchan from Elbow Bread bakery on the Lower East Side and the Korean spot Sunn’s.
There will also be collabs between Russ & Daughters and Morgenstern’s ice cream, and between and Tatiana and Dickson’s Farmstand.
“That’s the heart of the event,” Shefi said of the mashup nosh options, which will be available for additional purchase.
There will also be a pop-up wine bar by Brooklyn restaurant The Four Horsemen.
Tickets are on sale for around $40. They include a picnic tote and limited edition blanket, reusable utensils, complimentary water and a variety of on-site programming — including a “grandmas" demo tent hosted by food writers Gail Simmons and Pati Jinich, a beading workshop and an “old Jewish men" arm-wrestling challenge. Food and beverages will be available for purchase.
Children ages 6 to 12 qualify for discounted youth tickets around $20, and children under 5 get in for free.
Limited picnic-table seating will be available first come, first served, but guests are encouraged to feast upon their picnic blankets. The event will happen rain or shine.
If all goes well, Shefi said she hopes the outing can become an annual event.
Tagged
food
new york city
manhattan
governors island
events
Hannah Frishberg
Hannah Frishberg covers New York City arts and culture. Got a tip? Email Hannah at [email protected].
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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