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Staten Island Transforms into Pig Island NYC on September 6 At Snug Harbor With Pork Barbecue, Craft Beverages – Presented By Food Karma

Snug Harbor Cultural Center
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Editor’s note:  Like so many other Staten Island events, meat, particularly pork, will feature heavily in this one.  Smoked, barbecued,  steamed, fried… there’s undoubtedly something for every taste.  We’ve briefly covered the Community Supported Agriculture and Snug Harbor’s community farm (Heritage Farm) and the associated market that sells fresh fruits and vegetables on weekends.  And Staten Island also has other farmers markets sponsored by local groups in order to help low income residents eat more fresh, whole foods, which can be paid for using SNAP benefits right at the market registers. We also covered the devastating impact SNAP cuts are likely to have on the most vulnerable populations in NYC and around the country.  
Sean Fitzpatrick was able to attend this event, and slideshow of the photos he took is below.  About the event, Sean said “Everyone was really nice, and the food was delicious and fresh. I saw a friend or too as well. I honestly should have went earlier in the day so I could have spent more time there!”:
We asked several questions of Jimmy Carbone, founder of Food Karma NYC, the company hosting this event:
Pig Island NYC is a bbq event that brings together national experts with NYC area chefs for a one of a kind nyc food and drink tasting festival.
We started in 2010 as one of the first food festivals on Governors Island in the harbor. After a run in Red Hook Brooklyn we were invited to Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Gardens by the former Executive Director, Aileen  Fuchs.
Our festival has blossomed at Snug Harbor. It’s a destination event and there’s no where better to spend a day in NYC. Our tag line is ” take the ferry ride to flavor.”
Why should Staten Islanders want to come out for this festival, and what makes it unique and worthwhile?
Chefs from the entire metro NYC region along with noted national BBQ cooks all gather together at Snug Harbor on Staten Island.  From whole hog BBQ,  to the King of aged country ham, alongside chefs cooking classic BBQ, West Indian jerk, and even Thai BBQ, Pig Island NYC is truly unique .
There is a wide range of other foods to taste – hot sauces, desserts, gelato- as well as a selection of adult 21+ beverages- North Fork wines, New York state gard ciders, craft beer including Staten Island’s own Flagship, plus samplings of spirits and cocktails- whiskeys, mezcals, tequila, and more.
We are very proud to be celebrating our 6th year on Staten Island.
Is this the only Staten Island event that Food Karma presents, or are there others to come during other seasons of the year?  If not Staten Island, NYC and NJ events would also be of interest to our readers, who often travel past the borders of the island.
We also host other food and drink fests throughout the year in NYC as Food Karma NYC.
Highlights include:
Brisket King NYC – April in Astoria Queens
Rib King NYC- May in Brooklyn at Industry City
CiderFeast Brooklyn: gesturing a range of hard ciders and food to celebrate Cider Season each October.
Bowl of Zole: mezcal, tequila, pozole series of events.

Awards at Pig Island NYC. Image Credit – Pig Island NYC

From the original release: 
Staten Island transforms into Pig Island NYC on September 6, as more than 20 chefs, farmers, and BBQ experts come together at Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden for the all-inclusive walk-around tasting event’s 16th year.
This year’s Pig Island NYC lineup features 2024 defending champions Oak Marprasert of KAM RAI THAI and Rodrigo Duarte of Don Rodrigo, facing challengers like Tank Jackson of Holy City Hogs from Charleston, SC, Jase Franklyn of Jase BBQ, Morgan’s Brooklyn BBQ, Rib King NYC Grand Prize Winner Empire BBQ, and more.
With all-inclusive tickets on sale now, guests can try every dish from the lineup and taste even more at Pig Island NYC, such as fresh vegetables from local farms Radical Roots Farm and Snug Harbor Farm, ice creams and desserts, award-winning hot sauces, and an impressive beverage lineup that pairs perfectly with every bite.
This year’s 16th annual festival brings together more than 20 local and national chefs, farmers, restaurants, and BBQ experts, including crowd favorites like Brothers BBQ, Oak Marprasert of KAM RAI THAI and the newly-opened Samsaen in Hudson Yards, and Rodrigo Duarte of Don Rodrigo. They’ll compete for awards like Best in Show and Best Whole Hog, and with all-inclusive tickets, guests can try everything from classic BBQ to global flavors to whole hog roasts, plus sample premium spirits, artisan wines, and craft beers.
MORE THAN 20 LOCAL AND NATIONAL CHEFS, RESTAURANTS, AND BBQ EXPERTS JOIN 16TH ANNUAL PIG ISLAND NYC™ FOOD FESTIVAL
Staten Island Food Festival Features Impressive Lineup, Beverages, and Even More Food from Artisan Makers and Farms with All-Inclusive Tickets

STATEN ISLAND, NY – Pig Island NYC™, the all-inclusive crowd-favorite food festival, returns to Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden on Saturday, September 6th, for its 16-year celebration, bringing together a lineup of more than 20 local and national chefs, farmers, and BBQ experts vying for awards alongside a bevy of premium spirits, artisan wine and cider makers, and craft beer.

“Pig Island NYC™ is all about giving chefs utter freedom to run with the ideas they’ve been wistfully doodling on napkins,” says Jimmy Carbone, founder of Food Karma Projects and producer of Pig Island NYC™. “They get the chance to cook things that wouldn’t make it onto a typical restaurant menu, using heritage-breed pork and farm-fresh, local vegetables.”

Pig Island NYC™ guests will find everything from classic BBQ favorites to flavors from around the world, like artisan pizzas, steamed buns, charcuterie, and whole hog roasts. They can try every dish from the lineup and taste even more, such as fresh vegetables from local farms Radical Roots Farm and Snug Harbor Farm, cool down with Tipsy Scoop’s boozy ice cream, Aurelia gelato, and treats from MuMsKitchens NYC, or heat things up with award-winning hot sauces from Coney Island Saucery, Rocket Fuel Foods, and Achilles Heat.

The full chef and restaurant lineup at Pig Island NYC™ features:

  • Rodrigo Duarte of Don Rodrigo

  • Vincent Mangual of Empire BBQ

  • Gavin, Jamie, and Chris Farella of Brothers BBQ

  • Tank Jackson of Holy City Hogs

  • Oak Marprasert of KAM RAI THAI and Samsaen

  • Sean Keever of Big Guns BBQ

  • Cenobio Canalizo of Morgan’s Brooklyn BBQ

  • Jase Franklyn of Jase BBQ

  • Jose Perez of Archie Moore’s and The Meat Truck

  • Amita Phookaw of Khaosan

  • Teague Bower of Paulie G’s BBQ

  • Phil Wingo and Porkmafia

  • John Fuchs and Vinny Ferrante of FDNY Red Hook Raiders of Brooklyn BBQ Team

  • Darlene Lawrence of Sands Jerk Hut

  • Kyle Smith of Smith Poultry

  • Eric Bernal of Just Ribs

  • Thomas Joseph Perrone of The Corner

  • and more!

The event’s all-inclusive tickets provide access to an impressive beverage lineup that pairs perfectly with every bite. Find small-batch mezcal and tequila from Lot001 Brands, specialty spirits from Lighthouse Brands, and tropical flavors from Piñaq. Hard cider lovers can choose from regional favorites like Hudson North Cider, Vermont Cider Co., and Woodchuck Cider, plus pours from Aval Cider and Graft Cider. Sip RGNY wines from the North Fork, and local spirits and craft beers from Fort Hamilton Distillery, Round Table Brewery, Bed Stuy Brewing, Flagship Brewing Co., and more.

Tickets are on sale now at pigisland.com. Special Kick-Off Pricing on General Admission Tickets are available at $55 plus processing fee. VIP Tickets and Packages start at $85 plus processing fee and grant attendees early access at 11:00 AM for first tastes and drinks, opportunities to mix and mingle with chefs, and Pig Island NYC™ swag. VIP Tables for groups are also available.

Read more about Pig Island NYC™ at pigisland.com. For all the latest updates, follow Pig Island NYC™ on Instagram @pigislandnyc. Pig Island NYC™ is a 21+ rain-or-shine event, and the lineup and offerings are subject to change without notice. All sales are final.

Pig Island NYC™ – Tickets

Saturday, September 6, 2025, 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden, 1000 Richmond Terrace, Staten Island, NY 10301

Ticket Options:

  • 11:00 AM Entry – VIP Admission

    • $85 + processing fee

    • Early admission at 11:00 AM with all-inclusive access to food and drinks, mingling with the chefs, and a Pig Island NYC™ t-shirt

  • 11:00 AM Entry – VIP Table for 10

    • $750, no processing fee

    • 10 discounted VIP Tickets with early admission at 11:00 AM with all-inclusive access to food and drinks, mingling with the chefs, and 10 Pig Island NYC™ t-shirts

  • Noon Entry – Kick-Off Pricing on General Admission

    • Special pricing for a limited time

    • $55 + processing fee

    • Admission at noon with all-inclusive access to food and drinks

  • Noon Entry – General Admission

    • $65 + processing fee

    • Admission at noon with all-inclusive access to food and drinks

About Food Karma Projects: Food Karma Projects events are grassroots-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 recognized for their 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.

Dishes at Pig Island NYC. Image Credit – Pig Island NYC

Banner Image: Pig Island NYC graphic. Image Credit – Pig Island NYC


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Snug Harbor was founded with the execution of the will of Robert Richard Randall, heir to a shipping fortune, who died in 1801. The will required the family fortune and estate be used to build and operate a haven for “aged, decrepit, and worn-out sailors.” Today, Snug Harbor is a place where history, architecture, visual and performing arts, gardens, agriculture, and education come together and provide dynamic experiences for all ages. It is one of the largest ongoing adaptive reuse projects in America and is one of New York City’s unique architectural complexes and historic landscapes. Majestic buildings of classic architectural styles are home to exhibitions on historical subjects and contemporary art. Snug Harbor’s Music Hall is the one of the oldest concert halls in New York City. Fourteen distinctive botanical gardens are spread across the site and include the celebrated New York Chinese Scholar’s Garden and the Richmond County Savings Foundation Tuscan Garden, based on a 18th century garden in Florence, Italy. Snug Harbor is also is home to the Newhouse Center for Contemporary Art, Snug Harbor Artist Residency Program (SHARP), Staten Island Museum, Staten Island Children’s Museum, Noble Maritime Collection, Art Lab, Children’s Harbor Montessori School, and Staten Island Conservatory of Music. Snug Harbor is also a proud Smithsonian affiliate.