Agenda: Crayfish Week, Chili Takedown, and a Greenmarket Tour

FEATURED EVENT

Crayfish Week
A crayfish celebration is coming to Aquavit (65 East 55th Street). From August 11 through August 17, Aquavit will serve a $25 crayfish peel-and-eat dinner which will include one pound of the crustaceans along with garlic bread, boiled potatoes, and Jarlsberg cheese (we're not in New Orleans anymore). A $48 menu will also be available featuring the likes of crayfish bisque and crayfish toast. Reservations: 212.307.7311.

EVENTS THIS WEEK (August 6 through 12)

Restaurant Week Extended
More than 130 of the participating NYC Summer Restaurant Week restaurants will be offering their prix fixe specials ($24.07 for a 3-course lunch and $35 for a 3-course dinner) on weekdays through Labor Day. For a list of particpating restaurants and to make reservations, visit NYC & Company.

Spanish Road Trip
The Astor Center (399 Lafayette Avenue) presents, A Spanish Road Trip.  Join Spanish wine experts Kerin Auth and David Seigal as they take you through a virtual wine tour of the country, complete with local dishes.  The class will take place on Thursday, August 7th in The Study from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tickets: $125/person. 

Summer Market Lunch
Lupa (170 Thomson Street) is hosting an intimate Greenmarket field trip to the Union Square market. Discover new foods and trade recipe ideas with farmers and chefs. The tour will be followed by lunch at the restaurant. The event will take place on Wednesday, August 6th, with the tour at 10:00 a.m. and lunch at 12:30 p.m. Space is strictly limited. Tickets: $120/person (212.982.5089).

Jersey Fresh
Celebrate the bounty of the Garden State with the Jersey Friesh Food and Wine Festival. The event will showcase over 25 wineries from throughout New Jersey.  The festival will also feature gourmet food and produce from the state's Jersey Fresh program. The event will take place at Hopewell Valley Vineyards (46 Yard Road, Pennington, New Jersey) on Saturday, August 9th and Sunday, August 10th from noon to 5:00 p.m. Tickets: $18/person.

Brooklyn Chili Takedown
Chili cooks will have an outlet to showcase their work and chili lovers will have an excuse to be a food critic for a day at this year's Brooklyn Chili Takedown. The Takedown Crew is teaming up with foodie Scott Gold (author, The Shameless Carnivore) to host and judge the competition. All are welcome to enter the contest with any chili recipe, but they must prepare 2 gallons (no exceptions). A People's Choice prize and Judges' prize will be awarded.  The event will take place on Sunday, August 10th at Union Pool (484 Union Avenue, Brooklyn) at 5:00 p.m. For more information, contact Matt Timms. All you can eat: $10/person.

The Gold Standard
The New York chapter of Tasters Guild International will be hosting a special gold medal stand-up tasting event.  Many 2008 double gold medal and several single gold medal winning wines, over 65 in total, will be available for sampling.  The event will take place at the Estonian House (243 East 34th Street) on Tuesday, August 12th from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tickets: $60/person (212.799.6311).

Illustration: Aquavit.