Along with the chance to sample recipes from more than 60 of Brooklyn’s finest restaurants, guests at the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce’s 9th Annual Brooklyn Eats™ Tasting Event also had the opportunity to help support the rebuilding of one of New Orleans’ legendary eating establishments, Dooky Chase.  The restaurant was seriously damaged during hurricane Katrina.  Click here to see photos of Dooky Chase restaurant. 

Brooklynites eager to “Back the Bayou” purchased raffle tickets for gift certificates generously donated by more than 15 participating restaurants and Brooklyn companies.  All proceeds are being donated to legendary New Orleans chef Leah Chase to help rebuild her family-owned restaurant Dooky Chase – a fixture in the city’s culinary scene for more than six decades.  The Chamber brought Ms. Chase to Brooklyn from New Orleans for the event, and introduced her to an extremely supportive Brooklyn Eats™ crowd.  Click here to read more and to see the list of prizes and winners.

Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce President Kenneth Adams said, “We looked at this as a unique opportunity for restaurants to help a restaurant, family businesses to help another family business.  I couldn’t be prouder of the Brooklyn business community and the way our local businesses have responded to this call for help.”

Chamber officials also announced the winners of the fourth annual Brooklyn Eats™ Scholarships.  Chamber President Kenneth Adams presented scholarships to three hospitality management students studying at the New York City College of Technology in Downtown Brooklyn.  Scholarship winners Michell Mingo, Kimberly Goodman and Jesus Melendez then unveiled a new recipe called CityTech's "Jammin' Caribbean Pineapple Cake," they had developed especially for the event.

Brooklyn Eats™, which has become one of New York City’s most anticipated food events, this year featured more than 60 restaurants along with gourmet caterers, micro-brews and wines, and Brooklyn food specialties, and attracted more than 800 guests.  Brooklyn Eats™ serves as the premier annual marketing opportunity for restaurants in Brooklyn’s rapidly growing, increasingly high-profile restaurant scene.  Major funding for Brooklyn Eats™ was provided by City Council Speaker Gifford Miller and the Brooklyn delegation of the New York City Council.  Additional funding was provided by Commerce Bank and Forest City Ratner Companies.

The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce – New York City’s largest chamber with 1,300 Members – is a business assistance and economic development organization dedicated to helping businesses grow and to promoting the economic development of Brooklyn.