Eight NYC Food Events Worth Your November Weekends Trent Warner November 11, 2026 Events, Festivals The Bon Appétit Test Kitchen has never let the public in. On Saturday, November 14, it does, 35 floors up in One World Trade. The same morning, JAPAN Fes fills a block of West 40th Street in Midtown with ramen and takoyaki. A day later, the city’s best bagel bakers face off at Citi Field in Queens. November is stacked. Here’s what we’d actually leave the apartment for, weekend by weekend. This Weekend: November 12 to 15 New York BagelFest at Citi Field Sunday, November 15 at Citi Field in Flushing (7 train to Mets-Willets Point). The Bagel Rolling Championship hits the main stage at 12:30 p.m. and “Best Bagel” and “Schmear of the Year” get handed out at 4 p.m. At 1:15 p.m., Katz’s, Russ & Daughters, Zabar’s and Utopia Bagels share one panel. The bad news: $69 tickets are sold out. Get on the waitlist anyway. Hands-on classes and tours fill out the weekend from Thursday, November 12. Full schedule. JAPAN Fes in Midtown Saturday, November 14, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on West 40th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues, on the south side of Bryant Park. Menya Jiro brings its ramen. We’re also eyeing Mango Habanero takoyaki from Tanota, Yakitori Iccho skewers, a katsu sando from Mr. K and taiyaki stuffed with matcha or taro. Vendor list. Bon Appétit LIVE at One World Trade Saturday, November 14, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Test Kitchen on the 35th floor of One World Trade Center. $135 gets you one demo, class or panel (first come, first served), plus lunch, snacks, drinks, a Test Kitchen tour and a gift bag. Stefano Secchi of Rezdôra and Massara runs a pasta boot camp. Tickets. JAPAN Fes runs until 6, so you can do both. Next Week: November 19 and 20 Beaujolais Nouveau in Chelsea Thursday, November 19, 6 to 8 p.m. at Brownstone Social, 109 West 25th Street. The third Thursday in November is release day for the new Beaujolais, and the French-American Chamber of Commerce pours it with French seasonal bites. Price isn’t posted yet. Details. WhiskyFest New York Friday, November 20 at the New York Marriott Marquis in Times Square. Seminars run 2 to 4 p.m. and the Grand Tasting runs 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., with whisky, tequila and more. Tickets run $295 to $725. Tickets. From November 20: Dinner on the Lightscape Trail Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s light show opens November 20, and Lightscape Lodge serves a $75 prix fixe in the Palm House about three-quarters of the way along the trail. Think Hudson Valley duck confit with parsnip purée, halibut in saffron broth and lion’s mane tortellini in truffle cream. Drinks are extra. You need a Lightscape ticket too. Book entry at least 45 minutes before your table. Reserve here. All Month: The Holiday Markets The Union Square Holiday Market opens Thursday, November 12 and runs through December 24, with nearly 200 vendors (4/5/6/L/N/Q/R/W to Union Square). The Bryant Park Holiday Shops are already open through January 3, with artisan food gifts in the mix. Walk the Bryant Park kiosks after JAPAN Fes on the 14th. If You Only Do One Be on West 40th Street by 10 a.m. on Saturday, November 14, before the Menya Jiro line forms. Then cross into Bryant Park for dessert.
