From Lobster Rolls to Cupcakes, the Tastes of Battery Park City Return

Left: Blue Ribbon, one of 19 restaurants represented at the Taste of Battery Park City, served up spicy tuna, yuzu salmon and spicy crab handrolls. Right: Tents lined the south side of North Cove and the plaza overlooking the Hudson River. Photos: Carl Glassman/Tribeca Trib

The sun shined brightly and the hungry crowds gathered eagerly Saturday afternoon for PS 89’s fourth annual Taste of Battery Park City. From Parm’s chicken capers sliders and P.J. Clarke’s lobster rolls to mini cupcakes from Sprinkles, there were tastes for everyone from among the 19 participating restaurants. And from martial arts to robot making, the Kids Zone hummed with activities.

“It’s really rewarding to see the community and the school coming together,” said Gaelle Kastoun, a former event planner who co-chaired the Taste with fellow school parent Florence Henniaux. “The restaurants were amazing. We didn’t really have to convince them. They were just happy to help.”

Kastoun and Henniaux, who took over from former chairs Talene Kelly and Rene Finch, are both from France, and the two noted how smoothly they worked together. “We don’t necessarily like to do the same things so in the end it was very easy,” Kastoun said.

“It was really easy to work with Gaelle because she is very organized and she has a poker face. When she’s stressed, you can’t tell.,” Henniaux added with a smile. “As for me it’s more up and down. Sometimes I’m freaking out.”

Preparations for the big school fundraiser began in November, they said, And as the hubbub of activity swirled around them on Saturday, they praised the parent volunteers who helped it all come together.

“We had a great team. All the moms are very dedicated” Kastoun said. “And in the end it was so much fun.”

“Today the thing is finally happening,” she added, “and we get to see the result of all the work.”