Bobby Flay Hosts the Ultimate Late-Night Fiesta

457468584

Photo by: Gustavo Caballero ©2014 Getty Images

Gustavo Caballero, 2014 Getty Images

In the city that never sleeps, tacos make the ultimate late-night snack. They’re small, quick to eat and packed with flavor. So it’s only fitting that this year’s annual Tacos & Tequila party turned into a late-night fiesta. From 10pm until 1am, taco enthusiasts united and wandered the rooftop of Pier 92 with a margarita in one hand and a taco in the other. Bobby Flay returned as host of the popular Food Network City Wine & Food Festival event and was just as excited as his guests about the delicious fare created by his “brothers and sisters” in white chef jackets.

457471212

Photo by: Gustavo Caballero ©2014 Getty Images

Gustavo Caballero, 2014 Getty Images

Dishing out the small plates were renowned chefs with an eclectic array of backgrounds and specialties. The team of Cafe El Presidente made its debut with mouthwatering carnitas and spicy corn esquites. Chef Harold Dieterle of the popular Thai restaurant Kin Shop returned with his brisket and bone marrow taco. And while Mike Price, chef and co-owner of The Clam in West Village, offered spicy clam and pork confit tacos, Ed McFarland from Ed’s Lobster Bar in Soho handed out refreshing bites of chilled lobster with pineapple salsa.

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 18:  Chefs Chris Santos, Justin Warner, Alex Guarnaschelli and Bobby Flay attend the CASAMIGOS Tequila presents Tacos & Tequila: A Late Night Fiesta hosted by Bobby Flay during the New York City Wine & Food Festival at Esurance Rooftop Pier 92 on October 18, 2014 in New York City.  (Photo by Gustavo Caballero/Getty Images for NYCWFF)

457472590

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 18: Chefs Chris Santos, Justin Warner, Alex Guarnaschelli and Bobby Flay attend the CASAMIGOS Tequila presents Tacos & Tequila: A Late Night Fiesta hosted by Bobby Flay during the New York City Wine & Food Festival at Esurance Rooftop Pier 92 on October 18, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Gustavo Caballero/Getty Images for NYCWFF)

Photo by: Gustavo Caballero ©2014 Getty Images

Gustavo Caballero, 2014 Getty Images

Also present for the evening was Chopped judge Alex Guarnaschelli, who helmed the station of her New York City restaurant Butter. When deciding on what to serve, she told FN Dish, she just thought of what she wanted to eat and created the ultimate combination to suite her craving. The result? Oxtail tostadas with Jack cheese, smoked chili vinaigrette, fresh chilies (her favorite taco topping) and pickled shallots.

©Copyright 2014. All rights reserved.

Copyright 2014. All rights reserved.

Perhaps the most-intimidating dish of the night came from the Do or Dine booth. Food Network Star Season 8 winner Justin Warner created a beef heart taco with a chipotle potato salad. It was a delectable combination you had to taste to believe, which was exactly his intention. He explained to FN Dish that he wanted to introduce something new and unusual to the table and surprise people by how much they liked it. He also shared with us his idea of the perfect taco, and it starts with a corn tortilla.  He believes it’s the only option that gives you a flavorful base: “It’s like painting on a yellow canvas.” Justin went on to explain that meat must be moist and paired with some sort of acidic component as well as ingredients from the allium family (which includes onions, garlic and shallots. And although he thinks that a delicious sauce is necessary, he just shook his head when we asked about cheese.

More from the New York City Wine & Food Festival:

Photos by Gustavo Caballero/Getty Images for NYCWFF and Lauren Miyashiro

Next Up

50 Late-Night Snacks

Find a new way to satisfy your midnight cravings.

The Ultimate Packable Picnic

Practically any food eaten outdoors in the company of another could qualify as a picnic — "A jug of wine, a loaf of bread and Thou" being among the simplest and best menus still in use more than a thousand years after a poet first suggested it. But once the guest list numbers above three, a few more dishes are in order and a little strategizing pays off. To help plan your next outing, we've assembled a list of totable foods that are easy to eat sprawled out in the sun, plus some handy gear for serving it.

Treat Yourself to the Ultimate Creepy Watchlist

Check out the haunting Halloween shows and specials premiering on Food Network this October.

Pasta Pie Is the Ultimate Fall Comfort Food

You’ll want a big slice of them all.

The Ultimate Guide to Chocolate for Baking (and Beyond)

Chocolate is available for purchase in dizzying variety: from bitter to sweet, white to dark, powders to chips, bars to bricks. To keep your head from spinning, here's a breakdown of what you'll encounter in the baking aisle.

This Shapeshifting Cake Batter Is the Ultimate Party Trick

With this genius base recipe, if you can make one cake flavor, you can make six — and just by adding, never subtracting or swapping.

This Is the Ultimate Splurge to Snag on Prime Day

Get a fan-favorite for 50% off right now.

4 Ways to Enjoy Grass Jelly, The Ultimate Summer Refresher

A can of the common Asian ingredient and a little simple syrup can go a long way.

Red and Green Recipes Are the Ultimate Holiday Table Décor

Give your holiday spread a merry makeover with these recipes.