Potluck x Ace's Chinese Sausage & Peppers Pie
Titi's Empanadas x After Eden Bánh Mì Empanada
First Taste showcases one-of-a-kind food partnerships featuring OREO cookies, cocktail launches from Hennessy, fresh tracks, and a limited-edition fashion piece at LilliStar
First Taste brings that same concept beyond the app and into the physical world. Upon entry, every flavor, sound, sight, and garment you encounter is brand new.”— Steve Raggiani, 8it CEO
NEW YORK, NY, UNITED STATES, September 16, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — BROOKLYN, N.Y., Sept. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — 8it, the NYC-based platform for food pop-ups and new dish launches, will introduce First Taste on Saturday, Sept. 19 at LilliStar, perched atop Moxy Williamsburg. This single-day gathering centered on food and culture operates under one principle: every flavor, sound, and style guests experience is making its debut.
Three chef pairings will each unveil a signature dish crafted exclusively for the occasion. They’ll be joined by Hennessy’s latest Very Special Cocktails, never-before-heard tracks from NYC DJs, and a limited-edition, customizable jacket from designer New York Penn.
“8it has always focused on keeping people in the loop about what’s upcoming in New York’s food scene before it becomes mainstream,” said Steve Raggiani, co-founder and CEO of 8it. “First Taste brings that same idea off the screen and into the real world. When you walk in, everything you taste, hear, see, and wear is brand new.”
Three Dishes, One Day Only:
-Potluck Club x Ace's Pizza: A Chinese Sausage & Peppers Detroit-Style Pizza, blending Potluck Club’s Chinese-American flair with Ace’s signature square crust.
-Titi's Empanadas x After Eden: Titi’s Empanadas partners with Nancy Nguyen, a chef trained at Eleven Madison Park and founder of After Eden, to craft a Banh Mi Empanada. Since its recent opening, After Eden has been clearing out their banh mi sandwiches every weekend within 15 minutes.
-Loser's Eating House x OREO Cookies: The Big OREO Roll, a cookies-and-cream twist on Loser’s cult-favorite cinnamon roll: sourdough brioche layered with OREO-infused butter, finished with Loser’s olive oil cream icing and OREO cookie pieces.
The OREO collaboration started with a question 8it posed to each chef: Who would you dream of partnering with? For Lizzy Koury of Loser's Eating House, the response was instant. “I grew up eating OREOs, and I've wanted to incorporate them into our roll from the start. Actually doing it with OREO feels unreal.”
Collect the Passport, Earn the Tote:
Each guest receives a First Taste passport upon arrival. Gather stamps at all three food stations to snag a limited-edition New York Penn tote, personalized on-site with patches inspired by the event and NYC.
Hennessy Pours First:
At the main bar, Gelo Honrade of After Eden will present two original Hennessy cocktails created exclusively for the festival and sold on-site. Every guest 21+ gets a complimentary choice of one of Hennessy’s Very Special Cocktails upon entry (Henny Rita, Henny Berry, Henny Iced Tea). The signature beverage release for First Taste 001 is a set of ready-to-pour bottled cocktails made with Hennessy Very Special cognac.
New Music, First Listen:
The DJ roster centers on unreleased tracks: Sunny Cheeba back-to-back with Curly Nez, fresh sets from Just Dimy and Rae Sada, and Dos Flakos debuting songs ahead of their October launch.
An Exclusive Jacket From New York Penn
Designer Justin Blanco of New York Penn will reveal a customizable jacket, available only at First Taste, in 3 distinct color options with on-site personalization.
Event Details
What: First Taste 001, an 8it experience
When: Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, 2–8 p.m. Rain or shine.
Where: LilliStar, rooftop of Moxy Williamsburg, 353 Bedford Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11211
Tickets: $15 (advance); $20 at the door. Food items sold separately on-site. Reserved group tables: $500. Available via 8it
Social: @firsttastefest on Instagram and TikTok
Media: Press are welcome to attend. For credentials and interviews: mac@8it.world
About 8it:
8it serves as NYC's primary resource for food pop-ups, new dish launches, and trusted insider picks. The 8it app highlights the most-recommended dishes across New York City, curated by chefs, food writers, and tastemakers. 8it also hosts live events that link the city's culinary community with those eager to find the next big thing, such as the 8it Awards, celebrating chefs and pop-ups shaping NYC's indie food landscape; Family Meal™, a recurring charity initiative for the hospitality sector; Paella Rave, a food and house-music series with Arroces Street Paella; and now First Taste. Download the app.
About OREO Cookies:
OREO® is AMERICA'S FAVORITE COOKIE®, sold in over 100 countries worldwide. More than 60 billion OREO® cookies are sold annually, with over 20 billion of those in the U.S. alone. An estimated 500 billion OREO® cookies have been sold since the first OREO® biscuit debuted in 1912. For more details, follow OREO® on Facebook @OREOUnitedStates, Twitter/X @OREO, TikTok @OREO, and Instagram @OREO
McKenzie Raggiani
8it, Inc.
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