Go Whole Hog At The 2012 Beer, Bourbon, & BBQ Festival

It's cold, it's snowy slushy, and we're in the need of some real food therapy to get our spirits up. But, besides the joy of a warm pot pie, cranky New Yorkers could definitely use a little Southern charm right about now...especially when it comes in the form of beer, bourbon, and BBQ courtesy of, well, the 2012 Beer, Bourbon, and BBQ festival. This Saturday, January 28, you can hit up either (or both) of two sessiosn as La.Venue in Chelsea: The Bacon Session is from noon to 4 p.m., and The Whole Hog Session is from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Besides plenty of pig, there'll be tons of other Southern dishes, hot sauces, BBQ sauces (duh), and more — plus, you'll get a souvenir glass with which you can try any (or all) of the 60 beers and 40 bourbons that'll be available. Any epicureans in the crowd can attend seminars by master brewers, distillers, and pitmasters, who'll surely give out plenty of tips to help improve your Southern cooking game. Unfortunately, this one-day-only event is just for those 21 or older, and, er, we think vegetarians and vegans might want to stay away from this one as well. Just sayin'.

Photo: Via Beerandbourbon.com