New York's Hotel Pennsylvania is known for its proximity to city hotspots such as Madison Square Garden and the Empire State Building, and now they are excited to welcome the new Penn Plates Food Festival by UrbanSpace to the area for fellow guests and residents to enjoy.

Talented New York chefs and epicureans have taken up residence adjacent to the Hotel Pennsylvania at One Penn Plaza – Park East, between 7th and 8th Avenue with entrances on 33rd and 34th Street. Vendors are serving up fresh and original meals that utilize the region's best produce and local ingredients. At Penn Plates, gourmands can expect a perfectly curated blend of culinary stars, including Roberta's, Calexico, Black Iron Burger, Jicama "California Street Food," and Melt Bakery.

Julian Plyter and Kareem Hamady created Melt Bakery in the summer of 2010 by testing a simple idea they had for a sustainable ice cream sandwich company focused on locally sourced ingredients with seasonal flavor combinations. Over the past four years they have grown the business entirely on their own and in June 2012, they opened New York's first ice cream sandwich store at 132 Orchard Street, just a couple blocks away from the Hester Street Fair where it all started. Julian is an experienced pastry chef who has worked at Lever House restaurant, Lure Fishbar and prior to starting Melt Bakery he was the opening pastry chef at the Crosby Street Hotel.

"We are excited about the arrival of Penn Plates in Midtown South, adding further excitement to the city's new 'it' destination," says Fred Grapstein, Senior Vice President, New York's Hotel Pennsylvania. "With Times Square and other popular attractions nearby, we welcome this great addition to our doorstep."

In addition to delighting visitors with imaginative meals, snacks and beverages, Penn Plates also provides chefs with the unique opportunity to experiment with new dishes in a lively, collaborative environment. As the market tends to attract adventurous eaters, chefs are able to try out new flavor combinations, and receive immediate feedback from their customers.

"We're thrilled to welcome many of our vendors from past markets as well as some new partners, and look forward to bringing new dining options to one of the city's most bustling neighborhoods," added Eldon Scott, President of UrbanSpace.