Last week, Cooking Channel staff was fortunate enough to attend the second-annual LUCKYRICE Festival, an exciting, week-long tribute to the incredible diversity of Asian culinary culture.

The NYC-based festival featured truly unique events hosted by talented chefs who specialize in Asian cuisine, including Iron Chef Morimoto,  chef Ming Tsai, and Cooking Channel's own Ching-He Huang ( see the full list or participants here).

The LUCKYRICE Night Market promised to happen rain or shine, and while the skies were clear in Brooklyn on May 4, the air was chilly at the outdoor event that featured street food from 50-ish New York City Asian restaurants.

It was easy to forget about the cold, however, while feasting on steamy noodles, crisp spring rolls, fish balls on a stick and pork belly in all forms: buns, sliders, dumplings and even tacos. Restaurants including the likes of Ember Room, Fatty Crab, Macao Trading Co., Social Eatz and Ma Peche brought savory and sweet dishes  to delight the hordes who managed to land a ticket.

Those who needed a break from all the sampling headed into the drinks area, a heated space offering sake samples, Bombay Sapphire cocktails and Singha beer. One word of advice: if you go to the Night Market next year, make sure to get there early — unless, of course, you’re charmed by the crowds typical of a quintessential Asian night market.