By: Jacob Elyachar, jakes-take.com
The 2019 New York Comedy Festival just wrapped up. Countless superstar comedians visited the Big Apple. Late-night hosts Stephen Colbert and Trevor Noah to Nicole Byer and Kathleen Madigan were among some of the comedians that made New York City laugh.
To commemorate the occasion, Burger and Lobster teamed up with the New York Comedy Club to present the New York Comedy Festival’s Comedy Brunch. On Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019, guests traveled to the London, England-based restaurant chain’s Flatiron location to see five incredible comedians perform.
Guests walked down to the Burger and Lobster’s basement that was set up like a miniature version of the New York Comedy Club. Before the comedians took the stage, the audience had the opportunity to grab items from a selected menu that included brunch standards such as avocado toast and a brunch burger to Burger and Lobster’s signature dishes including the lobster truffle omelet and the lobster, steak, and eggs combo for one.
Around 1:45 PM, emcee Kevin Dombrowski took the stage and started to roast the audience. From targeting Australian tourists to husband-and-wife chemists, guests were not safe from The Wendy Williams Show alum. Then, he introduced the audience to Leah Bonnema, who was the first performer of the brunch.
Bonnema, who recently appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, was one of the best performers of the brunch. She had the audience cackling throughout her set. Some of the stories that she shared included incidents regarding a Zumba class, her boyfriend of 11 years, and a health ailment that landed her in hot water at an NYC hospital.
“It feels like an honor to be a part of the New York Comedy Festival,” said Bonnema in an interview with Jake’s Take. “It is such a big deal, and I love to be included in shows that I love and work with comics that I love. It is very exciting.”
After Bonnema left the stage, comedian Casey Balsham appeared on the Burger & Lobster stage. The Not Another True Crime Podcast co-host recently returned to the Big Apple from Paris, France, as an engaged woman. Balsham’s material focuses on lactose intolerance, parenting styles, and learning about Santa Claus when she was 13-years-old.
Puerto Rico native turned New York City transplant Rojo Perez was the third act of the brunch. The Conan, MTV, and TruTV veteran immediately got down to business as he roasted the “Paris of the South,” Florida. After recapping his visit to a special needs college, Perez spoke about ghosting and how he could never participate in an Ocean’s Eleven or Italian Job heists.
Krystyna Hutchinson closed out the New York Comedy Club’s brunch at Burger and Lobster. The co-creator and co-host of the Guys We Fucked: The Anti Slut-Shamming Podcast made the audience laugh with her witty material. The topics that Hutchinson covered included a 23+Me discovery, a debacle on Mother’s Day weekend, and a haunted hotel room.
