The only thing better than enjoying good food in a beautiful outdoor area is enjoying that food and knowing that you’re contributing to the beautification and upkeep of one of New York City’s best-loved public spaces.

Tickets are now on sale for Harvest in the Square 2012, an event that is annually held to support the maintenance of Union Square Park. This event brings together dozens of the city’s most acclaimed chefs and restaurants for an outdoor food fest that includes wine, beer, and of course, delicious food! Many of the ingredients come fresh from the Unions Square farmers market, and in the past, there have been dishes like butternut squash bisque, toasted marshmallow milkshakes, and even a whole roasted pig.

Some of the restaurants participating in this year’s event include:

Beecher’s Cheese

This Seattle import has made a splash in the city with its signature mac and cheese and off-menu grilled-cheese martini.

Casa Mono/Bar Jamon

Mario Batali’s ode to Spanish tapas and ham will make an appearance this year, ostensibly bringing porcine delights and hopefully some traditional tapas.

Junoon

Without a doubt, Junoon is a temple to haute Indian fare. You are far less likely to see chicken tikka masala here than a saffron-spiced champagne cocktail served with garam masala-infused gougeres.

Parea Bistro

Parea Bistro is known for its simple, traditional Greek food, and the octopus that the restaurant brought last year was a crowd favorite.

Union Square Café

This Danny Meyer classic is a natural fit with the event. Not only is the restaurant in Union Square and uses produce from the greenmarket, but Meyer is also an honorary co-chair and event founder.

Tickets are not cheap—they run $125 or $400 for VIP early admission. However, all but $50 is tax-deductible, and besides a memorable and delicious evening, guests can spend the rest of the year admiring the park that they helped preserve.

Photo courtesy of Union Square Media.