New York, New York – Reported by Elite Traveler, the private jet lifestyle magazine
The Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival will celebrate its fifth anniversary October 11 – 14, 2012. To date the festival has raised over $5 million to help fight hunger with the Food Bank For New York City and Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry® campaign. An array of new and returning parties, seminars, wine dinners, brunches and more one-of-a-kind events has been planned for this year’s celebration.
“We are thrilled to celebrate our fifth year in partnership with the festival and to create a bigger and more delicious program of events for Food Network fans to eat, drink and contribute to ending hunger,” said Brooke Johnson, President Food Network and Cooking Channel.
“This year’s program is truly a celebration of what the festival is all about,” said founder and director, Lee Brian Schrager. “Returning favorite events get a make-over, we move to new venues throughout the city and have come up with a whole series of fresh events to satisfy any palate, each perfectly paired with the finest wines and spirits in the Southern Wine & Spirits of New York portfolio.”
The official fifth anniversary party, a twist on the signature dessert party that helped launch the Festival, will be as sweet as ever, presented by Godiva Chocolatier and hosted by Sandra Lee with special guests. Taking place on Friday, October 12, at 82 Mercer in SoHo, the event will be an unparalleled celebration featuring the latest trends in artisanal ice cream, luscious gourmet cakes and cupcakes. Also returning to 82 Mercer are S. Pellegrino’s Meatball Madness hosted by Giada De Laurentiis on Thursday, October 11 and Tacos & Tequila presented by Creekstone Farms hosted by Bobby Flay on Saturday, October 13.
For this special year, the festival is also pleased to debut two events that are certain to be part of the weekend’s highlights. Kicking off the weekend, Bank of America presents “On The Chopping Block: A Roast of Anthony Bourdain” with Carolines on Broadway hosted by Mario Batali at Pier 60 on Thursday, October 11. Everyone knows that Bourdain can dish it out, but here dinner guests will enjoy dishes from New York City’s famed chef Michael White and his culinary empire to find out if Bourdain can take the heat too! On the same evening, just up the street at Yotel, renowned chefs will showcase their twist on classic fried chicken at Shake & Bake hosted by Whoopi Goldberg, Art Smith and guest DJ Questlove; who will have hopefully recovered from his recent battle on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.
On Friday, October 12 the festival moves some of its most popular events into Manhattan’s Basketball City (Pier 36), starting with the iconic Blue Moon Burger Bash presented by Pat LaFrieda Meats hosted by Rachael Ray. The Festival invites foodies of all ages into the venue on Saturday, October 13 for Target’s Fun and Fit in the City hosted by Guy Fieri for a day complete with food, fitness, and learning for the whole family. Lastly, the Festival’s tradition of curating the best food trucks and carts in New York City closes out the weekend’s streak at Basketball City with The New York Times and Save Me, San Francisco Wine Co. presents Trucks by the River hosted by Andrew Zimmern.
Two of Food Network’s hottest shows come to life during the Festival, starting with Chopped on Thursday, October 11 at Marc Murphy’s landmarc at Time Warner Center. Regular series judge Murphy, along with host Ted Allen and fellow judges including Scott Conant, Alex Guarnaschelli, Geoffrey Zakarian and more, are tasked with preparing the evening’s tastings. On Saturday, October 13, iconic Kitchen Stadium moves to the Highline Stages for a late-night sampling showdown at Food Network’s Next Iron Chef hosted by Alton Brown, where the reigning Iron Chef’s and Next Iron Chef hopefuls turn up for this epic event kicking-off the newest season of the network series.
Once again Pier 57 in Hudson River Park will be home to the Grand Tasting presented by ShopRite featuring KitchenAid Culinary Demonstrations on Saturday, October 13 and Sunday, October 14, featuring fare from New York City’s best restaurants, flowing wines and spirits from the Southern Wine & Spirits of New York portfolio, with star-studded culinary demonstrations from Anne Burrell, Paula Deen, The Deen Boys, Robert Irvine, Michael Symon, Adam Richman, a tent talk with Ina Garten, and more! Also back to delight the taste buds will be the Festival’s signature Cooking Channel’s Meatpacking Uncorked and entire series of Local events and Master Classes; Wine and Pairing seminars hosted by FOOD & WINE; Times Talks with Bobby Flay & Giada De Laurentiis, Paula Deen & Boys, and Nathan Myhrvold; Thrillist’s BBQ & The Blues hosted by Rocco DiSpirito; and Rock & Roll with Morimoto.
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