Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival

Tickets for the fourth annual Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival presented by Food & Wine are currently on sale! 100% of the Proceeds Benefit Food Bank For New York City and Share Our Strength®.

The Festival takes place September 29 – October 2, 2011. A complete line-up of events for the 2011 Festival is available now at www.nycwineandfoodfestival.com. A taste of new and returning highlights include the following:

The unique Soho space 82 Mercer will be home to three of the Festival’s marquee events this year, including:
• San Pellegrino’s Meatball Madness hosted by Giada De Laurentiis
• Creekstone Farms presents Tacos & Tequila hosted by Bobby Flay
• Godiva Chocolatier presentsSweet sponsored by Absolut Vodka and Mumm Napa hosted by Sandra Lee

Festival’s favorite Bank of America presents Chelsea Market After Dark is kicking it up a notch this year with host and first-time New York City Wine & Food Festival participant Emeril Lagasse.

Defending 2010 People’s Choice Award winner Bobby Flay will return to the Blue Moon Burger Bash presented by Pat LaFrieda Meats which will be hosted by none-other than Whoopi Goldberg, who is filling in for Rachael Ray for this year only.

Signature event Grand Tasting presented by ShopRite with Culinary Demonstrations presented by KitchenAid moves to its new home at New York City’s historic Pier 57.

Tyler Florence hosts first time event FRIED, which will take place at Elizabeth Karmel’s popular hotspot Hill Country BBQ.

Last year’s hit event Sandwich Showdown returns with a make-over as The Best Thing I Ever Ate Between Bread hosted by Duff Goldman.

Pier Sixty will host some of the finest names in the wine and culinary industries during the inaugural Tribute Dinner honoring His Royal Highness Prince Robert of Luxembourg and Jacques Pépin presented by Bank of America. Chefs Daniel Boulud, Alain Ducasse, Laurent Gras, Alain Sailhac and Jacques Torres will cook for distinguished guests and dishes will be paired with fine wines from Château Haut-Brion and Clarendelle, while Martha Stewart serves as the emcee for the evening. This dinner is held in partnership with Les Dames d'Escoffier New York.

Other new and notable veteran events include: Brooklyn’s Bounty hosted by Adam Richman presented by Edible Brooklyn, Rock & Bowl hosted by Anne Burrell, Thrillist’s BBQ & The Blues presented by Merrilat hosted by Curtis Stone, Carts in the Parc hosted by Andrew Zimmern, Cooking Channel’s Meatpacking Uncorked presented by The Corcoran Group, and so much more!

Returning Festival sponsor Whole Foods Market presents an unprecedented dinner series throughout the weekend, including the following:
• Red Rooster Dinner with Marcus Samuelsson, Andrea Reusing and Hedy Goldsmith
• Delta’s Catch of the Day with Hung Huynh, Michelle Bernstein, Franklin Becker, Michael Chiarello, and Andrea Robinson
• Nuevo Peru hosted by Gastón Acurio
• The Standard Grill Dinner with Dan Silverman, Marco Canora and Bill Telepan
• New Culinary Discoveries with David Bouley
• Among the Flowers: An Intimate dinner at Ai Fiori with Michael White
• The Journey of an Urban Italian to Find American Flavors with Andrew Carmellini and Marc Vetri

Plus the TimesTalks series returns with a one-of-a-kind line-up that includes the world-renowned Ferran Adrià, Eric Ripert & Jennifer Carroll, Guy Fieri and more; as well as Lifestyle and Wine Seminars hosted by Food & Wine, an unparalleled program of events that make up Meatpacking Local presented by The Corcoran Group and Kids Get Cooking!

- Kim Weling

Godiva Chocolatier presents SWEET sponsored by Absolut Vodka, Kahlua and Perrier-Jouët

Mini cannolis from Spigolo

The Sea Grill's vanilla Kahlua crème brûlée parfait with
marcona almond streusel grape salad

Tisserie's Kahlua 3-flavor fashion eclairs

The Oak Room's pomegranate almond shortcake with
crème fraîche panna cotta

Kahlua Bar

Chef Jessica Mogardo's "candied apple" with

rosemary, curry & maple

The Godiva SWEET event on October 10th was by far the best dessert event I've attended. The event was hosted by Food Network's Duff Goldman and benefited Food Bank for New York City and Share Our Strength.

I can honestly say I made my rounds and tried to sample everything. These are my favorites and you can bet I'll be visiting these restaurants for another dessert fix!

• Spigolo's pumpkin cheesecake and goat's milk mascarpone mini cannolis
• The Sea Grill's vanilla Kahlua crème brûlée parfait with marcona almond streusel grape salad by Chef Michael Gabriel
• Tisserie's Kahlua 3-flavor fashion eclairs by Chefs Gustavo Agudelo & Juan Agudelo
• The Oak Room at The Plaza Hotel's pomegranate almond shortcake with Crème fraîche panna cotta by Chef Matthew O'Haver
• eater.com's contest winner Chef Jessica Mogardo's "candied apple" with rosemary, curry & maple.
  This was surprisingly my ultimate favorite. I admit I sampled the "candied apple" at least 4 or 5 times. I loved the sweet & salty mixture.

I also loved desserts from Stanton Social, Telepan, Gotham Bar & Grill, Sweetiepie, Babycakes NYC and Park Avenue Autumn. With all the chocolate, pastries, cookies and brownies, I just wish there was more milk! One station was sampling shots of milk, but I definitely could have used a few glasses and I am not a milk drinker. I did enjoy minis martini from Absolut Vodka, champagne from Perrier-Jouët and drinks at the Kahlua bar. Guests even chose their favorite Godiva chocolates for free. If felt like I was at a Godiva retail store!

I didn't want the night to end since I was in sweets heaven, but I couldn't have possibly eaten anymore. I wonder what they do with all that leftover dessert. I really wish they would give people an empty box at check-in to fill up on favorite pastries!

- Kim Weling