New York : Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival presented by Food & Wine founder and director, Lee Brian Schrager, who also serves as the vice president of corporate communications and national events at Southern Wine & Spirits of America, Inc., has announced the 2011 Festival program.
Taking place September 29 – October 2, 2011 at locations across New York City, the program gets a makeover with a plethora of new events to complement the returning favorites. Mark your calendars – tickets go on-sale Monday, June 20, 2011! Once again, 100% of the net proceeds from the Festival will benefit the Food Bank For New York City and Share Our Strength.
“I’m very excited about the 2011 program of events,” says Schrager. “Once again, I feel like we are able to offer attendees a truly great set of unique wine, spirits and culinary experiences at a variety of price points so that everyone has an opportunity to be a part of the Festival and help us raise funds to fight hunger.”
Last year the Festival raised more than $1.2 million to benefit the hunger-relief organizations Food Bank For New York City and Share Our Strength and welcomed approximately 40,000 attendees to sip, swirl and savor the best of the Big Apple with the finest offerings in the Southern Wine & Spirits of New York portfolio.
In addition to the 2011 Festival taking place a weekend earlier than in previous years, a number of new events and transformed favorites are expected. For the first time, the Festival will host a Tribute Dinner to honor the renowned talents of legendary chef Jacques Pepin and esteemed winemaker Prince Robert of Luxembourg, in partnership with Les Dames d’Escoffier. Taking place at Pier Sixty with sprawling views of the Hudson River, guests will begin the evening with a reception from D’Artagnan founder Ariane Daguin, followed by dinner prepared by some of America’s foremost French chefs: Daniel Boulud, Alain Ducasse, Laurent Gras, Alain Sailhac, and Jacques Torres. Emceed by Martha Stewart, each course for the dinner will be paired with the finest wines from Clarendelle wines and Chateau Haut-Brion from His Royal Highness Prince Robert’s own Domaine Clarence Dillon.
Other events making their debut include: Rock and Bowl with Anne Burrell ,Thrillist’s BBQ & The Blues hosted by Curtis Stone ,FRIED hosted by Tyler Florence and Elizabeth Karmel , Winemaker Dinners at Ai Fiori, Catch, Locanda Verde, and Red Rooster ,Brooklyn’s Best Bites – Artesian Tasting of Brooklyn’s Finest, in partnership with Edible Brooklyn ,Chinese Wedding Banquet hosted by Ching-He Huang, in collaboration with Lucky Rice
Among the list of returning favorite events, the Festival’s hottest ticket – the Blue Moon Burger Bash – has a new hostess in 2011; filling in for Rachael Ray for this year only is none-other than Whoopi Goldberg! The one-of-a-kind Soho space 82 Mercer will be home to three of the Festival’s most popular events this year: San Pellegrino’s Meatball Madness hosted by Giada De Laurentiis, Godiva Chocolatier presents Sweet hosted by Sandra Lee and Tacos & Tequila hosted by Bobby Flay. This year’s star-studded line-up of culinary demonstrations and book signings includes the following personalities: Anthony Bourdain, Alton Brown, Anne Burrell, The Fabulous Beekman Boys, Giada De Laurentiis, Paula Deen & Sons, Guy Fieri, The Neely’s, and many more!
Even last year’s Sandwich Showdown comes back reinvented as The Best Thing I Ever Ate Between Bread hosted by Duff Goldman. Plus, a stellar line-up of TimesTalks will return for chats with Jacques Pepin, Guy Fieri, Eric Ripert and the “A-List Ladies” – Anne Burrell, Alex Guarnaschelli and Anita Lo.
More information about the Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival presented by Food & Wine can be found by calling 866.969.2933.
