The 2009 Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival Presented by Food & Wine and Travel+Leisure Magazines Raises Funds for Food Bank For New York City and Share Our Strength(R)

2010 Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival to be held October 7th-10th

NEW YORK, Oct. 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival founder and director, Lee Brian Schrager, is pleased to announce that the 2009 Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival has raised much needed dollars in the help to fight hunger in America. In this hard economic time, and with final figures still to come, over 40,000 Festival guests contributed to this year’s success, and helped the Festival donate 100 percent of the net proceeds to Food Bank For New York City and Share Our Strength(R).

“The Festival couldn’t have come at a better time, with so many Americans across the country struggling to put food on the table,” said Bill Shore, Founder and Executive Director of Share Our Strength. “The Festival represents the generous culinary community at its best.”

“I’m elated that the 2009 Festival was such an enormous success, and I’m so grateful to everyone who made it possible,” said Dr. Lucy Cabrera, President and CEO of the Food Bank For New York City. “The continuing prevalence of food poverty touches a chord in our vibrant culinary community. And when we come together, the results are incredible — over four days, we raised funds that will help provide millions of meals, as well as vital services, for struggling families.”

The boroughs of New York City were alive this past Columbus Day weekend as Festival attendees enjoyed over 120 events pouring the finest selections in the Southern Wine & Spirits of New York portfolio, the Festival’s exclusive provider wine and spirits, at star-studded late night parties, wine seminars, culinary demonstrations, tastings, brunches, and more!

An overview of this year’s highlights include:

• The custom designed Guy’s Knucklehead Bar created by Guy Fieri and the sophisticated lounge created by Sandra Lee at Chelsea Market After Dark, presented by Food Network, which featured Georges Duboeuf wines from the WJ Deutsch & Sons portfolio and spirits from Sidney Frank.
• Josh Capon of Lure received the People’s Choice Award for his burger at the Blue Moon Burger Bash, presented by Allen Brothers, hosted by Rachael Ray.
• Special welcome remarks from President Bill Clinton at the inaugural Weight Watchers presents Fun and Fit in the City at the Harlem Children’s Zone. A panel moderated by Tara Parker-Pope, Well Columnist from The New York Times, including Rachael Ray, Dr. Mehmet Oz and Allan Houston, discussed simple and fun ways for families to live healthier lifestyles.
• A real taste of the South was brought to the city, accented by wines from the WJ Deutsch & Sons portfolio, during Down South Up North presented by Allen Brothers hosted by Paula Deen, along with sons Jamie and Bobby Deen, featuring fixins’ from Matt and Ted Lee, Art Smith, Chris Lilly, Katie Lee, and Hill Country’s own Elizabeth Karmel.
• Decadence was taken to the next level at Godiva Chocolatier presents SWEET sponsored by Absolut Vodka, Kahlua and Perrier-Jouët hosted by Duff Goldman.
• An entire weekend of samplings and seminars provided by the Meatpacking District Initiative, featuring the district-wide tasting of Meatpacking Uncorked and the candid Coffee Talks series held at the illy Push Button House.
• A celebration of the finest dim sum at Delta presents Dim Sum & Disco Brunch, hosted by Ming Tsai at China Grill. Participating chefs included Asia de Cuba: Robert Tobin, China Grill: Bradley Day, Chinatown Brasserie: Joe Ng, Fatty Crab: Zak Pelaccio, Shang Restaurant: Susur Lee, Shanghai Cuisine: Jijie Hong, Tanuki Tavern: Kazu Hashimoto, and Wu Liang Ye: Chen Chao.
• The ultimate wine and food tasting at the Shoprite Grand Tasting on Pier 54 in Hudson River Park, accented by the Norwegian Cruise Line Welcome Center.
• Judges Frank Bruni, Gail Simmons and Jeffrey Steingarten awarded Andrew Carmellini from Locanda Verde a $5,000 gift from Pat La Frieda meat purveyors for his meatball at Meatball Madness presented by San Pellegrino, hosted by Giada De Laurentiis.
  

The culinary delight will continue next year — make sure you save the date for the 2010 Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival, October 7-10, 2010. Stay tuned into the excitement all year long by following Festival founder and director Lee Schrager on Twitter, www.twitter.com/Lee_Schrager.

About the Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival

The 2009 Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival is produced by Karlitz & Company and Southern Wine & Spirits of New York. Southern Wine & Spirits of New York is also the exclusive provider of wine and spirits at the Festival. Hosted by and benefiting the Food Bank For New York City and Share Our Strength(R), 100 percent of the Festival’s net proceeds go toward helping these community based organizations fight hunger.

ABOUT THE FOOD BANK FOR NEW YORK CITY

Food Bank For New York City recognizes 26 years as the city’s major hunger-relief organization working to end food poverty throughout the five boroughs. Through its citywide network of approximately 1,000 food assistance programs, the Food Bank helps provide 300,000 free meals a day to New Yorkers in need. The Food Bank further mobilizes its efforts through direct services, food stamp access, research and policy initiatives, nutrition education and free tax assistance for low-income New Yorkers. Every dollar donated to the Food Bank helps provide five meals to New Yorkers in need. Learn how you can help at foodbanknyc.org.

About Share Our Strength

Share Our Strength(R) is the leading national organization working to make sure no kid in America grows up hungry. By weaving together a net of community groups, activists and food programs, Share Our Strength catches children at risk of hunger and ensures they have nutritious food where they live, learn and play. Working closely with the culinary industry, Share Our Strength creates engaging, pioneering programs like Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation(R), the nation’s premier culinary benefit; Share Our Strength’s Great American Bake Sale(R), a national grassroots effort; Share Our Strength’s A Tasteful Pursuit(R), a touring dinner series; Share Our Strength’s Great American Dine Out( )(R), a week-long program involving thousands of restaurants nationwide; and Share Our Strength’s Operation Frontline(R), a cooking-based nutrition education program. Visit Strength.org to learn more about our goal of ending childhood hunger in America by 2015.

SOURCE Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival