2013 Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival presented by FOOD & WINE Raises Over $1 Million for Food Bank For New York City and Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry® campaign

- More than 55,000 Came Out to Help Eat. Drink. End Hunger. at #NYCWFF -

NEW YORK, Nov. 12, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The 2013 Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival presented by FOOD & WINE raised over $1 million this year for Food Bank For New York City and Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry^® campaign.  More than 55,000 guests attended the Festival's 100-plus events October 17 – 20 to sip, swirl and savor world-class wines, spirits and cuisine served up by the industry's finest.  New headquarter hotel Hudson served as the ideal backdrop for a variety of Festival events, complementing the move of the Festival's central hub to Midtown West for 2013.    

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"This year's program was truly a reflection of what I like most about the Festival," noted Festival Founder and Director Lee Brian Schrager, who also serves as the Vice President of Corporate Communications & National Events for Southern Wine & Spirits of America, Inc.  "From the marquee events at our new culinary compound at Piers 92 & 94 hosted by Food Network stars, to the intimate dinners hosted by world-renowned chefs and events featuring the best of the Southern Wine & Spirits of New York portfolio, there really was something to fit everyone's personal taste." 

Festival highlights began on Friday, October 18, when hostess Rachael Ray announced the first-ever dual win for the Blue Moon People's Choice Award between previous three-time champion Josh Capon and Food Network's Guy Fieri at the Blue Moon Burger Bash presented by Pat LaFrieda Meats.  Judges Joe Bastianich, Adam Richman, Geoffrey Zakarian and Andrew Zimmern also crowned Paul Denamiel of Le Rivage Pat LaFrieda's 2013 NYCWFF Burger Bash^® Champion, and attendees at the event selected Florida International University Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management student Tirza Diaz De Villegas as the winner of Red Robin's Savory Scholar Gourmet Dipping Sauce contest.

Also on Friday evening, pastry Chef Laszlo Bollok of Le Cirque was crowned the winner at GODIVA's Truffle Showdown hosted by Duff Goldman, and host Whoopi Goldberg chose dishes from Ben Grossman and Craig Samuel of Peaches HotHouse and Clayton Miller of Yardbird Southern Table & Bar as the best at Time Warner Cable presents Chicken Coupe.

Chef Michael Ferraro of Delicatessen was selected as the Martin's Famous Potato Roll's People Choice Award winner at Hidden Valley's Soup'er Sandwich hosted by Jeff Mauro on Saturday, October 19.  Closing out the Festival on Sunday, October 20, mixologist Kristin Alfandre of Mason's Grill became ABSOLUT^® VODKA's Best Bloody Mary in America Champion at the ABSOLUT Best Bloody Mary Brunch hosted by the Cast of Chopped, and Luzzo's was awarded the Time Out New York People's Choice Award for Best Pizza at Ronzoni presents La Sagra Sunday Slices hosted by Anne Burrell & Adam Richman.

Throughout the weekend, attendees enjoyed intimate dinner experiences as part of the Bank of America Dinner Series with renowned international talent like Matt Abergel of RŌNIN and Yardbird HK, Alex Atala of D.O.M. and Yotam Ottolenghi of Ottolenghi, in addition to unique tastings during the Celebrity Cruises^® Wine and Pairing Seminars hosted by FOOD & WINE and Wine Spectator Educational Seminars led by celebrated chefs and wine and spirits experts.  Signature Festival events like the Grand Tasting presented by ShopRite featuring KitchenAid^® Culinary Demonstrations presented by MasterCard^® and Olmeca Altos presents Tacos & Tequila hosted by Bobby Flay took place in new spaces at Piers 92 & 94, as did new event highlights like Jets + Chefs: The Ultimate Tailgate presented by diet pepsi hosted by Joe Namath & Mario Batali. 

The more than $1 million raised at this year's Festival will support Food Bank For New York City's and Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry campaign's efforts to end hunger in this country by connecting families in need with healthy food.  Since its inception in 2008, the Festival has raised more than $7 million for the fight to end hunger in America. 

Mark your calendar: next year's gourmet gathering will take place October 16 – 19, 2014.  100% of the net proceeds from the Festival benefit Food Bank For New York City and Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry® campaign.  Stay up to date with the excitement by following the Festival at www.Facebook.com/NYCWFF or Founder and Director Lee Brian Schrager at www.twitter.com/Lee_Schrager.    

About the Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival presented by FOOD & WINE
The Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival is hosted by and benefits the Food Bank For New York City and Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry^® campaign, 100% of the Festival's net proceeds go toward helping these community based organizations fight hunger.  Southern Wine & Spirits of New York is the exclusive provider of wine and spirits at the Festival.  More information about the Festival can be found at www.nycwff.org.   

About the Food Bank For New York City
Food Bank For New York City recognizes 30 years as the city's major hunger-relief organization working to end food poverty throughout the five boroughs.  As the city's hub for integrated food poverty assistance, Food Bank tackles the hunger issue on three fronts — food distribution, income support and nutrition education — all strategically guided by its research. Through its network of  community-based member programs citywide, Food Bank helps provide 400,000 free meals a day for New Yorkers in need. Food Bank's hands-on nutrition education program in the public schools reaches thousands of children, teens and adults. Income support services including food stamps, free tax assistance for the working poor and the Earned Income Tax Credit put millions of dollars back in the pockets of low-income New Yorkers, helping them to achieve greater dignity and independence. Learn how you can help at foodbanknyc.org.

About SHARE OUR STRENGTH'S NO KID HUNGRY CAMPAIGN
No child should grow up hungry in America, but one in five children struggles with hunger. Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry^® campaign is ending childhood hunger in America by ensuring all children get the healthy food they need, every day. The No Kid Hungry campaign connects kids in need to effective nutrition programs like school breakfast and summer meals and teaches low-income families to cook healthy, affordable meals through its Cooking Matters program.  This work is accomplished through the No Kid Hungry network, made up of private citizens, public officials, nonprofits, business leaders and others providing innovative hunger solutions in their communities. Join us at NoKidHungry.org.

SOURCE Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival