50,000 COME OUT TO HELP EAT. DRINK. END HUNGER. 2011 Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival Presented by FOOD & WINE Raises Over $1.2 million to Help Fight Hunger!

100% of the Proceeds Benefit Food Bank For New York City and Share Our Strength®

NEW YORK, Oct. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- 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., is pleased to announce that the Festival raised over $1.2 million for the hunger-relief organizations Food Bank For New York City and Share Our Strength.  Over 50,000 guests attended over 125 different events September 29 – October 2, 2011 at various locations throughout New York City.

"Bravo to the culinary community and to the tens of thousands of New Yorkers who helped this year's Festival succeed beyond expectation.  This kind of unwavering support in today's fragile economic environment is extraordinary.  The funds raised will help provide food and vital services to the three million New Yorkers citywide who are struggling to put food on the table," said Margarette Purvis, President & CEO of the Food Bank For New York City.

"The Festival's extraordinary support is critical to our efforts to end childhood hunger in the United States," said Bill Shore, chairman and chief executive officer at Share Our Strength. "These funds will help our No Kid Hungry campaign connect children with food where they live, learn, and play."

Attendees enjoyed some of the finest offerings in the Southern Wine & Spirits of New York portfolio, paired with unparalleled offerings of the city's best cuisine.  Highlights from the weekend include the Festival's first Tribute Dinner hosted by Martha Stewart honoring celebrated winemaker His Royal Highness Prince Robert of Luxembourg and renowned chef Jacques Pepin, the newly unveiled Grand Tasting presented by ShopRite with KitchenAid Culinary Demonstrations presented by Buitoni at Hudson River Park's historic Pier 57, the entire series of events that made up Meatpacking Local presented by The Corcoran Group, Lifestyle Wine Seminars hosted by FOOD & WINE, and much more!

Several New York City chefs came out of the weekend with plenty to brag about, beginning with Daniel Holzman of The Meatball Shop who was awarded the "Magnificent Meatball Award" by judges Dana Cowin, Alex Guarnaschelli and Lee Ann Wong at San Pellegrino's Meatball Madness presented by Buitoni hosted by Giada De Laurentiis on opening night of the Festival.  Mark Israel from the Doughnut Plant was awarded the Godiva People's Choice Award on Friday, September 29 at Godiva Chocolatier presents SWEET sponsored by Absolut Vodka and Brancott Estate hosted by Sandra Lee.

Additional winners on Friday included the following chefs from the Blue Moon Burger Bash presented by Pat LaFrieda Meats hosted by Whoopi Goldberg:

• Blue Moon People's Choice Award – Josh Capon of Burger & Barrel for his Bash Burger, a griddled patty with caramelized onions, bacon jam, shaved pickles and secret sauce.
• Pat LaFrieda Burgermeister Award – Franklin Becker of Abe & Arthur's for The "Wisconsin" Cheese Burger, topped with half sour pickle, roasted tomato, Joe Widmer's cheddar and brick cheese spread, Nueske bacon and a rich and spicy sauce served on a homemade brioche bun.
• Heinz Best Dressed Burger – Chris Santos of Beauty & Essex for his Lamb & Brisket Burger with spicy garlic aioli, vine ripe tomato, goat-feta and pickled red onion.

On Sunday, October 2 Meru Sikder of Biryani Cart walked away winner of the Carts in the Parc People's Choice Award for his Kati Roll, grilled chicken tikka with caramelized onion rolled in handmade Indian chapati bread and his Saffron Layered Bombay Spicy Chicken Biryani, served with yogurt sauce and mint habanero at Carts in the Parc sponsored by The New York Times hosted by Andrew Zimmern.

Eat. Drink. End Hunger. Next year's Festival will take place October 11 – 14, 2012 and 100% of the net proceeds from the Festival benefit the Food Bank For New York City and Share Our Strength.  Stay tuned into the excitement all year long by following Festival founder and director Lee Brian Schrager on Twitter, 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 produced by Karlitz & Company and Southern Wine & Spirits of New York.  Southern Wine & Spirits of New York is 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®, 100% of the Festival's net proceeds go toward helping these community based organizations fight hunger.  More information about the Festival can be found at www.nycwineandfoodfestival.com.    

About the Food Bank For New York City
Food Bank For New York City recognizes 28 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, the 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, the Food Bank helps provide 400,000 free meals a day for New Yorkers in need. The 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. 94% of donations go directly toward food distribution, acquisition and programs in all five boroughs of New York City.  Learn how you can help at foodbanknyc.org.

About Share Our Strength®
Share Our Strength®, a national nonprofit, is ending childhood hunger in America by connecting children with the nutritious food they need to lead healthy, active lives.  Through its No Kid Hungry® Campaign—a national effort to end childhood hunger in America by 2015—Share Our Strength ensures children in need are enrolled in effective federal nutrition programs; invests in community organizations fighting hunger; teaches families how to cook healthy, affordable meals; and builds public-private partnerships to end childhood hunger, at the state and city level. Working closely with the culinary industry and relying on the strength of its volunteers, Share Our Strength hosts innovative culinary fundraising events and develops pioneering cause marketing campaigns that support No Kid Hungry. Visit Strength.org to get involved.

About Southern Wine & Spirits of America, Inc
Southern Wine & Spirits of America, Inc. is the nation's largest wine and spirits distributor and broker with operations in 35 markets. The multi-state distributor currently operates in: Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Kentucky, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Hampshire, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia and West Virginia—as well as the additional seven states of Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and Utah through the Southern-Odom/Spirits West partnership. In addition, Southern has a presence in Maryland and the District of Columbia through a joint venture with F.P. Winner Wine & Spirits as well as a joint venture operation in Minnesota with J.J. Taylor Distributing Company. Southern also holds operating licenses and permits in Nebraska and Texas. On a national basis, Southern Wine & Spirits of America, Inc. employs more than 11,000 team members. For more information, see: http://www.southernwine.com.

SOURCE Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival