Celebrate America's Favorite Foods At The 2014 Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival Presented By Food & Wine

NEW YORK, Oct. 1, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The seventh annual Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival presented by FOOD & WINE is known for its large-scale tastings in celebration of some of America's favorite foods.  This year is no exception, with the Festival's central hub at Pier 94 and the Esurance Rooftop at Pier 92 hosting seven events, each highlighting some of the country's most popular dishes prepared by the nation's best chefs, over the course of four days.

Kicking off the Festival on Thursday, October 16 is the Festival's celebration of one of America's most fiercely debated dishes – pizza!  Ronzoni's La Sagra Slices hosted by Bongiovi Brand Pasta Sauces & Adam Richman presented by Time Out New York features more than 25 of New York City's best pizzerias, neighborhood trattorias and meatball shops, curated by master pizzaiolo Michele Iuliano of Luzzo's Group.  Not only will guests get to try seemingly endless variations of America's favorite Italian pie, but they can also feast on arancini, pasta, salumi, cannolis, and more.  Musician Jon Bon Jovi will join brothers Anthony and Matthew to show their support of dad John Senior's new line of Bongiovi Brand Pasta Sauces, and Food Network Iron Chef judge Donatella Arpaia will serve up her two-time winning meatballs from the Festival's former Meatball Madness event. 

The party continues on Friday, October 17 with the Festival's iconic Blue Moon Burger Bash presented by Pat LaFrieda Meats hosted by Rachael Ray.  More than 30 of the nation's best chefs will bring their A-game to try and unseat four-time Blue Moon People's Choice Award-winner Josh Capon and his legendary 'bash burger'.  Among this elite group of burger maestros vying for this year's title are Food Network personalities Alex Guarnaschelli, Robert Irvine and Marc Murphy.  Voting for this year's Blue Moon People's Choice Award-winner is easier than ever this year thanks to the Esurance SavorBand.  In addition to competing for the people's vote, participating chefs using Pat LaFrieda Meats in their burger blends will try to court the palates of Anne Burrell, the New York Jets' Nick Mangold, Adam Richman, and Andrew Zimmern, who will ultimately crown this year's Pat LaFrieda Meats 2014 NYCWFF Burger Bash^® Champion.  Attendees will want to save room for the sides and desserts too, as chefs showcase their creativity with fries, chips, pickles, tots, sweets, and much more.

After an unprecedented launch in 2013, the Festival is excited to collaborate with the New York Jets once again at Jets + Chefs: The Ultimate Tailgate hosted by Mario Batali & Joe Namath on Saturday, October 18.  The start of fall and tailgating season go hand-in-hand, and the Festival has gathered more than 25 chefs to kick things up a few notches for the ultimate tailgate.  Fans of all ages are invited to join New York Jets alumni Erik Coleman, Joe Klecko, Marvin Jones, Tony Richardson, and current players Quinton Coples, Demario Davis and more for a day of games in the FanZone, snapping photos with the New York Jets Flight Crew and even get the chance to win game day tickets with coveted pre-game field passes.  That same evening, 20 of New York City's top chefs will take over the Festival's field of gastronomy at Pier 92 for the sold-out CASAMIGOS Tequila presents Tacos & Tequila: A Late Night Fiesta sponsored by Mohegan Sun hosted by Bobby Flay.   

On Sunday, October 19, the Festival is pleased to join forces with Meatopia founder Josh Ozersky to close out the weekend with Meatopia X: The Carnivore's Ball presented by Creekstone Farms hosted by Michael Symon.  The meat-centric event features some of the world's greatest chefs cooking beef, pork, lamb, poultry, and wild game over live wood fires; and of course, as in Meatopia's past, celebrity butcher Pat LaFrieda will cook and serve a one thousand-pound whole Creekstone steer.  This is one soirée that is sure to rock with Life in a Blender, legendary DJ D-Nice and High and Mighty Brass Band performing.

Just steps away at Pier 94, the Festival's signature Grand Tasting presented by ShopRite featuring KitchenAid^® Culinary Demonstrations presented by MasterCard^® takes place on both Saturday, October 18 and Sunday, October 19.  Here, more than 9,000 guests will have the opportunity to sample dishes from New York City's best restaurants, enjoy tastings from suppliers from the Southern Wine & Spirits of New York portfolio, and interact with brands eager to connect one-on-one with passionate gourmands.  Fans can see their favorite Food Network, Cooking Channel and other celebrity culinary personalities share their favorite recipes and stories on the KitchenAid^® Culinary Demonstration stages, get this year's bestselling cookbooks from Kitchen Arts & Letters signed, and grab official Festival merchandise from Flavour Gallery.  For the first time this year, Festival attendees can have an upgraded experience at this event via the Wine GEMS Collection Room presented by Nespresso and the Boutique Spirits Collection Room.  A limited number of tickets allow access to these rooms, where guests can taste limited vintage wines and artisanal spirits from Southern Wine & Spirits of New York and Lauber Imports, are available for a nominal fee when purchasing tickets to the Grand Tasting presented by ShopRite.

Attendees can sip and savor their way through tastings, dinners, parties, and seminars with the world's greatest celebrity chefs, culinary personalities, winemakers, and spirits producers while knowing that 100% of the net proceeds from the Festival benefit the nation's leading hunger-relief organizations Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry campaign and Food Bank For New York City.  Tickets to these events and more can still be purchased at http://nycwff.org or by calling 866.969.2933.  Help us Eat. Drink. End Hunger!

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, with 100% of the Festival's net proceeds helping 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 Food Bank For New York City
Food Bank For New York City has been the city's major hunger-relief organization working to end hunger throughout the five boroughs for more than 30 years. Nearly one in five New Yorkers relies on Food Bank for food and other resources. Food Bank takes a strategic, multifaceted approach that provides meals and builds capacity in the neediest communities, while raising awareness and engagement among all New Yorkers. Through its network of more than 1,000 charities and schools citywide, Food Bank provides food for more than 63 million free meals for New Yorkers in need. Food Bank For New York City's income support services, including food stamps (also known as SNAP) and free tax assistance for the working poor, put more than $100 million each year into the pockets of New Yorkers, helping them to afford food and achieve greater dignity and independence. In addition, Food Bank's nutrition education programs and services empower more than 275,000 children, teens and adults to sustain a healthy diet on a low budget.  To learn more about how you can help, please visit foodbanknyc.org.

About No Kid Hungry
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. No Kid Hungry connects kids in need to effective nutrition programs like school breakfast and summer meals and teaches low-income families to cook healthy, affordable meals.  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.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140521/90189

SOURCE Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival