CHEERS TO FIVE YEARS! Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival Presented by FOOD & WINE Celebrates its 5th Anniversary October 11 -- 14, 2012!

- Over $5 Million Raised for Food Bank For New York City and Share Our Strength® -

NEW YORK, May 21, 2012 /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 unveil the new fifth anniversary program of events.  Taking place October 11 – 14, 2012, 100% of the proceeds benefit the Food Bank For New York City and Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry campaign.  To date, the Festival has raised over $5 million to help fight hunger. 

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"We are thrilled to celebrate our 5th year in partnership with the festival and to create a bigger-and more delicious- program of events for Food Network fans to eat, drink and contribute to ending hunger," said Brooke Johnson, President Food Network and Cooking Channel.

"This year's program is truly a celebration of what the Festival is all about," said Schrager. "Returning favorite events get a make-over, we move to new venues throughout the city and have come up with a whole series of fresh events to satisfy any palate, each perfectly paired with the finest wines and spirits in the Southern Wine & Spirits of New York portfolio."

The official fifth anniversary party, a twist on the signature dessert party that helped launch the Festival, will be as SWEET as ever, presented by Godiva Chocolatier and hosted by Sandra Lee with Special Guests.  Taking place on Friday, October 12, at 82 Mercer in SoHo, the event will be an unparalleled celebration featuring the latest trends in artisanal ice cream, luscious gourmet cakes and cupcakes.  Also returning to 82 Mercer are S. Pellegrino's Meatball Madness hosted by Giada De Laurentiis on Thursday, October 11 and Tacos & Tequila presented by Creekstone Farms hosted by Bobby Flay on Saturday, October 13.       

For this special year, the Festival is also pleased to debut two events that are certain to be part of the weekend's highlights.  Kicking off the weekend, Bank of America presents "On The Chopping Block: A Roast of Anthony Bourdain" with Carolines on Broadway hosted by Mario Batali at Pier 60 on Thursday, October 11.  Everyone knows that Bourdain can dish it out, but here dinner guests will enjoy dishes from New York City's famed chef Michael White and his culinary empire to find out if Bourdain can take the heat too!  On the same evening, just up the street at Yotel, renowned chefs will showcase their twist on classic fried chicken at Shake & Bake hosted by Whoopi Goldberg, Art Smith and guest DJ Questlove; who will have hopefully recovered from his recent battle on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.

On Friday, October 12 the Festival moves some of its most popular events into Manhattan's Basketball City (Pier 36), starting with the iconic Blue Moon Burger Bash presented by Pat LaFrieda Meats hosted by Rachael Ray.  The Festival invites foodies of all ages into the venue on Saturday, October 13 for Target's Fun and Fit in the City hosted by Guy Fieri for a day complete with food, fitness, and learning for the whole family.  Lastly, the Festival's tradition of curating the best food trucks and carts in New York City closes out the weekend's streak at Basketball City with The New York Times and Save Me, San Francisco Wine Co. presents Trucks by the River hosted by Andrew Zimmern.

Two of Food Network's hottest shows come to life during the Festival, starting with Chopped on Thursday, October 11 at Marc Murphy's landmarc at Time Warner Center.  Regular series judge Murphy, along with host Ted Allen and fellow judges including Scott Conant, Alex Guarnaschelli, Geoffrey Zakarian and more, are tasked with preparing the evening's tastings.  On Saturday, October 13, iconic Kitchen Stadium moves to the Highline Stages for a late-night sampling showdown at Food Network's Next Iron Chef hosted by Alton Brown, where the reigning Iron Chef's and Next Iron Chef hopefuls turn up for this epic event kicking-off the newest season of the network series.

Once again Pier 57 in Hudson River Park will be home to the Grand Tasting presented by ShopRite featuring KitchenAid Culinary Demonstrations on Saturday, October 13 and Sunday, October 14, featuring fare from New York City's best restaurants, flowing wines and spirits from the Southern Wine & Spirits of New York portfolio, with star-studded culinary demonstrations from Anne Burrell, Paula Deen, The Deen Boys, Robert Irvine, Michael Symon, Adam Richman, a tent talk with Ina Garten, and more!  Also back to delight the taste buds will be the Festival's signature Cooking Channel's Meatpacking Uncorked and entire series of Local events and Master Classes; Wine and Pairing seminars hosted by FOOD & WINE; Times Talks with Bobby Flay & Giada De Laurentiis, Paula Deen & Boys, and Nathan Myhrvold; Thrillist's BBQ & The Blues hosted by Rocco DiSpirito; and Rock & Roll with Morimoto.

Festival guests will also have access to the 51st floor of the Bank of America Tower at One Bryant Park for the three-night Bank of America Dinner Series featuring Roy Choi with Jean-Georges and Marja Vongerichten Korean BBQ Dinner, Alain Ducasse's Benoit Dinner and a global dinner with chef's Joey Campanaro, Floyd Cardoz, Dan Kluger, and Karen De Masco.

Additional wine dinners in the Festival Dinner Series pay tribute to not only the Festival's fifth year but also the finest chefs in the industry.  The line-up includes:

• David Bouley's Alumni Dinner with Kerry Heffernan, Dan Silverman, Anita Lo, George Mendes, Saul Bolton, Marco Moriera, Brian Bistrong, David Ott, Amy Scherber, Bill Yosses, Galen Zamarra and Dan Barber
• Nathan Myhrvold's Dinner to End All Dinner's with Mads Refslund, Alex Stupak and Maxime Bilet
• Standard Grill Dinner hosted by Dan Silverman and  The North Fork Table & Inn's Gerry Hayden and Claudia Fleming at The Standard Hotel, the Festival's headquarter hotel
• April Bloomfield with Bill Telepan: A Girl and Her Pig Dinner
• Tyler Florence's Ultimate Dinner
• Charles Phan's Slanted Door Dinner
• . . . and much more!

Eat. Drink. End Hunger. Tickets for the 2012 Festival go on sale Monday, June 25 online at www.nycwff.org or by calling 866.969.2933 (phone sales open 9:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M. EDT).  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 by following the Festival at www.Facebook.com/NYCWFF or follow 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®, 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 29 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.

Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry® Campaign
More than 16 million children in America struggle with hunger. The No Kid Hungry® Campaign catalyzes innovative coalitions among governors, mayors, businesses, chefs, teachers and community leaders to connect children at risk of hunger with the programs that can help them. We also invest in community organizations that fight hunger and teach families how to cook healthy, affordable meals through our Cooking Matters® program. Get involved at strength.org.

SOURCE 2012 Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival