Food Network & Cooking Channel New York City Wine & Food Festival presented by FOOD & WINE Announces 2015 Events to Eat. Drink. End Hunger.

NEW YORK, May 27, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ – The eighth annual Food Network & Cooking Channel New York City Wine & Food Festival presented by FOOD & WINE is pleased to release its 2015 program of events.  Set for October 15 – 18, 100% of the net proceeds from more than 100 events taking place throughout New York City benefit Food Bank For New York City and No Kid Hungry^®.  To date, the Festival has raised more than $8.5 million to help fight hunger with the nation's leading hunger-relief organizations.

"We are excited to unveil our 2015 event line-up, which includes the return of Festival fan favorite events and a variety of new experiences for our passionate attendees," said Festival Founder and Director Lee Brian Schrager, who also serves as Vice President of Corporate Communications and National Events for Southern Wine & Spirits of America, Inc.  "Festivalgoers will have the opportunity to see their favorite chefs and culinary personalities, including both veteran and new faces from Food Network & Cooking Channel, plus interact with leading winemakers and spirits producers from the Southern Wine & Spirits of New York portfolio." 

Mark the calendar: The Festival's MasterCard^® exclusive presale runs June 8 – 21 online at nycwff.org or by calling 866.969.2933.  Use a MasterCard^® to purchase tickets before they're available to the public on June 22 and select exclusive MasterCard^® cardholder options like the MasterCard Priceless^® Fast Pass, MasterCard Priceless Preview, MasterCard Priceless Demo Pass, and more.

The Festival's culinary campus at Piers 92 & 94 will once again serve as the central hub for gourmands throughout the weekend.  Pier 94 remains the centerpiece for the Festival's 135,000-sq.ft. tasting compound Grand Tasting presented by ShopRite featuring Samsung^® Culinary Demonstrations presented by MasterCard^®.  Here, guests will sip, savor and sample their way through offerings from New York City's best restaurants and the finest wines and spirits in the Southern Wine & Spirits of New York portfolio.  After its successful debut last year, guests will again have the opportunity to upgrade their tasting experience by adding on access to the Wine GEMS Collection Room presented by Wine Spectator.

Pier 92 continues to host a parade of signature events that anchor the Festival each evening, starting with Giada De Laurentiis' Italian Feast presented by Ronzoni featuring New York City's best trattorias, slice-slingers and meatball shops.  The next evening will feature Festival fan favorite Blue Moon Burger Bash presented by Pat LaFrieda Meats hosted by Rachael Ray, which gets a twist this year with the inaugural "Smack Down" of the best mac and cheese dishes from participating chefs.  On Saturday, October 17 Pier 92 will see the return of Jets + Chefs: The Ultimate Tailgate hosted by Joe Namath and Mario Batali, plus the introduction of new event The Art of Tiki: A Cocktail Showdown presented by Cocktail Kingdom hosted by Emeril Lagasse.  The Festival will closeout with a celebration of the life and legacy of acclaimed food writer and longtime Festival friend Josh Ozersky at Meatopia hosted by Michael Symon.  Carefully curated by the late carnivore community's fearless leader himself, Ozersky's vision for the world's greatest meat festival will live on with the country's greatest chefs serving up their best creations. 

The Festival continues to bring renowned chefs from all over the world together with top winemakers and spirits producers for more intimate experiences offered as part of the Bank of America Dinner Series.  A sampling of participating luminaries include Rainer Becker (ZUMA, United Kingdom), José Enrique (José Enrique, Puerto Rico), Leonor Espinosa (Leo Cocina y Cava, Colombia), Sebastiano Lombardi (Hotel Il Pellicano, Italy), Virgilio Martinez (Central, Peru), Jordi Roca (El Celler de Can Roca, Spain), and national treasures like Lidia Bastianich, David Bouley, Gerard Craft, Charles Phan, Bill Telepan, Alice Waters, and many more.

New events in 2015 include unique walk-around tastings such as Brunch @ Bobby's hosted by Bobby Flay, the preeminent master of brunch himself, Sweet Masquerade hosted by Dominque Ansel and Pecko Zantilaveevan, Veg Out with Hungryroot hosted by Haylie Duff, Top Dog – A NY Hot Dog Competition hosted by Andrew Zimmern, Cavier, Champagne and Cocktails at The Wayfarer, Pigs n' Pints hosted by Robert Irvine at the Festival's headquarter hotel Hudson New York, Celebrity Cruises^® Ramen Party hosted by Chrissy Teigen and J. Kenji Lopez-Alt presented by Serious Eats, Midnight Jazz Breakfast hosted by Rev Run and Justine Simmons, and panels like Eating Stories hosted by Mario Batali and Mary Giuliani, plus much more.

Festival staple events like Chicken Coupe hosted by Whoopi Goldberg, Tacos & Tequila hosted by Aarón Sánchez, Thrillist's Barbecue & The Blues hosted by Adam Richman, Rachael Ray's Feedback™: Chefs and Cocktails, Rock & Roll Sushi hosted by Masaharu Morimoto, Stacked: Sandwiches and Sides hosted by Tiffani Thiessen, The Lobster Place presents Oyster Bash hosted by Anne Burrell, and Best Bloody Mary Brunch hosted by the Cast of Chopped will return with new faces to serve up their best creations.  More educational and hands-on seminars return with master classes at the Institute of Culinary Education, Pairing Seminars hosted by FOOD & WINE, and Anolon Cookware's Artisanal Cooking Series at Home Studios. 

Use a MasterCard^® during the exclusive presale beginning June 8 at 9:00 AM EDT online at nycwff.org or by calling 866.969.2933 (phone sales open 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM EDT).  General ticket sales begin on Monday, June 22. 

About the Food Network & Cooking Channel New York City Wine & Food Festival presented by FOOD & WINE

The Food Network & Cooking Channel New York City Wine & Food Festival presented by FOOD & WINE is hosted by and benefits Food Bank For New York City and 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 on the Festival can be found at 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 go hungry in America, but 1 in 5 kids will face hunger this year. Using proven, practical solutions, No Kid Hungry is ending childhood hunger today by ensuring that kids start the day with a nutritious breakfast and families learn the skills they need to shop and cook on a budget. When we all work together, we can make sure kids get the healthy food they need. No Kid Hungry is a campaign of national anti-hunger organization Share Our Strength. Join us at NoKidHungry.org.

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SOURCE Food Network & Cooking Channel New York City Wine & Food Festival

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