Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival Celebrates the Charm of the Meatpacking District with New Line-Up of Over 40 Events

- Festival Raises Funds for Food Bank For New York City and Share Our Strength® -

NEW YORK, Aug. 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival presented by Food & Wine and Travel + Leisure is pleased to present an exciting array of over 40 events, original and classics, produced in conjunction with the Meatpacking District Initiative as part of Meatpacking Local presented by The Corcoran Group. This new Festival program, taking place over Columbus Day weekend, October 7-10, 2010 and set against the fashionable and historic charm of the Meatpacking District, is guaranteed to impress.  Just like all Festival events, 100% of the net proceeds benefit the Food Bank For New York City and Share Our Strength®.  

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"With this third year of the festival, we are thrilled to be working with the Corcoran Group to present these incredible events that showcase the dynamic culinary scene of the Meatpacking District," said Annie Washburn, Executive Director of the Meatpacking District Initiative. "We look forward to welcoming all festival attendees and having them experience the true 'foodie' nature of the district.  We can't wait for Columbus Day Weekend."

A new gem included in the Meatpacking Local line-up is "DeBragga at Dusk", which will showcase six of Manhattan's most distinguished chefs – Daniel Boulud, Terrance Brennan, Tom Colicchio, Michael Lomonaco, Alfred Portale, and Laurent Tourondel – who will cook alongside some of the country's finest meat producers from Niman Ranch, South Shore Farms and Joyce Farms.  Other new events include: "Michael's Genuine Food & Drink at Norwood" featuring a multi-storied brunch experience with James Beard Foundation Award Winning chef Michael Schwartz and pastry chef Hedy Goldsmith from Miami and "Sunset Stone Crab" at the Hotel Gansevoort rooftop.  The new cooking series – "Master Cooking Classes" – will be led by culinary super-stars like Food Network's Masaharu Morimoto and Alex Guarnaschelli and held in the kitchens of the chefs' restaurants. These classes will feature small group, hands-on sessions and a behind-the-scenes look at what really happens on the line.        

One of most anticipated highlights of the weekend is Meatpacking Local's newest event, "Breville's Ultimate Sandwich Showdown presented by Hellmann's® with Tyler Florence."  Held in the DeBragga and Spitler Courtyard, this competition will also celebrate the best things "in" sliced bread paired with selections from the Francis Ford Coppola Winery.  Guests will crown the Festival's first-ever "Sandwich King" in a showdown between some of New York City's favorite sandwich experts: BaoHaus, Blue Ribbon Restaurants, Blue Smoke Bake Shop, DOB 111,' ino, No. 7 Sub, Porchetta, Resto, Fort Defiance, The Lobster Place, and Zampa.

Returning favorites include a perfect pairing of bubbly and oysters prepared by New York City's most renowned seafood chefs at "The Lobster Place presents The Oyster Bash at The Standard" and the "Kids Get Cooking" series led by chefs like Sue Torres and Food Network's Duff Goldman and the ultimate walk-around wine and food tasting event – "Cooking Channel's Meatpacking Uncorked presented by The Corcoran Group" featuring some of the top talent from the new channel.  As in previous years, "Cooking Channel's Meatpacking Uncorked" will consist of the district's chic boutiques and unique shops pouring the finest wines in the W. J. Deutsch & Sons portfolio while the neighborhood's best restaurants will be serving samplings of their signature snacks.

Once the food lifeline for New York City, the Meatpacking District is home to more than 160 restaurants and shops and now serves as the city's premier 24-hour hospitality destination.  Celebrities, tastemakers, aficionados, and cutting-edge designers will amble along the cobblestone streets throughout the weekend to "uncork" the best the district has to offer.  The district's world renowned boutiques, galleries, exclusive nightclubs and high-end eateries will open their doors throughout the weekend to celebrate the Festival by offering specialty menus, wine tastings, gifts with purchase, and other unique promotions.

Tickets to various events at the 2010 Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival are still available!  Ticket information and the full line-up of new and returning events can be found at www.nycwineandfoodfestival.com, or by calling 866.969.2933.  For more Festival updates follow founder and director Lee Schrager on Twitter, www.twitter.com/Lee_Schrager.  

About Meatpacking District Initiative

The Meatpacking District Initiative (MPDI) is a not-for-profit business development organization that was founded in 2003. In just six years, the MPDI has grown to include more than 200 business members and community partners located between 12th and 16th Streets and west of 8th Avenue in Manhattan.

The MPDI represents and promotes the area's business interests, produces events, manages a marketing and public relations campaign. The MPDI also serves as a collective voice for businesses regarding area changes, relationships with governmental agencies and other community groups.

About the Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival

The 2010 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 also 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.  

About the Food Bank for New York City

Food Bank For New York City recognizes 27 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 — emergency food distribution, income support and nutrition education — all strategically guided by its research. Through its network of approximately 1,000 food assistance programs citywide, the Food Bank helps provide 300,000 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. Every dollar donated to the Food Bank helps provide five meals to New Yorkers in need. 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 meals on a budget and builds public-private partnerships to end hunger, both nationally and at the state 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 in the No Kid Hungry campaign.

SOURCE Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival