Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival Presented by FOOD & WINE Crowns Josh Capon 2012 King of Burgers at Last Night's Blue Moon Burger Bash Presented by Pat LaFrieda Meats Hosted by Rachael Ray

NEW YORK, Oct. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- 

WHAT/WHEN: The 2012 Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival presented by FOOD & WINE celebrates its fifth anniversary this weekend, and has raised $5 million to date for the Food Bank For New York City and Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry® campaign.

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Approximately 3,000 attendees came out last evening to the Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival's legendary Blue Moon Burger Bash presented by Pat LaFrieda Meats hosted by Rachael Ray at Basketball City (Pier 36) in Manhattan.  Thirty chefs brought forth their best burger creations in hopes of being crowned this year's Blue Moon People's Choice Award winner, but only one was able to walk away with a year's worth of bragging rights to the title – Josh Capon of Burger & Barrel won over the crowd with his "Bash Burger" featuring caramelized onion and bacon jam, shaved pickles, secret sauce and American cheese and took home a $5,000 cash prize.

"Burger Bash has always been a popular, fan-favorite event at both our New York and South Beach Wine & Food festivals," says Brooke Johnson, President Food Network and Cooking Channel.  "Having the opportunity to partner with Lee Schrager's team and all the sponsors he gathers to support the worthwhile charities, whether outside with the backdrop of the Manhattan skyline or on the sand in Miami Beach, the two nights that host Burger Bash are always a highlight on my calendar."

Additionally, Michael White of Ai Fiori was awarded the Burgermeister Award presented by Pat LaFrieda Meats.  Judges David Burke, Anne Burrell, Adam Richman, and Andrew Zimmern selected White's "White Label Burger" with Nueske's bacon, white American cheese, McClure's pickles, and mustard to receive top honors and a check for $1,000.

A special thank you to all of last night's sponsors for helping Eat. Drink. End Hunger at the Blue Moon Burger Bash presented by Pat LaFrieda Meats hosted by Rachael Ray: Acqua Panna®, Badia, Basketball City New York, Blue Moon Brewing Company, Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa, The Capital Grille, Castello Cheese, Chefwear, Delta, diet pepsi, Eventstar, Flavour Gallery, Fresh Direct, Great Performances, illy, Jameson, Lifeway Kefir, Martin's Famous Potato Rolls, McClure's Pickles, Pat LaFrieda Meats, Plastics Make It Possible®, S. Pellegrino®, Sears, Sir Kensington Scooping Ketchup, and Sutter Home Family Vineyard.

"MasterCard Priceless Cities was created to help consumers truly experience all the greatest U.S. cities have to offer from culinary to shopping, arts and entertainment, and sports. We are excited to work with the Food Network NYC wine and food, to provide cardholders exclusive access to their series of truly unique culinary events including the New York City Wine and Food Festival and upcoming South Beach Wine and Food Festival," said Cheryl Guerin, senior vice president, U.S. Marketing, MasterCard. "We are thrilled that our cardholders have turned out in record numbers for the New York event and are already taking advantage of the exclusive presale for the upcoming South Beach event.  The overwhelming response reinforces cardholders' passion for priceless culinary experiences."

More than 20 chefs will have the chance to compete again on Friday, February 22, 2013 at the Amstel Light Burger Bash presented by Pat LaFrieda Meats & diet pepsi hosted by Rachael Ray at the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival presented by FOOD & WINE in Miami, Florida.  MasterCard® cardholders can get tickets to the event during the Festival's exclusive presale now through October 21, 2012 online at www.sobefest.com or by calling 877.762.3933.  General public ticket sales begin Monday, October 22.

WHERE: Eat. Drink. End Hunger.  To date the Festival has raised over $5 million to help fight hunger with 100% of its proceeds benefiting Food Bank For New York City and Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry^® campaign.  Stay up to date with 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's No Kid Hungry^® campaign, 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
Three million New Yorkers have difficulty affording food.  The Food Bank For New York City is there with a solution.  The Food Bank helps by offering a meal today, resources for a more secure tomorrow and nutrition education to help them lead healthy lifestyles.  Food Bank For New York City is the only hunger-relief organization to take this integrated approach.  The Food Bank tackles the issues of hunger on three fronts: food distribution, through soup kitchens and food pantries; income support, by connecting those in need to benefits available to them, such as food stamps and earned income tax credits; and nutrition education, helping individuals and families make healthful food choices on limited budgets.  Get more information 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