Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival Tickets On Sale Monday, June 25th! Eat. Drink. End Hunger.

- 100% of the Proceeds Benefit Food Bank For New York City and Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry® campaign -

NEW YORK, June 26, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- WHAT/WHEN: Tickets for the fifth anniversary of the Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival presented by FOOD & WINE on sale today!

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The Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival will celebrate its fifth anniversary October 11 – 14, 2012.  To date the Festival has raised over $5 million to help fight hunger with the Food Bank For New York City and Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry® campaign.  An array of new and returning parties, seminars, wine dinners, brunches, and more one-of-a-kind events has been planned for this year's celebration.  A selection of highlights includes:

The Festival's official fifth anniversary party will take place on Friday, October 12 at 82 Mercer in SoHo, where New York City's finest pastry chefs will gather to serve up cakes, cupcakes, artisanal ice cream and more luscious treats for GODIVA presents SWEET! Celebrating Five Years of NYCWFF sponsored by ZED Moscato Rose hosted by Sandra Lee with Special Guests.

Everyone's favorite Sunday pastime – brunch – will make an exceptional showing at this year's Festival, with no less than six different experiences to delight any palate:

• Blackberry Farm Brunch
• Chef Meets Farmer Brunch with Sue Torres, Part of Local presented by The Corcoran Group
• The Lady and Sons Family Brunch hosted by Paula, Jamie and Bobby Deen
• Whimsical Indulgence Brunch featuring Gabrielle Hamilton and Hedy Goldsmith
• Locavores Brunch, Part of Local presented by The Corcoran Group
• Chef Meets Farmer Lunch sponsored by Wine Spectator with Jesse Schenker, Part of Local presented by The Corcoran Group

A variety of events make up the special series of Local presented by The Corcoran Group, but some featured offerings include: The Lobster Place presents The Oyster Bash sponsored by Captain Lawrence Brewing Company hosted by Ben Sargent, Cocktails and Caviar presented by Chopin Vodka at The Double Seven hosted by Debi Mazar and Gabriele Corcos, Food Network's Next Iron Chef hosted by Alton Brown, Sandwich Showdown with Food Network's Sandwich King, Jeff Mauro, and much more!

A unique series of Pairing Seminars hosted by FOOD & WINE:

• Modern Day Jewish Food hosted by Kutsher's with Josh Wesson
• Pickles and Marinades – The Korean Way hosted by Roy Choi with Mark Oldman
• Dessert & Wine Party by GODIVA with David Funaro & Anthony Giglio
• High-Tech Happy House with Dave Arnold & Wylie Dufresne
• Vietnamese Home Cooking with Charles Phan and Andrea Robinson
• Best of Blackberry Farm with Anthony Giglio
• Fried Chicken from the Soul hosted by Art Smith with Andrea Robinson
• The Art of the Sandwich hosted by Sara Jenkins with Anthony Giglio
• Blue Smoke BBQ hosted by Kenny Callaghan with Mark Oldman
• Red Farm Dim Sum/Dumpling Seminar hosted by Ed Schoenfeld & Joe Ng with Josh Wesson
• Torrisi Family Dinner Seminar hosted by Torrisi & Parm with Ray Isle

Plus, don't miss new events like Bank of America presents: "On The Chopping Block: A Roast of Anthony Bourdain" hosted by Mario Batali produced by Carolines on Broadway, Cocktails Ever After with Bethenny Frankel presented by Skinnygirl, and the special schedule of events to take place at The International Culinary Center in SoHo, including master cooking classes, celebrity chef dinners and tasting/cocktail events

Fan favorites like the Grand Tasting presented by ShopRite with KitchenAid Culinary Demonstrations presented by MasterCard, S. Pellegrino's Meatball Madness hosted by Giada De Laurentiis, Cooking Channel's Meatpacking Uncorked presented by The Corcoran Group, Blue Moon Burger Bash presented by Pat LaFrieda Meats hosted by Rachael Ray, Avion Tequila presents Tacos & Tequila sponsored by Creekstone Farms hosted by Bobby Flay, and so much more return for a celebration of epic proportions that is sure to delight everyone's taste buds!

Festival fans can get instant gratification from our friends at FreshDirect with a special fifth anniversary offer at nycwff.org – hint: Where's the Pat LaFrieda beef? 

WHERE: Eat. Drink. End Hunger. The public can begin purchasing tickets at 12:00 A.M. on Monday, June 25, 2012, online at nycwff.org or beginning at 9:00 A.M. via telephone at 866.969.2933 (phone sales open Monday – Friday, 9:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M. EDT).

MasterCard® is proud to be the Official Card Partner of the Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival presented by FOOD & WINE.  Enjoy reserved premier seating for all KitchenAid Culinary Demonstrations presented by MasterCard when you purchase the MasterCard Priceless Demo Pass at the Grand Tasting presented by ShopRite.  Take advantage of your MasterCard Fast Pass at the Grand Tasting presented by ShopRite for expedited entry when using your MasterCard card to purchase tickets for this event.

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 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 Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival