Help Eat. Drink. End Hunger. At the 2011 Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival Presented by FOOD & WINE!

- Tickets Are Still Available for Various Events Taking Place September 29 – October 2, 2011-

NEW YORK, September 12, 2011 – Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival presented by FOOD & WINE takes a bite out of the Big Apple September 29 – October 2, 2011 with 100% of the net proceeds benefiting the Food Bank For New York City and Share Our Strength®.  Whether you are a wine and food novice or seasoned aficionado, the Festival still has tickets available for a variety of events that will fit any budget!  

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100426/DC92298LOGO )

There's only one way to launch a cookbook in high-style, and Chef Anne Burrell will do just that at Food Network presents Rock & Bowl – the official celebration for the release of Burrell's first book Cook Like A Rock Star – on Thursday, September 29.  It's widely known that Festival Founder and Director Lee Brian Schrager is a huge fan of fried chicken, and this year he's bringing in all of his favorites to showcase at Fried presented by Gilt City hosted by Elizabeth Karmel.  Taking place on Friday, September 30 at Karmel's acclaimed Hill Country BBQ, this event will tantalize even those most refined palates with creative seasonings, rubs and comfort-style dishes from over 15 esteemed chefs.

New this year, the Grand Tasting Presented by ShopRite will mirror the layout of its big sister Festival in South Beach and feature the KitchenAid Culinary Demonstrations presented by Buitoni inside Hudson River Park's historic Pier 57.  Tickets are still available for Sunday, October 2 and the star-studded line-up includes: Anthony Bourdain, Alton Brown, Anne Burrell, The Fabulous Beekman Boys, Bobby Flay, Duff Goldman, Michael Symon, and much more!

While the Festival takes place at various locations throughout New York City, its home is primarily centered around the historic charm and sophisticated buzz that make up the Meatpacking District.  There is a special series of events within the Festival that are part of Meatpacking Local presented by The Corcoran Group and offer unique wine and culinary experiences at price points that are truly a bargain!  Some of the highlights include:

• Cooking Channel's Meatpacking Uncorked presented by The Corcoran Group
• Food Network and Cooking Channel present The Best Thing I Ever Ate Between Bread sponsored by 100% Natural Lipton Iced Tea hosted by Duff Goldman
• Cocktails and Caviar at Dream Downtown hosted by Debi Mazar and Gabriele Corcos
• The Lobster Place presents The Oyster Bash with host Ted Allen sponsored by Palm
• George Stone Crab at Dream Beach with host Claire Robinson

Other featured events that wine and food enthusiasts can still take part in include: Pizza After Dark at Pulino's, where Executive Chef Tony Liu teams up with Top Chef contestant Spike Mendelsohn for the night, the Tribute Dinner honoring His Royal Highness Prince Robert of Luxembourg and Jacques Pepin presented by Bank of America, back for its second year is Carts in the Parc sponsored by The New York Times hosted by Andrew Zimmern at the Eventi Hotel's outdoor FoodParc, and closing out the Festival is the ultimate Party in Guy's Garage presented by Pucker Flavored Vodka.  

Eat. Drink. End Hunger. The 2011 Festival will take place September 29 – October 2 and 100% of the net proceeds from the Festival benefit the Food Bank For New York City and Share Our Strength®.  Tickets for all events can be purchased at www.nycwineandfoodfestival.com or by calling 866.969.2933.  Stay tuned into the excitement all year long by following Festival founder and director Lee Brian Schrager on Twitter, 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 produced by Karlitz & Company and Southern Wine & Spirits of New York.  Southern Wine & Spirits of New York is 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.  More information about the Festival can be found at www.nycwineandfoodfestival.com.    

About the Food Bank For New York City
Food Bank For New York City recognizes 28 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 approximately 1,000 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.

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, affordable meals; and builds public-private partnerships to end childhood hunger, at the state and city 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.

About Southern Wine & Spirits of America, Inc.
Southern Wine & Spirits of America, Inc. is the nation's largest wine and spirits distributor and broker with operations in 35 markets. The multi-state distributor currently operates in: Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Kentucky, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Hampshire, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia and West Virginia—as well as the additional seven states of Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and Utah through the Southern-Odom/Spirits West partnership. In addition, Southern has a presence in Maryland and the District of Columbia through a joint venture with F.P. Winner Wine & Spirits as well as a joint venture operation in Minnesota with J.J. Taylor Distributing Company. Southern also holds operating licenses and permits in Nebraska and Texas. On a national basis, Southern Wine & Spirits of America, Inc. employs more than 11,000 team members. For more information, see: http://www.southernwine.com.

SOURCE Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival