Savor Global Cuisine at the 2013 Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival presented by FOOD & WINE

- Eat. Drink. End Hunger. at #NYCWFF -

NEW YORK, Aug. 15, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival presented by FOOD & WINE takes place October 17 – 20, 2013 and this year's program is full of global flare.  Known for continually bringing its fans first-rate wine and culinary experiences from around the world, the Festival is pleased to welcome the internationally acclaimed Matt Abergel of RONIN and Yardbird Hong Kong, Alex Atala of D.O.M. in Brazil, Yotam Ottolenghi of Ottolenghi in London, and more to this year's roster of events to help Eat. Drink. End Hunger. in New York City  All proceeds from the Festival benefit Food Bank For New York City and Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry® campaign.   

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"We are pleased to welcome these global culinary leaders to the Festival for the first time," said Festival founder and director Lee Brian Schrager, who also serves as vice president of corporate communications & national events for Southern Wine & Spirits of America, Inc.  "Each one of these chefs is making a significant impact on cuisine worldwide and we are excited to be giving Festival fans the opportunity to experience their talents."  

While chefs Abergel, Atala and Ottolenghi anchor this year's versatile Bank of America Dinner Series, the series also includes a number of chefs from various parts of the United States showcasing diverse and often international flavors.   The list of cross-country talents includes: Timon Balloo (SUGARCANE raw bar grill, Florida), Rick Bayless (Frontera Grill, Illinois), John Besh (Besh Restaurant Group, Louisiana), Sean Brock (Husk, South Carolina), David Kinch (Manresa, California), Barbara Lynch (Barbara Lynch Gruppo, Massachusetts), Jose Mendin (Pubbelly, Florida), Daniel Patterson (Coi, California), Greg & Marc Sherry (Restaurateurs of Old Homestead Steak House at Borgata, New Jersey), Michael Tusk (Quince, California), and more.

The Festival is also pleased to present several new events that amp up the global atmosphere even more. The Global Night Market at The Plaza Food Hall hosted by Todd English featuring Hot Bread Kitchen, Oktoberfest presented by Pat LaFrieda Meats sponsored by The Village Voice hosted by Andrew Zimmern, Gotham West Market Opening Party, and others will serve as melting pot celebrations paying tribute to cuisines from around the world.  Additionally, the Festival offers oenophiles a world-view with its Celebrity Cruises® Wine and Pairing Seminars hosted by FOOD & WINE:

• A South African Wine Odyssey: From Its Origins to the House of Mandela hosted by Selena Cuffe and Judia Black
• From Pasta to Prost! Italy Meets Germany in Wine & Food with Ray Isle & Harold Dieterle
• Gerard Bertrand, Diversity from South of France hosted by Mark Fine
• Chateau D'Esclans: The Rose Lifestyle of St. Tropez hosted by Paul Chevalier and Sasha Lachine
• . . . and more.

Tickets for these events and more are available online at www.nycwff.org or by calling 866-969-2933 (phone sales open 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM EST).  100% of the net proceeds from the Festival benefit 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 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
Food Bank For New York City recognizes 30 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, 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  community-based member programs citywide, Food Bank helps provide 400,000 free meals a day for New Yorkers in need. 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. Learn how you can help at foodbanknyc.org.

About SHARE OUR STRENGTH'S NO KID HUNGRY CAMPAIGN
No child should grow up hungry in America, but one in five children struggles with hunger. Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry® campaign is ending childhood hunger in America by ensuring all children get the healthy food they need, every day. The No Kid Hungry campaign connects kids in need to effective nutrition programs like school breakfast and summer meals and teaches low-income families to cook healthy, affordable meals through its Cooking Matters program.  This work is accomplished through the No Kid Hungry network, made up of private citizens, public officials, nonprofits, business leaders and others providing innovative hunger solutions in their communities. Join us at NoKidHungry.org.

SOURCE Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival