The 2010 Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival Presented by Food & Wine and Travel + Leisure Magazines Celebrates its Third Year!

Save the Date: October 7 - 10, 2010

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

NEW YORK, April 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Festival Founder and Director Lee Brian Schrager is pleased to announce that the third annual Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival, October 7-10, 2010, will feature both fan-favorite returning events as well as bold new ones.  The event is presented by Food & Wine and Travel + Leisure magazines.  The line-up of wine and culinary talent features chefs, winemakers, culinary personalities, and mixologists of an unprecedented caliber.  Once again, 100% of the net proceeds from the weekend will benefit the hunger relief organizations Food Bank For New York City and Share Our Strength®.  

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"Last year we were able to effect real change in our city and the nation with a donation of close to $1 million to the Food Bank For New York City and Share Our Strength®," says Brooke Johnson, President of Food Network.  "This year we hope to do even more to make hunger a thing of the past.  We are so proud to be associated with these two vital organizations and the Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival."

Everyone's favorite culinary personalities and celebrity chefs will be returning – from Food Network's Sunny Anderson, Anne Burrell, Guy Fieri and Pat and Gina Neely to renowned chefs and personalities like Gaston Acurio, Dan Barber, Mario Batali, Adam Richman, Ming Tsai, Michael White, and more.  New culinary talent and personalities secured for this year include Heston Blumenthal, Ree Drummond (Pioneer Woman), Jose Garces, Daniel Boulud, cookbook author and country singer Trisha Yearwood, Madhur Jaffrey, plus Miami's own Michael Schwartz and Hedy Goldsmith to name a few.  Winemakers and cocktail experts like Alessia Antinori, Anthony Giglio, Ray Isle, Mark Oldman, Andrea Robinson, Josh Wesson and the Tippling Brothers will lead a journey through an extensive array of wine and spirits from the Southern Wine & Spirits of New York portfolio.      

From Harlem to Brooklyn, Schrager and the Festival are serving up a completely innovative program to celebrate everything fresh and fun about New York City's thriving culinary scene.  From tacos and tequila hosted by Bobby Flay, a Sunday jazz brunch with Paula Deen, a tribute to the city's iconic food cart culture with Andrew Zimmern, plus an inaugural sandwich smack down and a closing party hosted by Guy Fieri – there truly will be a flavor to suit everyone's tastebuds!

Family favorite Fun and Fit in the City is back at the Harlem Children's Zone, the international renowned nonprofit that offers education, social-service and community building services to adults and parents.  With the support of new title sponsor Target, the event will both entertain and educate children and their families about living healthier lifestyles together.  

The Festival is bringing back all of its star-studded classics for adults too – starting with Meatball Madness hosted by Giada De Laurentiis and Chelsea Market After Dark presented by Food Network hosted by Alton Brown, an event that will be accented by selections from the W.J. Deutsch & Sons portfolio, both taking place on Thursday, October 7th.  Additionally, SWEET hosted by Duff Goldman, the Blue Moon Burger Bash hosted by Rachael Ray, Grand Tasting presented by ShopRite at Pier 54 in Hudson River Park, Meatpacking Uncorked and a series of Meatpacking Local events, wine seminars and cocktail clinics hosted by Food & Wine and Travel + Leisure, dinners at the James Beard House, culinary demonstrations, book signings, and a continued partnership with the New York Times to present an impressive line-up of TimesTalks; all return to offer guests an unparalleled experience from beginning to end.

"It's a weekend of non-stop fun for all ages," says Schrager.  "We're thrilled to be back in New York City to showcase the best talent in the wine and food industry from all over the world."  

Tickets to all Festival events go on sale June 21st at www.nycwineandfoodfestival.com, or by phone at 866.969.2933.  A sneak preview of all event development can be found by following Founder and Director Lee Schrager on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Lee_Schrager.  

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® is the leading national organization working to make sure no kid in America grows up hungry. By weaving together a net of community groups, activists and food programs, Share Our Strength catches children at risk of hunger and ensures they have nutritious food where they live, learn and play. Working closely with the culinary industry, Share Our Strength creates engaging, pioneering programs like Share Our Strength's Taste of the Nation®, the nation's premier culinary benefit; Share Our Strength's Great American Bake Sale®, a national grassroots effort; Share Our Strength's A Tasteful Pursuit®, a touring dinner series; Share Our Strength's Great American Dine Out ®, a week-long program involving thousands of restaurants nationwide; and Share Our Strength's Operation Frontline®, a cooking-based nutrition education program. Visit Strength.org to learn more about our goal of ending childhood hunger in America by 2015.

SOURCE 2010 Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival