The Third Annual Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival serves up something for everyone from this weekend through Oct. 10. It sounds like a potential “Real Housewives of New York”-type event, but one need not know the exact ingredients in ratatouille or be able to guess the year of a bottle of Château Mouton Rothschild to appreciate the celebration.
The festival, which takes place mainly in the Meatpacking District, features legendary chefs and culinary personalities from New York and around the world—think Daniel Boulud and Ming Tsai swapping recipes with Bobby Flay and Paula Deen. Ticket prices range dramatically from $10 to $1,000, but the majority are between $40 and $100. No need to feel guilty about the splurge, though, since 100 percent of the proceeds go toward the hunger relief organizations Food Bank for New York City and Share Our Strength.
Among the more affordable events are “TimesTalks—New York’s Star-Studded Chefs” ($30), which takes place Friday night at the Times Center. Iconic chefs Boulud, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, and Michael White will talk about getting to the top of the food world and staying there.
Food Network addicts will relish the chance to get a cookbook signed by stars such as Rachael Ray and Giada De Laurentiis. The signings are free and take place throughout the weekend. For example, De Laurentiis will be signing books Saturday at the Welcome Center, located at 10th Avenue and West 15th Street.
“Illy’s Master Barista Series: Be Your Own Barista” is sure to be well attended by students who down coffee like it’s water. Attendees will learn how to prepare top-quality, espresso-based drinks and even have the opportunity to taste-test.
Anyone who has ever gone to a restaurant because Bobby Flay had a “throwdown” there will want to attend “The New York Insider,” which will be held Saturday. For $35, attendees will meet New York’s top restaurant owners and sommeliers and find out where they go when they’re not working.
Nowadays, it seems every other restaurant claims to use local ingredients, but is this really true? The “Panel Discussion: Has the Word ‘Local’ Lost All Its Meaning?,” which takes place Friday, will help those who are skeptical by addressing whether the “local” movement has staying power.
Students who attend the festival will likely develop a better understanding of current food issues, and plus, they will find out the latest happenings in the New York restaurant scene. Now that midterms have arrived, friends will surely appreciate those newly acquired coffee-making skills.
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