The Food Network & Cooking Channel New York City Wine and Food Festival, Presented by Food and Wine Magazine is around the corner. The first events start this Thursday. For us, it feels like Christmas. Now in its eighth year, the festival brings together more than 500 chefs for more than 100 events and raises money for the Food Bank of New York City. Should you check it out? Definitely. They have events ranging from relatively inexpensive panels and classes to dinners with celebrity chefs. Here are some of our picks for NYCWFF 2015.
1. Giada De Laurentiis’s Italian Fest
Giada, Italian food, and a rooftop. Enough said. This is going to be an awesome kick-off party.
2. Dinner with April Bloomfield & Amanda Cohen.
At $250, this is a splurge, but a veggie-centric dinner by Bloomfield, who just wrote a book called Girl and Her Greens: Hearty Meals from the Garden, and Cohen, of Dirt Candy? Call it a present to yourself.
3. The Art of Tiki: A Cocktail Showdown.
Hosted by Emeril Lagasse, and featuring Polynesian-inspired cocktails and bites, this is going to be one of the best late night parties of the weekend.
4. Thrillist’s Barbecue & The Blues
The only thing that makes great food better? Great music. Hosted by Man vs. Food’s Adam Richman this event will feature a BBQ tasting from some of Thrillist’s favorite chefs and live blues music.
We love sunday brunch. Sunday brunch with Geoffrey Zakarian? We love that even more. This will be a farm-to-table brunch featuring great chefs and local farmers, and it’s all happening on the High Line.
At $20, this is a total steal. Moderated by senior editor of Yahoo Food Stephanie Smith, panelists include Coolio and Lo Bosworth.
This is the perfect hair of the dog for whatever late night party you were at the night before. It’s a bloody mary contest hosted by the cast of Chopped. Brands from the Southern Wine & Spirits portfolio will make bloody marys, and our favorite judges will pick the winner. Food will be served.
8. Mixology Masters hosted by Ted Allen
If you love Chopped as much as we do, “hosted by Ted Allen” is all you need to hear. Enjoy cocktails and food at Bagatelle. A perfect cap to the perfect weekend.
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