An estimated 45,000 passionate fans came out to eat, drink and feed New York City earlier this month at the 17th annual Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival.
The star-studded event, presented by Invesco QQQ, featured over 80 events and 500 restaurants across the city — and was anchored this year by a Brooklyn homecoming, with main events like the Grand Tasting taking place under sprawling tents at the Brooklyn Army Terminal.
“We couldn’t have been more thrilled with how our 17th year unfolded, especially with the festival’s debut in Brooklyn,” said Lee Brian Schrager, NYCWFF founder and director.
Brian Schrager told Brooklyn Paper ahead of this year’s kickoff that the festival originally started in Brooklyn but eventually moved to Manhattan due to the need for a larger space. Wanting to keep as much of the event under one roof — or tent — as possible, he said, “Brooklyn Army Terminal really offered that to us.”
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“The incredible response from both locals and visitors was beyond what we had hoped for, and it was a true celebration of the city’s culinary diversity,” he said. “We’re deeply grateful for the warm welcome Brooklyn gave us.”
This year’s NYCWFF featured walk-around tastings, late-night soirées and exclusive dining experiences with celebrity chefs and world-renowned culinary talents such as Bobby Flay, Daniel Boulud, Rachael Ray, Marcus Samuelsson and more. Events took place across both Brooklyn and Manhattan.
And keeping with tradition, the annual gourmet gathering benefited God’s Love We Deliver, New York City’s only provider of medically tailored meals and nutrition counseling for individuals living with severe illness.
“We are so grateful to have partnered with the festival again this year, and we deeply appreciate everything that the supporters, sponsors, and incredible talent have done to help raise awareness for God’s Love We Deliver,” said David Ludwigson, president and CEO of God’s Love We Deliver. “It’s always inspiring to see how this amazing community comes together — over unforgettable culinary experiences and moments of joy — to make a real difference for those in need. The generosity and passion of everyone involved mean the world to us, and we’re honored to be part of such a special event.”
Over the course of the weekend, celebrity chefs also praised the event for uniting food enthusiasts and their families in support of a good cause.
“I think [the events] raise awareness, but they also bring people together and people who come over, come from all over the country, so it encourages tourism,” Iron Chef Alex Guarnaschelli told the crowd at her Oct. 17 event with “Ciao House” co-host Gabriele Bertaccini. “It’s a celebration of good, the connection of food and philanthropy. It’s fantastic.”
Looking ahead to next October, Brian Schrager hopes to put even more Brooklyn on the menu.
“As we look ahead, we’re excited to add more partners, talent and brands from Brooklyn to make future festivals even bigger and better,” he said. “Most importantly, we’re proud to continue our support for God’s Love We Deliver, whose mission remains at the heart of what we do.”
Additional reporting by Emily Davenport
