30 Good Reasons for the 2014 Food Network New York City Wine&Food Festival

Lamb a la Le Cirque. Photo from Le Cirque Web site.

WHY the 2014 Food Network New York City Wine&Food Festival (NYCWFF)? Let's count some ways. (And see video below).

1. Great drinks
2. Beer
3. Bloody Mary Brunch
4. Cru
5. Hotdog Happy Hour
6. Tequila

The NYCWFF jumps off next week (16 Oct – 19 Oct). How times flies and how the festival has grown since it started as that little one-night stand called “Sweet” in 2007! The next year it was rechristened NYCWFF.

7. Whiskey
8. Great food
9. Barbecue
10. Beef Jerky
11. Burgers
12. Claws
13. Dirt Candy
14. Dumplings

Since its inception, the festival in both iterations has raised more than $7 million for two NYC-based agency dedicated to eradicating hunger. Last year, NYCWFF attracted more than 55,000. Nearly 10,000 had their fill at the Grand Tasting presented by ShopRite. The prestige of NYCWFF equals that of its older sibling, the Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival presented by FOOD & WINE (SOBEWFF).  Its attendance surpasses it.

15. Foie Gras
16. Grand Tastings
17. Tacos
18. Dessert First
19. Chocolate
20. Ice Cream

21. Great people
22. Epicenter of goodness
23. Foodie paradise
24. Late night parties
25. Panels
26. Private dinners

A scene from the Grand Tasting presented by ShopRite. Photo courtesy of Billy Farrell Agency.

This year, NYCFF unofficially starts on the evening of 15 Oct. with a very special meal, the Le Cirque 40th Anniversary Dinner hosted by Sirio Maccioni. It's a hot ticket. Not surprisingly, the dinner has been sold out for weeks.

27. Great cause
28. Food Bank for New York City
29. Share our Strength
30. Eat. Drink. End hunger!

Cooks in the kitchen for the iconic Le Cirque fete will be chefs past, including David Bouley, Daniel Boulud and Jacques Torres. Current Executive Chef Raphael Francois will dish in the four-course meal, too.

Morsels from Cooking Channel presents Chicken Coupe hosted by Whoopi Goldberg. Photo courtesy of Billy Farrell Agency.

What's for dinner? It's a surprise!

Visit http://www.nycwff.org/ to learn more about the 2014 Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival, including schedule, tickets and venue. Visit http://www.foodbanknyc.org/ to learn more about Food Bank For New York City and https://www.nokidhungry.org/ to learn more about Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry® campaign.