Food Network NYC Wine & Food Festival Dinners Highlights
For food lovers in New York, it's the most wonderful time of the year. The Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival is back, and from October 16-19, the city will be filled with the sights, sounds and smells of the greatest restaurants and chefs in the world. The festival's must-see and must-eat highlights during the weekend celebration of all things food and drink are the dinner series, a collection of 18 to 24 multi-course gourmet and celebrity chef-headed dinners.
The events are so popular that several of this year's dinner series are already sold out including most of the Le Cirque 40th anniversary dinners, and the events by Mario Carbone and Rich Torrisi. But we've got the skinny on the events that you can still get tickets for. Hurry up, before they're gone. We've divided them up into categories for your browsing convenience.
Farm-Direct
Both of these dinners are perfect for those who want to "engage all five senses" and be transported to the place where food begins: the farm.
Farm Country Flavors Dinner with Justin Bogle and Joe Isidori: Thursday, October 16, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Chalk Point Kitchen
The Chef and the Farmer Dinner with David Bouley and Renee Giroux: Friday, October 17, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Bouley Botanical
Vegan
Fresh & Raw: A Vegan Dinner with Matthew Kenney, Tyler Kord, Daphne Cheng and Scott Winegard: Thursday, October 16, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Park Lane Hotel, Park Room Restaurant.
This raw, vegan dinner is sure to whet your appetite, as well as trim your waistline. Proving that veggies can be good, and good for you, this trio of chefs will be serving delicacies like kimchi dumplings, cantaloupe bisque, lettuce-wrapped enchiladas with avocado and mung bean sprouts (prepared by chef Kord), kelp noodles with black pepper and snap peas, (prepared by chef Kenney), and subarashii Asian pear and ricotta (prepared by chef Cheng).
French
For those who want to sample the capital of the world's cuisine.
Frenchie: New Bistro Cooking with Gregory Marchand: Thursday, October 16, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., Hôtel Plaza Athénée, Arabelle
A Tour de France with Michael Richard and Dominique Crenn. Friday, October 17 7 to 10 p.m. Hôtel Plaza Athénée, Arabelle.
Two French Michelin-starred and James Beard award-winning chefs (chef Crenn is the only female chef in the United States with two Michelin stars) come together to offer a menu of beef tartare, bonito and seaweed tea with grains, seeds and smoked mackerel, and duck with red cauliflower couscous and fig sauce.
The Big Apple's French Revival: Celebrating French Cuisine at Benoit with Alain Ducasse, Ryan Angulo, Philippe Bertineau, Michael Toscano, and Lisa Giffen: Saturday October 18 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Benoit Bistro
Cultural Fusion Dinners
Experience the delicious fare that is created when two cultures collide, from Asian-American, to a Middle Eastern meets New York dinner.
East Meets West Dinner with Anne Redding, Matt Danzer, Ivan Orkin, Tadashi Ono, and Andy Ricker: Friday, October 17, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Haven's Kitchen
Mediterranean Exploration with Sara Kramer, Michael Solomonov, and Einat Admony: Saturday, October 18, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the International Culinary Center
The best of Israeli and Mediterranean cuisines will be represented at this dinner with Sara Kramer, from Brooklyn restaurant Glasserie; Michael Solomonov, the Israeli-born, James Beard award-winning chef; and Einat Admony, of the Taim food truck. Expect Middle Eastern fare like stuffed grape leaves, roasted leg of lamb with couscous and chirchi, and pomegranate ceviche.
More International
Even more explorations of international culinary traditions, from Italy and Romania, to Belgium and Mexico.
Tales of a Tuscan Butcher with Dario Cecchini: Thursday, October 16, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., International Culinary Center
The Gypsy Chef Dinner with David Myers: Friday, October 17, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., Chalk Point Kitchen
This globetrotting "chef of all trades" who is known for his seamless blend of Japanese and Californian cuisine, will be presenting a little bit of this and that at his gypsy dinner, highlighting Romanian and other Eastern-inspired dishes like fried oyster with fermented black garlic aioli, cured Hamachi, and prime Romanian steak with Cantonese black beans and candied ginger.
Exploring Belgium's Countryside with Kobe Desramaults: Saturday, October 18, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., Park Lane Hotel, Park Room Restaurant
Evolution of Mexican Cuisine with Enrique Olvera: Friday October 17, 7 to 10 p.m.
Big Apple's Best
Big Apple's Best with Gabrielle Hamilton and Bill Telepan: Saturday, October 18, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., Bank of America building
More Dinners
Beauty and the Beast with Ori Menashe and Genevieve Gergis: Thursday, October 16, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., Haven's Kitchen
This husband and wife team are taking modern Californian cuisine by storm and will be serving octopus carpaccio, and slow-roasted lamb neck, amongst other dishes.
Girl and the Bull with Stephanie Izard and Ken Oringer: Saturday October 18, 7-10 p.m.
A Perfect Pairing with Nancy Silverton and April Bloomfield: Saturday October 18, 7-10 p.m., Ibis
Dessert First: A Sweet Surprise with Philippe Baranes and Christophe Boucher Friday, October 17, 7-10 p.m., International Culinary Center
Eat dessert for dinner with this celebration of sweet meets savory, and sample dishes like foie gras with butternut and passion fruit, burrata with sorbet, and chocolate crepes with mushrooms and chocolate.
For more information and tickets, visit the Food Network New York City WIne & Food Festival site.
For the latest happenings in the food and drink world, visit our Food News page.
Joanna Fantozzi is an Associate Editor with The Daily Meal. Follow her on Twitter@JoannaFantozzi