This year’s New York City Wine & Food Festival is set to showcase a mix of celebrity chefs and, interestingly, some non-alcoholic options, as Side Dish has learned.
Actor Sylvester Stallone is expected to be at a dinner event promoting his Carbonadi Italian Vodka brand.
Bryan Cranston will participate in tastings to highlight the tequila from his Dos Hombres brand, which he co-founded with “Breaking Bad” co-star Aaron Paul.
Musician Mgk, previously known as Machine Gun Kelly, will host a unique non-alcoholic event for the festival.
The sober artist, who also runs a coffee business called 27 Club Coffee, will oversee a Sunday morning event titled “Morning Buzz,” which will have a brunch-like atmosphere.
“We’re excited to return with one of our most diverse line-ups yet, celebrating all that New York has to offer – fantastic food, amazing culture, and entertainment,” stated festival founder Lee Schrager.
This year’s festival will be held from October 14 to October 18 at the Seaport, continuing the multi-year agreement. Signature events will take place at the Rooftop of Pier 17.
Notably, former cast members of the Real Housewives of New York City, Luann de Lesseps, Dorinda Medley, and Kelly Bensimon, will join together for a steak and whiskey event.
Schrager, who also serves as the chief communications officer at Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits—a key sponsor of the festival—had a big milestone earlier this year as his South Beach Wine & Food Festival celebrated its 25th anniversary.
He has plans to launch a new festival in Europe as well, with the Gstaad Wine & Food Festival set to debut next June, where he will take on the role of operations consultant.
For this year’s NYC festival, over 300 chefs will participate in more than 50 events, including both intimate dinners and larger tasting opportunities enhanced with live music.
The festival will host its first-ever non-alcoholic dinner on October 17, featuring renowned chefs Jonathon Sawyer and Gautier Coiffard. This event will take place at The Maze NYC, an alcohol-free club, with courses paired with non-alcoholic drinks.
“People are drinking less nowadays, especially the younger generation, and we aim to align with that trend,” Schrager shared.
“We are fundamentally a wine and food event, yet these non-alcoholic offerings will still emphasize the culinary experiences,” he added. “There are many individuals who simply choose not to drink, and we don’t want to overlook that audience.”
There are still numerous ways to connect with culinary stars at the festival.
Star Stallone is set to join a sold-out dinner at esteemed chef Andrew Carmellini’s restaurant, Carne Mare, at the Seaport.
Renowned TV host Rachael Ray will co-host the “Blue Moon Burger Bash” alongside comedian Bert Kreischer.
Also, acclaimed chef Kwame Onwuachi is slated to lead a late-night tasting event titled “New York After Dark,” which draws inspiration from his upcoming cookbook, “All Hours.” This tasting will showcase dishes from various New York favorites, featuring chefs like Dustin Everett and Robbie Felice, with entertainment from DJ Derrick “D-Nice” Jones.
“All Hours reflects my current cooking and eating style,” Onwuachi mentioned. “My lifestyle constantly shifts between restaurants, travel, family, and food—it doesn’t always fit into neat meal categories.”
EGOT winner Whoopi Goldberg will join chef JJ Johnson and entrepreneur Angela Yee to host “The Cookout,” together with hip-hop icon Method Man.
Food enthusiasts should also keep an eye out for celebrated chefs like Marcus Samuelsson, Andrew Rea from @BingingwithBabish, Ayesha Nurdjaja from Food Network, and Michael Symon, who will all be involved in grand tasting events featuring culinary demonstrations from well-known names, including mgk and Geoffrey Zakarian.
The fourth installment of FoodieCon, featuring some of the top influencers in food, will also make a return.
“The talent we have this year is phenomenal. It’s inspiring to see such ongoing growth,” Schrager pointed out, highlighting influencers like Jake Goldberg and Sarah Thomas.
This year’s goal is to achieve $3 million in ticket sales, with organizers noting they are already about three-quarters of the way there, as many tickets tend to sell in the final weeks leading up to the event.
The festival’s beginnings trace back 19 years when it was simply a one-night dessert event called Sweet, which eventually expanded from the Chelsea Market before outgrowing that venue. After a year in Brooklyn, the festival returns to Manhattan.
The event will benefit the James Beard Foundation and the Event Zero Foundation.
Additionally, the Bahamas Culinary & Arts Festival is set to launch from October 21 to 25, featuring highlights like a multi-course dinner by Chef Daniel Boulud. The festival will also present open-air tastings and a collaborative dinner inspired by Caribbean artists.
