Jacques Torres
Photo: Hernan F. Rodriguez
The second annual New York City Wine & Food festival hit town this weekend and Zagat Buzz was there. Festivities began Thursday at Chelsea Market's "After Dark" party, when the former Nabisco Factory closed for an evening of nibbles and drinks. Two of Food Network's powerhouse personalities, Sandra Lee and Guy
Fieri, hosted the event, and decorations included pumpkins carved with
their likenesses. Chefs enjoying the party included Tyler Florence, Top Chef's Leah Cohen and Anne Burrell.
Martha Stewart
Photo: Hernan F. Rodriguez
Friday's festivities started with "Meatpacking Uncorked," when the streets came alive with live music and performers ranging from tap dancers to stilt walkers to psychedelic hula hoopers. Restaurants such as Spice Market, Los Dados and Gansevoort 69 offered tastes of their specialties, while local boutiques opened their doors to pour a variety of wines. The big event of the evening was Rachael Ray's "Burger Bash" at the Old Tobacco Warehouse in Brooklyn, where 17 restaurants, including the Spotted Pig, Minetta Tavern and Shake Shack, competed for the title of best burger. (Top Chef contestant Spike Mendelsohn and his DC-based Good Stuff Eatery snagged the honor.) Spotted: Martha Stewart, last year’s winner Katie Lee, Gayle King, Giada De Laurentiis, Rocco DiSpirito and the hostess herself, Rachael Ray.
"Burger Bash" victor Spike Mendelsohn
Photo: Hernan F. Rodriguez
A parade of food stars came in and out of the Standard Hotel on Saturday, including Eric Ripert, Daniel Boulud, Joey Campanaro, Masaharu Morimoto, Michael White and Scott Conant.
Panel discussions around town included "Is Fine Dining Dead?" which featured Boulud along with Andrew Carmellini, André Soltner and Food & Wine's Kate Krader. The answer: a resounding no, as panelists agreed that the idea of fine dining adapts and changes with the times. “Fine dining no longer has to mean fancy dining,” Boulud said, citing the example of Spain's El Bulli. Soltner pointed out how times have changed by noting that, 40 years ago, Lutèce would not let in women wearing pantsuits.
Saturday night's big event was entitled "Sweet," in which the city's top pastry chefs took over West Chelsea event space la.venue. The event's host, Duff Goldman of Ace of Cakes, hosted luminaries like Jean Georges’ Johnny Iuzzini and Gotham Bar & Grill’s Deborah Racicot.
The weekend culminated with Giada De Laurentiis' "Meatball Madness," also at la.venue, where over two dozen chefs competed for best meatball. Despite solid entries from Rocco’s mom, Mama DiSpirito, Little Owl, Esca, Bill Telepan, the Waverly Inn and Butter, the winner was the lamb meatballs from Locanda Verde’s Andrew Carmellini.
For Twitter highlights of the event, click here. For more photos from the events, look below.
– Kathleen Squires