The New York City Wine and Food Festival (NYCWFF) is something everyone should put on their list of events to experience at least once.
This past weekend from Oct. 16 - 19, this culinary happening took place here in the Big Apple and featured a diverse variety of intimate dinners, walk around tastings with Food Network celebrity chefs and personalities as well as some of the most respected names in food and wine.
This past weekend from Oct. 16 - 19, this culinary happening took place here in the Big Apple and featured a diverse variety of intimate dinners, walk around tastings with Food Network celebrity chefs and personalities as well as some of the most respected names in food and wine.
The NYCWFF donates 100% of the net proceeds of this annual event to benefit the No Kid Hungry campaign to end childhood hunger in America and Food Bank For New York City, fighting hunger in the five boroughs, having raised over $7.5 million to date!
I have attended in the past and love the high energy and upbeat tone of both the attendees and hosts participating. As a Food Network junkie for more than 9 years, I decided to attend the Down-Home Country Brunch hosted by Trisha Yearwood. Now, I have to admit, I was never a big country music fan, though my husband is, but I totally fell in love with Ms. Yearwood and her endearing and fun-loving personality on her Food Network show Trisha's Country Kitchen.
Let me begin by saying, it was nothing I was expecting and so much more than I had imagined!!
Presented at the New York Hilton, the "brunch" was set up in the elegant Trianon ballroom. Beautifully decorated round tables were pre-set with attractive floral arrangements and individual place settings of Ruby Red Grapefruit bowls with Candied Ginger and Tahai Basil and Yuzu, along with assorted pastries.
I have attended in the past and love the high energy and upbeat tone of both the attendees and hosts participating. As a Food Network junkie for more than 9 years, I decided to attend the Down-Home Country Brunch hosted by Trisha Yearwood. Now, I have to admit, I was never a big country music fan, though my husband is, but I totally fell in love with Ms. Yearwood and her endearing and fun-loving personality on her Food Network show Trisha's Country Kitchen.
Let me begin by saying, it was nothing I was expecting and so much more than I had imagined!!
Presented at the New York Hilton, the "brunch" was set up in the elegant Trianon ballroom. Beautifully decorated round tables were pre-set with attractive floral arrangements and individual place settings of Ruby Red Grapefruit bowls with Candied Ginger and Tahai Basil and Yuzu, along with assorted pastries.
 Trianon Ballroom, NY HIlton, Midtown (courtesy Hilton) |  Beautifully decorated tables at NYCWFF's Down-Home Brunch |
The adjoining rooms were set up with stations of food and delicacies prepared by the participating restaurants, chefs and food vendors. The selection was enormous. Now, I will make one important note at this point. When I purchased these tickets I was so excited about seeing Trisha Yearwood that I didn't focus on the words "Down-Home Country Brunch." As anyone might guess, much of the down-home food was not in any way vegetarian friendly. My dear Travelin' Cousin, Tanya would have starved save a nice Espresso complements of illy or a bloody mary complements of Absolut!
I didn't care! There were things from which to pick and choose and quite frankly, the atmosphere, the caliber of friendly and happy people, and the fact that I got my chance to talk to Trisha (and see her perform!) was well worth every penny of the $150 ticket.
I didn't care! There were things from which to pick and choose and quite frankly, the atmosphere, the caliber of friendly and happy people, and the fact that I got my chance to talk to Trisha (and see her perform!) was well worth every penny of the $150 ticket.
Trisha's personal Country Quiche recipe was one of the dishes featured. A combination of ground pork sausage with sage, tomatoes, cheese tortellini and cheddar cheese. Eating around the sausage was not easy and a sausage lover's dream as it was abounding! But, the savory flavor was dazzling!
 Ruby Red Grapefruit with Candied Ginger, Tai Basil & Yuzu  Liberte Yogurt Perfection  Shrimp and Grits with Tasso Ham (Lev Gewirtzman, Mayfield)  Shrimp & Grits with Tasso Ham  Create Your Own Bloody Mary (Absolut) |  Assorted Pastries  Damian Laverty McDowell - Marietta Shrimp Sausage, Egg Custard, Brioche & Hollandaise  Blissful Banana Pudding and Cupcakes (Derrell Darwood, Doc D Southern Desserts)
If the food wasn't enough - there was the up- close and personal meet and greet with Ms. Yearwood! It amazed me just how down to earth and witty she is in person. With such a successful career as a singer, author and TV-personality, she talked to each and every guest who waited their turn patiently to say hi and have a picture taken. |
In fact, I told her how I watched her show with my two daughters, one of which, my eight year old, loved to imitate her by saying "Hi, I'm Trisha Yearwood and I'm cookin' it up in the kitchen!" Trisha said how she loved to do imitations as well and asked what my daughter's name was and said, "You tell Kelsey I said HI!" in an exaggerated southern drawl!! She really has a silly and delightful sense of humor - just as natural as she is on TV!
 with Bob Tushman, General Manager, Food Network  The beautiful Trisha Yearwood singing to us |  Tedd, Trisha Yearwood and me  with Damaris Philips of Southern at Heart on Food Network |
Trisha graced us (while we munched on our culinary delights), with four songs - a few new ones from her first upcoming album in seven years, Prizefighter, along with some Trisha Yearwood classics!
It was a pure delight and a fabulous way to spend my birthday weekend in New York City!! Thank you Food Network and Trisha Yearwood!!
-Elisa
It was a pure delight and a fabulous way to spend my birthday weekend in New York City!! Thank you Food Network and Trisha Yearwood!!
-Elisa
RSS Feed