45,000 Guests Celebrated The 17th Annual Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival presented by Invesco QQQ Hosted by God’s Love We Deliver

Internal Festival PR Contact:
Festival Public Relations
Andrea Moreno
andmoreno@fiu.edu

Press Agency Contact:
Berlin Rosen
nycwff@berlinrosen.com

45,000 passionate fans came out to EAT. DRINK. FEED NYC. and celebrate the 17th annual Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival presented by Invesco QQQ (NYCWFF) at its exciting new home, the Invesco QQQ Festival Campus at the Brooklyn Army Terminal from October 17-20. The Festival featured over 80 events and 500 restaurants across the city, including walk-around tastings, late-night soirées, and exclusive dining experiences with celebrity chefs and world-renowned culinary talents such as Bobby Flay, Daniel Boulud, Rachael Ray, Marcus Samuelsson, and more. The annual gourmet gathering returned to raise awareness for God’s Love We Deliver, New York City’s only provider of medically tailored meals and nutrition counseling for individuals living with severe illness. With the help of the God’s Love We Deliver community, 1,500 volunteer shifts sponsored by Russell Stover were completed over the weekend.

"We couldn’t have been more thrilled with how our 17th year unfolded, especially with the Festival's debut in Brooklyn,” says Lee Brian Schrager, NYCWFF Founder & Director. “The incredible response from both locals and visitors was beyond what we had hoped for, and it was a true celebration of the city’s culinary diversity. We’re deeply grateful for the warm welcome Brooklyn gave us. As we look ahead, we’re excited to add more partners, talent, and brands from Brooklyn to make future Festivals even bigger and better. Most importantly, we’re proud to continue our support for God’s Love We Deliver, whose mission remains at the heart of what we do."

"We are so grateful to have partnered with the Festival again this year, and we deeply appreciate everything that the supporters, sponsors, and incredible talent have done to help raise awareness for God’s Love We Deliver,” says David Ludwigson, President & CEO of God’s Love We Deliver. “It’s always inspiring to see how this amazing community comes together—over unforgettable culinary experiences and moments of joy—to make a real difference for those in need. The generosity and passion of everyone involved mean the world to us, and we’re honored to be part of such a special event."

Highlights of the 2024 NYCWFF Festival:

The energy was already building on Wednesday night, October 16, at the Festival’s pre-event party celebrating Martha Stewart’s 100th book, where guests were treated to a surprise appearance by Stewart’s long-time friend Snoop Dogg, alongside other notable guests Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Rosanna Scotto, Craig Melvin, Antonia Lofaso, David Rockwell, and more. The excitement carried into Thursday, October 17, as the Festival kicked off the first of its Brooklyn-based events with Gin & Juice By Dre and Snoop presents Brooklyn Eats & Beats hosted by Esther Choi, Billy Durney, Sean Feeney, Mark Iacono and Michael Solomonov, alongside Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre who made an appearance to launch their new brand, Still G.I.N. With beats by DJ Suss One booming and bites sizzling, it was the ultimate launch event, blending Brooklyn’s vibrant food culture with legendary music.

The action kept rolling on Friday, October 18 at the Lawn Club, where style met substance with a Q&A between Blake Lively and Michael Kors at The Betty BOOze Harvest Happy Hour before crowds headed out to the Invesco QQQ Festival Campus at Brooklyn Army Terminal for the Blue Moon Burger Bash: Champions vs. Challengers presented by Pat LaFrieda Meats hosted by Rachael Ray. Celebrity chefs and grill masters from across the city battled it out for the title of ultimate burger champion. With a stacked panel of judges that included Food Network’s Tiffany Derry, Katie Lee and Marc Murphy, tastemaker Scot Louie, Randy Peers, President of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, and influencer Tessa Sinatro, the competition was fierce, but two chefs came out on top.

• The Burger Bash Judge’s Choice went to Mel’s Butcher Box in Tenafly, New Jersey for their drool-worthy creation.
• The Burger Bash People’s Choice was awarded to Chef Josh Capon of Capon’s for his fan-favorite burger, making it his seventh time winning.

The night concluded with the decadent Sweet Dreams presented by Le Chemin du Roi and Branson Cognac, where renowned pastry chef Dominique Ansel hosted a dessert-filled late-night party. Guests indulged in sweet creations at Somewhere Nowhere while Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson surprised attendees, pouring his Branson Cognac and Le Chemin du Roi Champagne cocktails behind the bar.

Saturday, October 19 packed a punch at Industry City with FoodieCon®, presented by Fratelli Beretta, where attendees got an exclusive chance to hear tips, tricks, and first hand stories from top influencers in the culinary world. This influencer-powered convention highlighted the latest trends in food culture on the Internet, with today’s top creators, chefs, and media personalities diving deep into the future of the culinary world. The fun continued into the evening at Bobby Flay's Triple Threat Party presented by Treasure Cave, where guests got down on the dance floor with DJ Tokyo while the flavors of El Sazon R.D. took home the coveted People’s Choice Award presented by Treasure Cave, including a $5,000 cash prize and a matching donation of $5,000 to God’s Love We Deliver.

The good vibes continued through the night at the Festival’s much-anticipated Steak & Whiskey presented by A.1. Sauce, where Chef Robert Irvine showcased prime cuts paired with an exquisite selection of whiskey, including the fan-favorite Sassenach Spirits, a Scottish blend from Outlander star Sam Heughan. Guests savored every bite and sip throughout the immersive venue at Hall des Lumières before Max's Es-Ca, an Italian restaurant from Staten Island, was named the A.1. 2024 NYCWFF Steak & Whiskey Best Bite Champion and awarded the $5,000 cash prize by The Kraft Heinz Company. Throughout the weekend, food lovers indulged in some of the city’s most exclusive lunches, brunches, and dinners hosted by acclaimed chefs, all paired with premier wines and spirits from Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits. With more than 25 seated dining experiences across New York City, guests were treated to culinary artistry by icons like Daniel Boulud, Martha Stewart, Marcus Samuelsson, Esther Choi, Vikas Khanna, Geoffrey Zakarian, and many more.

During the Festival, food enthusiasts flocked to the Grand Tasting featuring Culinary Demonstrations presented by HexClad, a three-day culinary showcase that offered attendees the chance to sample dishes from over 50 of the city’s top restaurants. Each day culminated in the coveted Best Bite Award presented by Beli, with attendees voting for their favorite dish of the day. The winners were:

• Friday, October 18: Brooklyn Dumpling House for their inventive and flavor-packed dumplings.
• Saturday, October 19: International Wings Factory, serving bold, globally inspired wing flavors.
• Sunday, October 20: Mia’s Cocina, delivering mouthwatering, authentic Latin cuisine.

More Exciting Moments from NYCWFF 2024:

• ABSOLUT® Vodka presents Drag Disco sponsored by Queerty, hosted by the fabulous duo David Burtka and Neil Patrick Harris, where the crowd was dazzled by jaw-dropping performances from drag superstars JIMBO and Meatball, and the night was lit with glitter, glam, and sexy food-eating competition.
• A Caviar & Cocktail Affair presented by Black River Caviar part of the United Airlines Series, hosted by Scott Conant and Antonia Lofaso, gave guests the ultimate luxury of pairing delicate caviar with expertly crafted cocktails and flowing Champagne all evening.
• Asian Bites & Karaoke Nights hosted by Jet Tila presented by Sake ONO part of the United Airlines Series brought all the vibrant flavors of Asia together in one lively celebration, with guests belting out their favorite tunes while indulging in street food-style bites curated by Jet Tila.

To close out the Festival, the beats turned up at BACARDI presents JJ Johnson’s The Cookout: A Celebration of Black Cuisine and Culture, co-hosted by Rev Run and Angela Yee. The event brought soul food and hip-hop together for a block party with performances from Kid Capri, Freeway, and more, all celebrating the richness of Black culinary traditions and culture in NYC.

Mark your calendars – the NYCWFF will be back in October 2025 for another unforgettable celebration. Until then, stay connected with the Festival all year long on social media at @NYCWFF and follow along with the hashtags #NYCWFF and #EatDrinkFeedNYC for updates on future events and highlights.

Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival presented by Invesco QQQ

The Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival presented by Invesco QQQ is hosted by God’s Love We Deliver with 100% of the Festival’s net proceeds supporting New Yorkers facing severe illness. Over the past 17 years, the Festival has generated more than $14.8 million in net proceeds for its charitable causes. Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits is the exclusive provider of wine and spirits at the Festival. BizBash has named the Festival the #1 Food & Restaurant Industry event in New York for 10 years in a row. More information on the Festival can be found at nycwff.org. Follow @NYCWFF on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and on TikTok at @NYCWineFoodFestival.

God’s Love We Deliver

God’s Love We Deliver cooks and home-delivers nutritious, medically tailored meals for people too sick to shop or cook for themselves. Founded in 1985 as a response to the AIDS pandemic, God’s Love now serves people living with more than 200 different diagnoses. God’s Love addresses food and nutrition insecurity, and supports the health and well-being of their clients, by providing ongoing nutrition assessment, education, and counseling, advocating for food and nutrition support, and delivering medically tailored meals. God’s Love is a non-sectarian organization serving individuals living with illness, and their children and caregivers. With a community of thousands of volunteers, they home-delivered more than 4 million medically tailored meals to nearly 143,000 individuals last year. All services are free to clients and full of love. For more information, visit godslovewedeliver.org. Follow God’s Love on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits

Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits is the world’s preeminent distributor of beverage alcohol, building brands for moments that matter. The multi-generational, family-owned Company has operations in 44 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and Canada, as well as brokerage operations through its WEBB Banks division in the Caribbean, Central and South America. In 2024, Southern Glazer’s was recognized by Newsweek as one of America’s Greatest Workplaces for Diversity and America’s Greatest Workplaces for Women. Southern Glazer’s urges all retail customers and adult consumers to market, sell, serve, and enjoy its products responsibly. For more information visit www.southernglazers.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @sgwinespirits.

Invesco Ltd.

Invesco Ltd. is a global independent investment management firm dedicated to delivering an investment experience that helps people get more out of life. Our distinctive investment teams deliver a comprehensive range of active, passive, and alternative investment capabilities. With offices in more than 20 countries, Invesco managed $1.66 trillion in assets on behalf of clients worldwide as of March 31, 2024. For more information, visit www.invesco.com.

Invesco QQQ

Invesco QQQ is an exchange-traded fund based on the Nasdaq-100 Index®. The Index includes 100 of the largest domestic and international non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market based on market capitalization. An investment cannot be made directly into an index. This is not to be construed as an offer to buy or sell Invesco QQQ.

*Invesco is not affiliated with the Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival or any of the individuals, brands or companies mentioned; nor should this be construed as an endorsement for any the individuals, brand or companies mentioned.

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