The New York City Wine & Food Festival had more events than a person could attend. I know as I tried. Some were fabulous, some good with one having me note on my calendar, “Skip in 2010.”

Chelsea Market After Dark hosted by Guy Fieri and Sandra Lee was one of the fabulous opening night parties held from 9 p.m. – midnight ($95)worth every penny of the entry fee.

With the shops open for sampling, I was able to try decent sized portions of goodies from Amy’s Bread, Fat Witch Bakery, The Lobster Place, Buddakan, Chelsea Wine Vault, Sarabeth’s and Jacques Torres Chocolate (with handsome Jacques Torres, himself serving those samples!) among many, many others, all nestled in the historic Chelsea Market building that at the one-time was a Nabisco cookie factory.

All this alongside, wine-tasting stations throughout the market featuring those from Georges Duboeuf — from their Patch Block single varietals (priced under $10) to the Beaujolais crus (referred to as the Flower Labels, priced about $16 a bottle) with many others in between! A true oenophile’s delight as the wine was flowing.

Meatpacking Uncorked was an entirely different story. Not worth the $65 ticket to stand in long lines for little food. This event took place from 6 to 9 pm throughout the meatpacking district — luckily the weather was decent.

The program stated “The Meatpacking’s chic boutiques will flow with a large selection of Spice Market CHARGING at the event!! (on BIte of the Best) wines … while the neighborhood’s best restaurants will be serving samplings of their signature snacks.” The chic boutiques did have a selection of wines – but to say it was flowing is a vast overstatement. The servers at the shops poured about a third of a plastic glass full of wine.

The lines for the food were often around the block and — once you got to the front — what you got was generally less than one mouthful. Or worse, you needed to PAY for the food as at Spice Market — where they charged for their tiny satays and drinks.

There was so little food, that I left the meatpacking area and headed to a nearby, just-opened restaurant (Abe & Arthur’s) to satisfy my hunger pangs. Stay tuned for that write up.

Note to self: Skip Meatpacking Uncorked in 2010.

For those of you who like attending Food Network events, tickets are now on sale for Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival in Florida, February 25 to 28, 2010. Visit http://www.sobefest.com/2010/

– bonnie