This past weekend’s Wine and Food Festival — with events around the city — was the place to see, be seen and meet new friends.
The Thursday night Chelsea After Dark event kept Chelsea Market (home to the Food Network) open late with shops offering sampling and my old friend Emeril hosting a lounge. As with all these events, the food and booze flowed.
Friday, I headed to Brooklyn for the Burger Bash presented by Pat LaFrieda Meats where I literally ran into 
Whoopie, the host for the evening — she took over for Rachel Ray, last year’s host. (Pardon the blurry shot, as it was taking rather quickly with my Blackberry while moving.) Famous names filled the Tobacco Warehouse in DUMBO, competing to win the burger of the night. That award went to Abe & Arthur’s Franklin Becker’s bacon and cheddar Wisconsin burger, selected as best by the celebrity judges David Burke, Andrew Zimmern, Adam Richman and Anne Burrell.
Saturday afternoon before the rain started, I listened to some chef panels held outside at Gansevoort Plaza presented by The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. The first with chefs Daniel Boulud, Paul Liebrandt, Alfred Portale and Marco Canora discussed the old and new school way of running both a kitchen and restaurant business. Next the women took the stage with Carla Hall, Amanda Cohen, Anita Lo and Traci Des Jardins discussing being a woman chef in a man’s world. Carla Hall was a real treat to listen to … I’m thinking she should have her own comedy show!
As Friday was to burgers, Saturday was to Tacos with 30 something chefs taking part in the Tacos & Tequila event at 82 Mercer, a one-of-a-kind SoHo locale. At this event I ran into lots of friends and other foodies including Bobby Flay and Debbie Mazar currently seen on Entourage.
At this one the tequila flowed (and so did Coronas).. with tacos made using soft and crunchy tortillas, as well as ones fashioned from plantains. Some were filled with steak or pork, others with lamb, chorizo, shrimp, short ribs peking duck, veal, salmon, beef tongue, salmon, tuna and more. Inventive. Delicious with goodies from some of my favorite NYC restaurants: Aldea, david Burge Kitchen, Ed’s Chowder House, Gotham Ba and Grill, Barbuto, Gramercy Tavern and more.
Even though both the burger and taco events accommodate over 1000 people, tickets go quickly! So if you want to attend next year — October 4 – 7, 2012 — be sure to buy your tickets early. Or head to Miami for the South Beach (SOBE) Food & Wine Festival in February – February 23 – 26 — those tickets go on sale October 24.
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