This year I attended my first New York City Wine and Food Festival and I told myself if I ever got this opportunity I would share my experience with you all. Before attending NYCWFF I always wanted to know more about the experience as someone who is a food content creator, lover of culinary arts, and someone who fangirls over chefs. Questions that lingered in my mind was is the experience worth it and if you are a content creator how can you possibly attend for free. There is no gatekeeping of knowledge are here so I am spilling it all.

Let’s start with the basics…

What is NYC Wine and Food Festival?
An annual festival that takes place over a course of 4 days and is put on by The Food Network. This festival features the top chefs not only in New York City but globally and the world’s most well-known wine and spirits producers. Historically this event takes place in the month of October and has featured the likes of Rachel Ray, Marcus Samuelsson, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Carla Hall, Kwame Onwuachi, and the list could go on. This festival supports a cause called God’s Love We Deliver with 100% of the net proceeds and in 15 years this festival has raised $14 million. God’s Love We Deliver is New York’s leading provider of life-sustaining meals and nutrition counseling hence the slogan/mission of NYCWFF is “Eat. Drink. Feed NYC”.

What type of events does NYCWFF host?
The festival puts on a wide array of events that include Grand Tastings, Intimate Dinners, Brunches, Master Classes, cocktail, and spirits-focused events, and late-night events. To see a list of this year events click here.


Who are some of the sponsors of this fab event since 100% of the net proceeds go to a worthy charity?
Some of the sponsors include iHeart Radio, Capital One, Norwegian Cruise Line, Toyota, Food Network, and many more listed here.


What are the perks/benefits of being a Capital One cardholder?

• Early entry to specific events

• Discounted pricing

• Access to Capital One Lounges which allow for comfortable seating, swag, phone charge stations, and more.

• Access to exclusive intimate dinners

How do you attend NYC Wine and Food Festival for free as a food media member?

• Apply online on their Press page at minimum a month before the event occurs.

• When filling out the form be in-depth as possible about the angle you want to cover and the platforms you will be utilizing ( don’t forget about that blog you have). It is important to sell them on your vision or angle.

• I recommend asking for different types of experiences that include intimate dinners, grand tastings, and daytime events. The Burger Bash is a signature event and usually takes place on the first day of the festival.

• If selected you will be notified two weeks out from the kick-off of the festival.

  
  

Tips for attending NYCWFF events regardless of whether you are a food content creator or just a food lover?

• Document your experience via your phone and if you want to bring your DSLR camera you can bring it.

• Wear comfortable shoes and attire.

• Review the events page beforehand to review what restaurants will be in attendance.

• Come with patience as the line can be long.

• Confirm the location before attending on the events page to learn more about suggested attire as some events may be indoors or outdoors, or on different piers.

• If rain is in the forecast, bring a poncho as opposed to an umbrella. Trying to juggle an umbrella while trying to eat and drink is too much.

• Be aware of the bag policy for expedited entry and you review it here.

As a consumer are tickets for this festival worth it and what would you recommend attending?
If you are a lover of the culinary space and find yourself fangirling (or boying) over chefs, restaurants, or looking for new experiences then I HIGHLY recommend attending NYCWFF! Depending upon the event and setting the price can range from $175 to $450 for some of the most priciest intimate dinners. Once again if you are a Capital One cardholder FLEX those benefits and save some money.

If you are attending one event I highly recommend a Grand Tasting or if outdoor events are not you thing then I would recommend a Master Class or Intimate Dinner.

What events did I attend for NYCWFF 2022?

• Day 1 Burger Bash | IG Reel Recap

• Day 2 Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits Trade Day & Peroni's Taste of Italy | | IG Reel Recap

• Day 3 Battle of the Cocktails | IG Reel Recap

• Day 4 Backyard BBQ | Check @taurusxfoodie IG Reel Recap

Hope you found this breakdown of the NYCWFF helpful and see you in 2023!
Got questions? Drop them in the comment section!

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