The **Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival presented by FOOD & WINE** has a packed roster of events planned for the 2013 Festival, and continues its long-standing tradition of designing unique lifestyle opportunities that appeal to everyone's taste buds with the creation of **Jets + Chefs: The Ultimate Tailgate presented by diet pepsi hosted by Joe Namath and Mario Batali**. The festival will take place on Saturday, Oct. 19, at New York City's Pier 92.
Batali, the renowned chef, restaurateur and cookbook author, will give his chef's coat a rest and don his treasured green and white gear to team up with Namath, the NFL legend, Super Bowl champion and Pro Football Hall of Famer, to host a day of grilling demonstrations, ramped-up tailgate fare, interactive fan-fanatic activities for the whole family and more. Like all Festival events, proceeds benefit Food Bank For New York City and Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry® campaign.
"This event is the amalgamation of all of the things that I love — grilling, tailgating and football," said Batali. "I couldn't be more excited to bring Benno and Leo to hang with Joe Namath and eat food cooked by some of my favorites."
The event will bring together more than 20 celebrated chefs and former New York Jets stars for a new type of gridiron classic that welcomes fans of any age. In addition to chefs offering samplings of amped-up gameday cuisine, fans can enjoy culinary demonstrations from Batali, alongside sons Benno and Leo Batali, as well as Rocco DiSpirito and Andrew Zimmern.
Spectators can also get in on the action with authentic FanZone activities, including the chance to win game tickets with pregame field passes and take pictures with the New York Jets Flight Crew. Batali and Namath will be joined by former New York Jets players Greg Buttle, Bruce Harper, Marty Lyons and Wesley Walker, among others, for a tailgate experience that is sure to get everyone ready for the next day's showdown, when the Jets take on the New England Patriots at MetLife Stadium.
"What goes with football better than food?" said Jets President Neil Glat. "The concept was an obvious one for us and partnering with the Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival was a terrific match. We are looking forward to seeing the tailgate creations these chefs dream up and watching our fans enjoy this new event."
Jets + Chefs: The Ultimate Tailgate will be one of several food-centric Jets events this fall. The Jets are partnering with the Institute of Culinary Education (ICE) to launch The Official New York Jets Cooking School – Tailgating Division that will provide opportunities for fans to participate in tailgating classes and football-themed cooking experiences starting in September. Also, the Jets Taste of the NFL Benefit, an annual food and fundraising event, will return this November. More details will be available in the coming week on the team's official website, newyorkjets.com.
Tickets for this event and more are available online at nycwff.org or by calling 866-969-2933 (phone sales open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. ET, with 100% of the net proceeds from the Festival benefiting Food Bank For New York City and Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry® campaign. Stay up to date with the excitement by following the Festival at Facebook.com/NYCWFF or founder and director Lee Brian Schrager at twitter.com/LeeSchrager.
About the Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival presented by FOOD & WINE
The Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival is hosted by and benefits the Food Bank For New York City and Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry® campaign, with 100% of the Festival's net proceeds going toward helping these community-based organizations fight hunger. Southern Wine & Spirits of New York is the exclusive provider of wine and spirits at the Festival. More information about the Festival can be found at nycwff.org.
About the Food Bank For New York City
Food Bank For New York City has been recognized for 30 years as the city's major hunger-relief organization working to end food poverty throughout the five boroughs. As the city's hub for integrated food poverty assistance, Food Bank tackles the hunger issue on three fronts — food distribution, income support and nutrition education — all strategically guided by its research. Through its network of community-based member programs citywide, Food Bank helps provide 400,000 free meals a day for New Yorkers in need. Food Bank's hands-on nutrition education program in the public schools reaches thousands of children, teens and adults. Income support services including food stamps, free tax assistance for the working poor and the Earned Income Tax Credit put millions of dollars back in the pockets of low-income New Yorkers, helping them to achieve greater dignity and independence. Learn how you can help at foodbanknyc.org.
About SHARE OUR STRENGTH'S NO KID HUNGRY CAMPAIGN No child should grow up hungry in America, but one in five children struggles with hunger. Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry® campaign is ending childhood hunger in America by ensuring all children get the healthy food they need every day. The No Kid Hungry campaign connects kids in need to effective nutrition programs like school breakfast and summer meals and teaches low-income families to cook healthful, affordable meals through its Cooking Matters program. This work is accomplished through the No Kid Hungry network, made up of private citizens, public officials, nonprofits, business leaders and others providing innovative hunger solutions in their communities. Join us at NoKidHungry.org.
