What Not to Miss at the New York City Wine & Food Festival

One of the most famous, star-studded culinary events each year, the New York City Wine & Food Festival is a foodie mecca, and the largest food festival in the city. Attracting tens of thousands of guests, 100 percent of the net proceeds from the event go to the Food Bank for New York City and the No Kid Hungry organization. This year, the festival celebrates 10 years and if you have tickets for Oct. 12-15, you’re in luck!

With more than 100 events over the course of four days, what should you definitely not miss?

Add at least one rooftop party to your itinerary. Two favorites? The Rooftop Iron Chef Showdown: Battle Autumn Bounty, hosted by none other than Alton Brown, Oct. 14, 7 p.m., at Pier 92. Chefs go head to head and guests benefit from it all, tasting more than 30 dishes. Plus, you’ll have the chance to see some of your favorite Food Network personalities beyond Alton, such as Alex Guarnaschelli, Geoffrey Zakarian, Masaharu Morimoto and Michael Symon. If you’re more of a Travel Channel fan, another rooftop party to enjoy is the Backyard BBQ hosted by Andrew Zimmern, also at Pier 92, Oct. 15. Stop by for tastes from some of the best barbecue masters in the country.

If you’d rather enjoy a more low-key, one-on-one experience with your favorite chefs (or at least as one on one as possible), try out one of the intimate dinners lined up for the weekend. On Oct. 12, Alain Ducasse is hosting a dinner to honor the city’s newest female chefs. The same night, Whoopi Goldberg hosts a “down-home fried chicken dinner” at Sylvia’s in Harlem. The next day, head over to CUT by Wolfgang Puck at the Four Seasons for dinner with not only Puck himself, but also Daniel Boulud.

Yes, these events can get a little pricey, with tickets going for as much as $350 a person or more. However, there are a few more affordable options. On Oct. 13, Scott Conant hosts a drinks, tapas and canapés event at The Standard High Line for just $85 a ticket. Several of the culinary demonstrations, as well as a few Wine Spectator seminars, are less than $100 as well.

Of course, there are so many more events and so many more celebrities to see (a rosé party hosted by Kathie Lee and Elvis Duran, an oyster bash with Adam Richman, a late-night pie and cake party with Duff Goldman — the list is endless). Check out the festival website for more events, and discover all the seminars, hands-on classes, tastings and parties for yourself.