New York Wine & Food Festival 2009 - From Burgers to Barbecue

by Sarah LeTrent, Posted Oct 12th 2009 @ 4:30PM

Photo: Sarah LeTrent

Friday night's Blue Moon Burger Bash hosted by Food Network star-turned-one woman empire, Rachael Ray, heated the festival up. Where there weren't burgers, the Food Network and food world entourage filled in.

A brief roll call included: the aforementioned Rachael Ray, Tyler Florence, Bobby Flay, Guy Fieri, Ann Burrell, Art Smith, Jacques Torres, Rocco DiSpirito, Martha Stewart, Duff Goldman, Katie Lee (last year's Burger Bash champion), Ellie Krieger, Giada De Laurentiis...

New York's top eateries, including Minetta Tavern, Shake Shack, The Spotted Pig and Wollensky's, fired up their grills so they could claim the judges' favorite and the People's Choice Award. Check out our festival photos and more after the jump!

It was a night full of dripping burger grease, sipping of Blue Moon Pumpkin ale and gawking at food celebrities.

In the end it was Top Chef Spike Mendelsohn (and his "We Like Spike" cheerleaders) of Good Stuff Eatery in Washington D.C. that won the judge's favorite with his bacon and blue cheese burger with toasted marshmallow milkshake. He took home the same title at South Beach's festival earlier this year.

spike mendelsohn cheerleaders at burger bash

Photo: Sarah LeTrent

Josh Capon of Lure Fishbar took home the People's Choice Award partly thanks to his prime tent location and boisterous personality as well as his Chef Michael White-approved burger with onion jam and homemade salt and vinegar chips. When we were getting our burger, Capon was commentating the Yankees' game and starting a "Let's Go Yankees" chant.

As if we didn't get our carnivorous fill the night before, Saturday night led us to "Down South Up North." And who better to bring a taste of the south to above the Mason-Dixon than the queen of Southern cuisine and butter herself, Paula Deen.

The lovable Lee Bros., Matt and Ted Lee, showcased their home cookin' recipes with the likes of smoked cauliflower, chili crabs and shrimp deviled egg rolls. Art Smith offered his "Art and Soul" fried chicken. Chris Lilly proved his pulled pork deserved to be an eight-time world champion and Hill Country's Elizabeth Karmel did what she did best with lots of meat (prime rib and hot 'n' smokies in a blanket) and lots of sweet (mini-banana pudding pies, mini PB&J's).

In keeping with Paula's down-home, laidback style, the meal was served family-style with Hounddog Sweet Tea Vodka cocktails and a live bluegrass soundtrack. Even the most devoted Northerners were tapping their toes and speaking with a slight drawl by the end of the night.

By Sunday, those who hadn't had their fill could load up on meatballs and more Giada at the Meatball Madness event with offerings from Esca, Perilla, Abe & Arthur's, the Little Owl, Frankies Spuntino and the Waverly Inn. Mangia!

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New York City Wine and Food Festival 2009

Holy cannoli! Ferrara Bakery offered mini cannolis at Meatball Madness at the New York City Wine & Food Festival on Oct. 11, 2009.

Sara Bonisteel

Getty Images North America

New York City Wine and Food Festival 2009

Holy cannoli! Ferrara Bakery offered mini cannolis at Meatball Madness at the New York City Wine & Food Festival on Oct. 11, 2009.

Sara Bonisteel

Rocco DiSpirito poses with a fan at the New York City Wine & Food Festival's Meatball Madness event on Oct. 11, 2009.

Sara Bonisteel

Frank Bruni checks his meatball stats.

Sara Bonisteel

Frankies Spuntino offered giant meatballs at Meatball Madness at the New York City Wine & Food Festival on Oct. 11, 2009.

Sara Bonisteel

The Little Owl's juicy slider.

Sara Bonisteel

The tuna meatball offered by Esca.

Sara Bonisteel

Esca staff put the finishing touches on their tuna meatball at Meatball Madness at the New York City Wine & Food Festival on Oct. 11, 2009.

Sara Bonisteel

A veal and ricotta meatball from Hearth at Meatball Madness at the New York City Wine & Food Festival on Oct. 11, 2009.

Sara Bonisteel

A lamb slider from Locanda Verde.

Sara Bonisteel

Meatballs await the judges at the New York City Wine & Food Festival's Meatball Madness event on Oct. 11, 2009.

Sara Bonisteel

Filed Under: Celebrities
Tags: burger bash, BurgerBash, down south up north, DownSouthUpNorth, food network, FoodNetwork, new york wine and food festival, NewYorkWineAndFoodFestival, nywff, rachael ray, RachaelRay

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Reader comments (Page 1 of 1)

10-14-2009 @6:38PM Nico Toscani said... The list of guests reads like a who's who of fake, no talent wannabe "chefs". What a joke! Nothing but an event for Food Network schills.
Reply