"NewYorkCityWineAndFoodFestival" news and stories

Anthony Bourdain. Photo: New York City Wine & Food Festival.

When we got our hands on a coveted ticket to the Frank Bruni/Anthony Bourdain TimesTalks event, we were psyched to attend. What could be more fun than witnessing the outgoing New York Times restaurant critic participating in a culinary spar with the preeminent enfant terrible of the chef world?

Not surprisingly, Bourdain is a natural and answered practically every Bruni question with a clever, brutally honest quip. Bruni began by inquiring about one of the more unusual things he had seen Bourdain eat on his Travel Channel show, "No Reservations." The delicacy in question was a warthog's rectum. After firing off a few expletives, Bourdain admitted that while he was eating the warthog delicacy, he knew he was "in trouble," adding he humbly tries to eat everything that people around the globe offer him.

"Where we're going is based on directors we like and want to dupe," Bourdain said of the show. "We want to make something along the lines of films we admire." Of course, he capped the exchange off with a self-mocking, "But, it's all about me in the end."

Dr. Mehmet Oz and Rachael Ray. Photo: Jennifer Lawinski

Even presidents know it's hard to get kids to eat their vegetables.

Former President Bill Clinton told parents a gymnasium full of parents in Harlem Saturday that he shared their struggles with finding and committing to healthy eating. Getting kids to eat fruits and vegetables is hard, he said. "Especially in Harlem, where I can say we have a lot of other options and they all taste good."

The talk was part of the the New York City Wine and Food Festival's Weight Watcher's Fun and Fit in the City event, targeted at combating childhood obesity and promoting healthy eating for the city's kids. The ex-president's foundation is headquartered in Harlem, and its top priority in the U.S. is the fight against childhood obesity.

Sandra rolls in Elvis style. Photo: Sara Bonisteel

Bacon and Sandra Lee took center stage Thursday for the kickoff of the New York City Wine and Food Festival in Manhattan.

Lee held court in Chelsea Market (home of festival sponsor, the Food Network), where a ginormous "Sandra Lee" sign heralded exactly where everyone's favorite semi-homemade host was holding court, signing copies of her latest book "Cocktail Time."

At the Standard Hotel, those lucky enough to get into Tyler Florence's "Bacon and the Blues" event found bacon gratin, chocolate covered bacon, pulled pork and great steamed slabs of bacon all for the taking. Check out our photos from the scene after the jump.