2011 Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival Presented by FOOD & WINE Honors Culinary Icon Jacques Pepin and His Royal Highness Prince Robert of Luxembourg

- Tribute Dinner honoring His Royal Highness Prince Robert of Luxembourg and Jacques Pepin presented by Bank of America will take place on Saturday, October 1, 2011-

NEW YORK, Aug. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival presented by FOOD & WINE founder and director, Lee Brian Schrager, who also serves as the vice president of corporate communications and national events at Southern Wine & Spirits of America, Inc., is pleased to announce that the Festival's first Tribute Dinner will honor legendary chef, author and educator Jacques Pepin and distinguished wine producer Prince Robert of Luxembourg, managing director of Domaine Clarence Dillon Wines, which also owns Chateau Haut-Brion estates.  Taking place on Saturday, October 1 at Pier Sixty, Manhattan's largest event space with water views, the dinner will be produced in partnership with the New York chapter of Les Dames d'Escoffier and presented by Bank of America.  As with all Festival events, 100% of the net proceeds benefit the Food Bank For New York City and Share Our Strength®.  

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"We are excited to honor two renowned figures in the wine and culinary industry as part of the Festival's first-ever Tribute Dinner," says Schrager.  "The Tribute Dinner is a 10-year tradition at its sister Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival each February and we are thrilled to continue it in New York City, where past honoree Martha Stewart will serve as the evening's mistress of ceremonies."  

The evening begins with a reception hosted by Ariane Daguin, of the esteemed D'Artagnan empire, and Abigail Kirsch Executive Chef Alison Awerbuch, complemented by Champagne Perrier-Jouet and Clarendelle wines.  The following dinner will take guests on a culinary journey prepared by some of the world's most iconic chefs – Daniel Boulud, Alain Ducasse, Laurent Gras, Alain Sailhac, and Jacques Torres – and feature extraordinary wine pairings from Domaine Clarence Dillon and Chateau Haut-Brion.  Accenting the evening will be an exquisite live auction benefiting the Food Bank For New York City and Share Our Strength®, as well as a silent auction benefiting Les Dames d'Escoffier New York's Makes A Difference Scholarships.

Jacques Pepin is best known for his cookbooks and TV shows that introduced Americans to traditional French cuisine. Today, Pepin serves as Dean of Special Programs at the French Culinary Institute, part of the International Culinary Center, in New York City and is featured quarterly in FOOD & WINE in a column about the changes in the culinary scene over the last 50 years.  His Royal Highness Prince Robert of Luxembourg is the managing director of Domaine Clarence Dillon, the family that currently owns the rights to the Chateau Haut-Brion wine estates, a label that traces its roots back to 1533. In addition to maintaining the Chateau Haut-Brion moniker, Prince Robert is also responsible for the first super premium Bordeaux varietal sold under the Clarendelle Wine label.

Eat. Drink. End Hunger. The 2011 Festival will take place September 29 – October 2 and 100% of the net proceeds from the Festival benefit the Food Bank For New York City and Share Our Strength®.  Tickets for the Tribute Dinner and many other events can be purchased at www.nycwineandfoodfestival.com or by calling 866.969.2933.  Stay tuned into the excitement all year long by following Festival founder and director Lee Brian Schrager on Twitter, www.twitter.com/Lee_Schrager.    

About the Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival presented by FOOD & WINE

The Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival is produced by Karlitz & Company and Southern Wine & Spirits of New York.  Southern Wine & Spirits of New York is the exclusive provider of wine and spirits at the Festival.  Hosted by and benefiting the Food Bank For New York City and Share Our Strength®, 100% of the Festival's net proceeds go toward helping these community based organizations fight hunger.  More information about the Festival can be found at www.nycwineandfoodfestival.com.    

About the Food Bank For New York City

Food Bank For New York City recognizes 28 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, the 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 approximately 1,000 community-based member programs citywide, the Food Bank helps provide 400,000 free meals a day for New Yorkers in need. The 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. 94% of donations go directly toward food distribution, acquisition and programs in all five boroughs of New York City.  Learn how you can help at foodbanknyc.org.  

About Share Our Strength®

Share Our Strength®, a national nonprofit, is ending childhood hunger in America by connecting children with the nutritious food they need to lead healthy, active lives.  Through its No Kid Hungry® Campaign—a national effort to end childhood hunger in America by 2015—Share Our Strength ensures children in need are enrolled in effective federal nutrition programs; invests in community organizations fighting hunger; teaches families how to cook healthy, affordable meals; and builds public-private partnerships to end childhood hunger, at the state and city level. Working closely with the culinary industry and relying on the strength of its volunteers, Share Our Strength hosts innovative culinary fundraising events and develops pioneering cause marketing campaigns that support No Kid Hungry. Visit Strength.org to get involved.

About Southern Wine & Spirits of America, Inc.

Southern Wine & Spirits of America, Inc. is the nation's largest wine and spirits distributor and broker with operations in 35 markets. The multi-state distributor currently operates in: Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Kentucky, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Hampshire, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia and West Virginia—as well as the additional seven states of Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and Utah through the Southern-Odom/Spirits West partnership. In addition, Southern has a presence in Maryland and the District of Columbia through a joint venture with F.P. Winner Wine & Spirits as well as a joint venture operation in Minnesota with J.J. Taylor Distributing Company. Southern also holds operating licenses and permits in Nebraska and Texas. On a national basis, Southern Wine & Spirits of America, Inc. employs more than 11,000 team members. For more information, see: http://www.southernwine.com.

SOURCE Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival