What a great weekend to eat and drink the days away. Aside from the gorgeous weather, the Food Network hosted their annual New York City Wine & Food Festival (which happened 10/11 – 10/14). It is the only festival in New York to bring together both legendary culinary icons from around the globe and America’s most beloved television chefs.

This year marks their fifth anniversary and, once again, 100% of the net proceeds benefit the Food Bank For New York City and Share Our Strength®—to date they have raised over $5 million to help fight hunger!

In the course of 4 days, Wine & Food hosts 120 private events all around the city, including their signature Grand Tasting event which is hosted in a large expo hall (this year it was at Pier 57) and is filled with the greatest chefs, restaurant owners, winemakers, spirits producers and personalities of the food world.

As you enter the Grand Tasting, you receive a wine glass which you then proceed to fill (and refill and refill) while