Food Network’s 2012 New York City Wine & Food Festival

Anna Mintz is a Publicist for Clarkson Potter, a division of Random House, and is an editor for The Recipe Club. Originally from Atlanta, she now lives in New York City and loves exploring NYC’s restaurant scene and trying out new recipes in her own kitchen.

Whew! We had a whirlwind weekend at all the events for the 2012 Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival — a foodie’s paradise, with events starting on Thursday evening and continuing on through Sunday night.

Everything kicked off on Thursday night with the Meatball Madness event, hosted by Giada De Laurentiis. This is always one of my favorite events of the whole festival, with over 30 NYC chefs and restaurants showcasing their unique take on the meatball. Meatballs ranged from Marco Canora’s classic Meatball Parm, to Gramercy Tavern’s spicy lamb meatball with yogurt sauce, but my personal favorite was Giada’s turkey meatball panini with arugula, provolone, and prosciutto.

Another fun event was the Burger Bash on Friday night. Similar to Meatball Madness, the Burger Bash celebrates the best burgers in town; there were so many good options this year! A favorite among our crowd was Bobby Flay’s Napa Valley “crunchified” burger with goat cheese, potato chips, and watercress. Yum! Saturday night’s Tacos and Tequila event was probably the wildest night of the weekend. Tacos + Tequila = a lot of fun!

Another highlight of the weekend was a Saturday brunch hosted by Blackberry Farm. Blackberry Farm, a luxury resort located in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, is as famous for its food as it is for its beautiful views and luxe accommodations, so we were really looking forward to tasting their Southern cuisine. The meal did not disappoint! Some favorites were their classic Buttermilk Fried Chicken and an outstanding Apple Peanut Butter French Toast.

But the weekend did not just consist of party after party; events ranged from a Times Talk with Bobby Flay and Giada De Laurentiis, to a Q&A with Ina Garten and Food Network Magazine Editor-in-Chief Maile Carpenter, to demos and book signings from all our favorite Food Network stars. It was a fantastic weekend, and we’re already looking forward to next year!