New York City Wine & Food Festival Returns to Manhattan, Bringing Culinary Excitement to the South Street Seaport

After a year in Brooklyn, the New York City Wine & Food Festival (NYCWFF) makes its triumphant return to Manhattan this week, potentially bringing new life to the South Street Seaport neighborhood. Now in its 18th year, the festival runs Wednesday through Sunday with culinary superstar Jean-Georges Vongerichten at the helm as its first “culinary curator.” Vongerichten, who partnered with Howard Hughes Corporation in 2016 to transform the Seaport’s historic Tin Building into a dining destination, will oversee more than 50 events ranging from grand tastings to intimate dinners. Festival founder Lee Brian Schrager hopes the event will revitalize the area: “A lot of people have never been there or they’ve just been once, so I hope this will be a good opportunity to reintroduce the Seaport.” The neighborhood has struggled to achieve its expected boom, as evidenced by hedge funder Bill Ackman’s Seaport Entertainment Group recently selling a nearby property at a $110 million loss after abandoning development plans due to community resistance.

The festival’s move back to Manhattan addresses significant logistical challenges experienced during last year’s Brooklyn-based event. Many restaurateurs complained about the difficulties of transporting dishes to Brooklyn, while getting Manhattan residents to cross the bridge for multiple events proved equally challenging. “Last year’s festival was too spread out. It was in Brooklyn and downtown Manhattan, and our consumers and talent were torn all over the place,” Schrager explained. As the chief communications officer for Southern Glazer’s Wine And Spirits (the festival’s exclusive beverage provider), Schrager had long dreamed of bringing the event to the Seaport. “I had wanted to bring it to the Seaport for the past 15 years, and after it ended last year, I emailed Jean-Georges and asked him to help me move it to the Seaport, and he did.” The move also acknowledges the limited options for large gatherings in New York City, with Schrager noting, “Half of the piers are crumbling and falling into the water, so you are really limited.”

The festival kicks off with “A Taste of the Tin Building,” hosted by Vongerichten and Gregory Gourdet, featuring music by DJ Cassidy. Fan-favorite Rachael Ray returns to host the Blue Moon Burger Bash alongside co-host Brooklyn Beckham, with meats presented by Pat LaFrieda. The event features several exclusive dining experiences, including sold-out $2,000-per-ticket dinners hosted by Ray and humanitarian chef José Andrés. Other highlights include the Grand Tasting sessions featuring New York’s best restaurants and Southern Glazer’s beverages, hosted by Sofia Vergara and her son Manolo, with a second evening session led by Food Network stars Bobby Flay and Brooke Williamson. Padma Lakshmi and Vongerichten will host an Asian Night Market, while additional special dining experiences will be led by culinary powerhouses including Dan Kluger, Alice Waters, Paul Carmichael, Kwame Onwuachi, Michael White, Andrew Zimmern, Daniel Boulud, and George Ruan. Eric Ripert, Eyal Shani, Michael Symon, and Emilio Vitolo are among the many other star chefs participating in various events throughout the festival.

The festival has embraced creative programming beyond traditional food events, including a gathering for social media culinary creators and another for cookbook authors and “culinary storytellers” like actress Brie Larson, who recently published her cookbook “Party People.” According to Schrager, the festival has already sold around $2 million in tickets, which he says is “right on track,” as most tickets are typically purchased during the week of the festival itself. This year, the proceeds will benefit The Event Zero Foundation, which promotes sustainability, as well as the James Beard Foundation. The festival’s return to Manhattan, particularly to the Seaport district with its historic charm and waterfront views, seems poised to reinvigorate both the event and the neighborhood that hosts it.

In a related development, James Beard Award-winning chef JJ Johnson has created his own spinoff barbecue festival called The Cookout, which he’ll host with Angela Yee to benefit the nonprofit Rethink Food. This more intimate gathering, with tickets up to $200 for a maximum of 350 people, will take place at the historic St. Bart’s on 51st Street and Park Avenue. Johnson describes the event as a “purpose-driven celebration” of Afro-Caribbean and African-American culture. “Growing up, the cookout was one of the few spaces where everyone showed up as they were and left full in every sense—nourishment, culture, entertainment, community and purpose,” Johnson explained. “With this event, I am honoring that tradition while also bringing together new generations of diverse chefs and food enthusiasts.” Featured culinary talents include Preston Clark of Lure, Osei “Picky” Blackett of Ariapita, Ben “Moody” Harney of The Real Other Shucker, India Doris of Markette, and Sugar Hill Creamery, with ten percent of all ticket sales being donated to feed New Yorkers in need.

Beyond New York, food festivals continue to draw travelers and boost tourism destinations. The Bahamas Culinary & Arts Festival, running October 22-26 at the luxury Baha Mar resort in Nassau, features culinary stars Daniel Boulud, Marcus Samuelsson, Dario Cecchini, and Scott Conant, alongside musical icon Lenny Kravitz, who has deep familial ties to the Bahamas through his late mother, Roxie Roker. Back in New York, Union Square will host Harvest-A Benefit on November 13, bringing together the neighborhood’s top eateries—from established classics like Gramercy Tavern and Union Square Cafe to newcomers like Vinile Italian Chophouse and John McDonald’s upcoming seafood restaurant Seahorse—to support Union Square Park. The lineup includes over 25 restaurants and beverage providers, creating a celebration that highlights the culinary diversity that has made Union Square a dining destination. These festivals demonstrate how food has become a powerful force for community building, tourism development, and neighborhood revitalization across various settings.