This year\u2019s New York City Wine & Food Festival features offerings from celebs and, in a sign of the times, some non-alcoholic fare, Side Dish can exclusively reveal.<\/p>\n
Star Sylvester Stallone is slated to attend a dinner that\u2019s part of the fest to tout his Carbonadi Italian Vodka brand.<\/p>\n
Bryan Cranston will be at tasting events to promote tequila from the Dos Hombres brand that he co-founded with his \u201cBreaking Bad\u201d co-star Aaron Paul.<\/p>\n
Star Sylvester Stallone is slated to attend a dinner that\u2019s part of the fest to tout his Carbonadi Italian Vodka brand. Jose Perez \/ BACKGRID<\/p>\n
Mgk, the artist formerly known as Machine Gun Kelly, will host one of the festival\u2019s first-ever non-alcoholic events.<\/p>\n
The sober musician and founder of pop-punk-inspired 27 Club Coffee will host a Sunday morning non-alcohol \u201cMorning Buzz\u201d walk-around with a brunch vibe.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re back with one of our most ambitious and diverse line-ups yet to celebrate everything we love about New York \u2014 great food, incredible culture, and entertainment,\u201d said festival founder Lee Schrager.<\/p>\n
The festival \u2014 based at the Seaport for its second year<\/a> as part of a multi-year deal, with signature events at the Rooftop of Pier 17 \u2014 will be held from Oct. 14 to Oct. 18, with private dinners along the way.<\/p>\n Former cast members of the Real Housewives of New York City, Luann de Lesseps, Dorinda Medley, and Kelly Bensimon are also slated to attend a steak and whiskey event.<\/p>\n Bryan Cranston will be at tasting events to promote tequila from the Dos Hombres brand that he co-founded with his \u201cBreaking Bad\u201d co-star Aaron Paul. Daily Stardust \/ BACKGRID<\/p>\n It\u2019s a big year for Schrager, who is also chief communications officer at Southern Glazer\u2019s Wine & Spirits, which is the exclusive provider of wine and spirits for the festival. His South Beach Wine & Food Festival celebrated its 25th anniversary in February<\/a>.<\/p>\n He\u2019s also a partner in a new festival in Europe. The Gstaad Wine & Food Festival will debut next June, with Schrager serving as \u201coperations consultant,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n This year\u2019s NYC festival boasts 300-plus chefs and more than 50 events, from small private dinners to large tastings with live music.\u00a0<\/p>\n Mgk, the artist formerly known as Machine Gun Kelly, will host one of the festival\u2019s first-ever non-alcoholic events. IPA \/ SplashNews.com<\/p>\n The festival\u2019s first-ever non-alcoholic dinner takes place Oct. 17, hosted by James Beard Award-winning chef Jonathon Sawyer, chef partner at Kindling in Chicago, and Gautier Coiffard, co-founder of Brooklyn-based hotspot L\u2019Appartement 4F. It will happen at The Maze NYC, an alcohol-free members club, and each course will be paired with non-alcoholic beverages.<\/p>\n \u201cPeople are drinking less. Especially younger people and we always try to do things to follow the business, and follow the trends,\u201d Schrager told Side Dish.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe are a wine and food event, and these [non-alcoholic] events have plenty of food but no wine,\u201d he added. \u201cThere are people who just don\u2019t drink, so why lose out an audience that is pretty popular out there.\u201d<\/p>\n There will still be plenty of ways to celebrate with your favorite chefs and stars.<\/p>\n The festival \u2014 based at the Seaport for its second year as part of a multi-year deal, with signature events at the Rooftop of Pier 17 \u2014 will be held from Oct. 14, with private dinners, to Oct. 18. Getty Images for NYCWFF<\/p>\n Stallone is scheduled to attend a sold-out dinner at top chef Andrew Carmellini\u2019s Seaport restaurant Carne Mare.<\/p>\n Famed TV personality Rachael Ray will co-host this year\u2019s \u201cBlue Moon Burger Bash\u201d event with comedian, actor and podcaster Bert Kreischer.<\/p>\n James Beard Award-winning top chef Kwame Onwuachi will also host a late night \u201cNew York After Dark\u201d event, inspired by his forthcoming cookbook, \u201cAll Hours.\u201d The walk-around tasting will feature a line-up of dishes from his favorite New York restaurants and chefs, including Dustin Everett at Fish Cheeks, Robbie Felice of PastaRamen, Shaw-na\u00e9 from Shawnae\u2019s House, and Jumoke Jackson from Soulfull Biscuit \u2014 with a special performance by DJ Derrick \u201cD-Nice\u201d Jones.<\/p>\n \u201cAll Hours really reflects the way I eat and cook right now,\u201d Onwuachi said.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cMy life is constantly moving between restaurants, travel, events, family, and food doesn\u2019t always fit neatly into breakfast, lunch and dinner.\u201d<\/p>\n This year\u2019s NYC festival boasts 300-plus chefs and more than 50 events, from small private dinners to large tastings with live music.\u00a0Attendees at last year\u2019s festival, above. Getty Images for NYCWFF<\/p>\n