Big stuff went down in the birthplace of the Oreo as Chelsea Market “After Dark” kicked off the first night of the second annual New York City Wine & Food Festival. The former Nabisco factory returned to its roots, operating with machine efficiency, lubricated throughout by Georges Dubouef and Tommy Bahama.
The Feed joined about two hundred other guests in a fearsome line that stretched a full crosstown block—and against the odds, we managed to trade our ticket in for a wristband, a wine glass and a Sandra Lee cookbook (find out how to win a signed version after the jump!) only ten minutes after the event’s 9pm start time. Ready-made queen Lee proved to be a gracious hostess, never losing her sense of hospitality even as lines tapered in favor of the event’s other host, Guy Fieri.
For three hours guests roamed the halls of Chelsea Market, nibbling Morimoto’s yellowtail pastrami sliders and Eleni’s brownies with the same passing enthusiasm they displayed when coming across a glam Anne Burrell, serviceable Jacques Torres or always-rushed Melissa d’Arabian. Yet it appeared that no one wanted to leave without taking a photo snuggled into Fieri’s armpit.
Even NYCWFF Festival director Lee Schrager found himself caught up in the frenzy—anonymously zigzagging through crowds that only recognized him as a common line-cutter—while attempting to cross the room dubbed “Guy’s Knuckle Sandwich,” which esconced Fieri and his food. At the peak of adoration the space had its own line and doormen, which only made entry more desirable. Once inside, The Feed resisted face time with the stubbly bleached blond, greeting the sunglasses on the back of his head instead.
We approached an active dance floor overseen by cover band The Touch who entertained with a set list including “Come On Eileen,” “Holiday” and “Shout”. The last song even brought Fieri’s hands in the air—and the hordes along with him—giving the FN personality a fleeting moment to breathe and us an opportunity to try his food, a pork en fuego sandwich. And it was good.—Adam Robb
Okay, okay, so you want to win Sandra Lee’s book. The first person to correctly tell us her real name WINS! E-mail us at eatout@timeoutny.com, and put your answer in the subject line.
