This weekend your intrepid editor went to New York City to attend the first ever Food Network Food and Wine Festival! Although I was in "Gotham City" I didn't expect this particular event to be a mecca for cocktails but I was quickly proved wrong. When I think back on the experience it completely exceeded my expectations, the parties were dazzling, so totally New York and so over the top in terms of the food, cocktails and entertainment provided that I've barely gotten my feet back on the ground!

On Saturday night my niece and I attended the ultra fantastic "Daily Candy" party aptly billed as "Midnight Music and Munchies"! Daily Candy is that fabulous style newsletter that comes to your inbox everyday, providing a glamourous distraction from a tedious morning of job related inertia. So it was no surprise to me at all that they threw one of the most fab parties ever! When you walked into the old HighLine Ballroom, you knew immediately that you were going to have a great time. The DJ was playing fabulous music from the late 70's and 80's, the lighting was sensual and edgy and best of all, the greatest bartenders in Manhattan were mixing their signature drinks!
Food network celebs were everywhere dancing with us amidst the sea of sangria, tequila, vodka fresh herbs and rum! The bartenders were so much fun and watching them handle the massive crush to the bars was total entertainment in itself!

I had forgotten just how completely entertaining a good bartender could be! I was surrounded by mixologies greatest, performing for their fans an exciting show of shaking , pouring , mixing , tossing and total deliverance from the boredom of premixed cocktails! I tasted them all but my favorite was a cocktail called a "Dr. Funk", a totally devilish drink made from dark rum, homemade grenadine, absinthe , ginger beer, fruit and fresh herbs!

As if that wasn't enough the next evening I threw on my heels and my sexiest little black dress and attended the Champagne and Dessert party sponsored by Target,Perrier Jouet and hosted by none other than "Ace of Cakes" Duff Goldman. What an event! From the beginning to end it was simply fantastic! More food celebs of course to rub elbows with and 75 of the best pastry chefs in Manhattan serving their best desserts coupled with delicious tastings from Absolut, Kahlua, Pernod, Jameson's , Sandeman...the list goes on! There was a fabulous tropical drink bar mixing all kinds of potions from scratch, my favorite was the tasty gin mojito which was kicked up a notch by the addition of a bit of spicy fresh ginger! I sampled the brand new (well actually quite old, just re-released) Absinthe from Pernod and thoroughly enjoyed it. We had so much fun and were even filmed for bit having an enjoyable conversation with one of the executives from Food Network.com. Samantha Ronson known officially as Lindsay Lohans girlfriend was there as the DJ, spinning fabulous music and keeping the crowds happy all night long! What a kick!

It was a weekend of dreams coming true and the best news is that it was such a success that the Food Network will definitely throw it again next year! I would encourage anyone who is a Food Network devotee to consider going. There were parties going on all over the city all weekend long and next year I will attend even more of them! The value given far exceeded the cost of the ticket prices and I learned so much. I drank perfectly mixed cocktails all weekend long and I'll be bringing some of them to you in future articles. I hope that next year you'll join me!