New York City Wine & Food Festival To End Childhood Hunger

Over $11.5 Million Collectively Donated to the Share Our Strength Food Bank

The 11^th Annual New York Wine & Food Festival, presented by Capital One, is the ultimate East Coast culinary showcase featuring more than 200 leading restaurants, wine and spirits purveyors from the Northeast.

Held mid-October at Pier 94 in NYC, this 3-day food extravaganza has collectively raised more than $11.5 million in support of the Share Our Strength Food Bank, whose mission is to end childhood hunger by ensuring children get the food they need to thrive.

A Premier Showcase Hosted by Food Network 

This year’s event included a Grand Tasting, culinary demonstrations, hands-on cooking classes, intimate dinners and a signature rooftop party in celebration of Food Network’s 25-year anniversary.  Attendees had a chance to mingle with their favorite T.V. personalities from the Food Network and Cooking Channel, while enjoying the latest trends in culinary excellence. 

Food experts traveled in from far & wide to demonstrate their products and share in their knowledge & passion for cuisine. From preparation, to plate presentation - there was something to offer even the most particular palette.

How About Those Applewood Smoked, Maple Bourbon Glazed Bacon Skewers?

Taking our rightful place among the regions top-chosen food talents, North Country Smokehouse spent three days sampling our Maple Bourbon Glazed Bacon Skewers to roughly 18,000 event attendees. The smoky skewers were a hit and resulted in hundreds of requests for the recipe. We’re happy to share. Perfect for intimate parties or large gatherings – this dish is a crowd pleaser.

Maple Bourbon Glazed Bacon Skewer Recipe

Makes 8 Servings (2 strips per person – because one simply isn’t enough!)

What You Will Need:

• 1 lb. North Country Smokehouse Applewood Smoked Bacon
• 1 cup of your favorite bourbon
• ½ cup brown sugar
• ¼ cup white vinegar
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 cup pure maple syrup
• 1 cup maple sugar
• 1 lay flat baking sheet with ridges to catch the grease
• 16-18, 10” wooden skewers
• 1 butane chefs torch
• 1 wire whisk
• 1 basting brush

Directions:

First, prepare your bacon skewers by gently weaving single strips of North Country Smokehouse Applewood Bacon onto a single wooden skewer, and then placing the bacon skewer on the lay flat baking sheet. Repeat until the entire 1 lb. package of bacon is skewered.

Next, prepare your bourbon glaze. In a medium bowl, combine bourbon, maple syrup, vinegar, and lemon juice - then mix with whisk until blended.

Dip your basting brush into the bourbon glaze and generously coat both sides of every skewer.  

Place the skewers in a pre-heated oven at 350 °F and bake low and slow until the bacon reaches desired crispiness.

Remove bacon from the oven and let sit for 3 to 5 minutes, then sprinkle a ½ cup of maple sugar over the bacon, coating every strip evenly. Turn the skewers over and coat the other side.

Light the chefs torch and place in one hand. With your other hand, pick up the bacon skewer from the bottom. Lightly torch the bacon skewer until you see the maple sugar evaporate and turn to a dark, rich candied coating. Take care not to overcook the bacon, moving the torch evenly across the entire strip for best results.

Serve immediately – be careful the skewers will be hot.

A Sincere Thank You to all Involved in This Year's Event 

A big thank you to everyone who made the Food Network & Cooking Channel New York City Wine & Food Festival presented by Capital One so incredibly successful. With the help of attendees, vendors and event sponsors alike, the show collectively raised over $11.5 million for Share Our Strength and Food Bank, not including the donation that will be gifted following this year’s event. Special recognition goes to Chef Brenda Jenkins and Great Performances Catering for creating the Maple Bourbon Bacon recipe and executing with complete precision.

Be sure to visit the North Country Smokhouse Facebook and Instagram pages for images taken at this year's event. 

We look forward to next year’s showcase – until then, stay smoky friends.