Guests certainly did not leave hungry as John Legend joined Whoopi Goldberg and fellow Food Network stars to celebrate day two of New York City’s Food and Wine Festival. Held inside the Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers, the sold-out event sponsored by Time Warner Cable kicked off with a chicken-themed food challenge as 20 of Manhattan’s top chefs and culinary stars were tasked with serving up original American recipes. Their challenge? To incorporate one key ingredient: crispy fried chicken.
Hill Country Chicken executive chef Elizabeth Karmel (who knows a thing or two about poultry) opted to pair mini bourbon pecan pie shakes with a fried chicken “dog,” while Food Network star Sunny Anderson seasoned wings with a sweet peanut butter and jelly glaze. However, it was Catch pastry chef Thiago Silva who scored major points with food fans by topping his savory butterscotch and caramel-infused donuts with crunchy fried chicken flakes. “What I like about this event is the creativity,” Silva says. “The idea here is to pick up on different flavors, experiment and try new things.”
Singer, songwriter and self-proclaimed “chicken connoisseur” John Legend capped off the night with a special live performance including songs from his latest album. Proceeds from each ticket will benefit Share Our Strength and the Food Bank for New York City.
To make a donation or learn more information go to nycwff.org.
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