Eight high-energy events. More than 80 sponsors. Over 100 incredible restaurants. Literally hundreds of bottles of wines and spirits. And best of all, 6,000+ happy attendees. Our annual Westchester Magazine Wine & Food Festival was an unforgettable week of tasting, sipping, and connecting. Rye Playland and Kensico Dam Plaza welcomed record crowds ready for a great time; gatherings at RiverMarket Bar & Kitchen, the Briarcliff Manor, Zwilling Cooking Studio, and The Sea Fire Grill were more intimate. There was something for everyone! Take a look.
Party on the Pier guests kept the energy sky-high all night, courtesy of copious tacos, distinctive tequila, and spectacular views of the Long Island Sound. Competition during the highly anticipated Bartender Shake-Off was fierce yet friendly, with Alexia Iuni of Invito Restaurant in Elmsford earning a shaker trophy and bragging rights for her cocktail called Herencia, made with tequila reposado and flavored with cinnamon-based hot chocolate that can be served hot or cold. (You have to taste it to believe it!) Mariana Rodriguez of Goosefeather in Tarrytown, Derrick Chang of The Pelican Room in Pelham, and Yocely Ochoa of 1881 Kitchen Table in Port Chester made it super hard for our judges to choose the winner. The party ratcheted up another notch when the Knicks game went on the big screen, cheering for hometown heroes Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart!
At the Zwilling Studio in Pleasantville, participants worked on slicing and dicing and went home with a proper chef’s knife.
Burgers, Beer & Barrels was a blast, with a field of 19 competitors. By the end of the evening, our four judges finally decided on Harlem Shake, located in NYC, as Judge’s Choice winner. Our People’s Choice awards, selected by hundreds of voters, went to reigning champs The Filling Station. With multiple locations in New York and New Jersey, this burger joint came in sizzling with perfectly grilled two-ounce short rib sliders. In second place was Lulu’s Kitchenette in Pleasantville, which used sourdough bread instead of buns; third was Flat Out Burger, with locations in NYC and soon to open in nearby Fairfield.
At the Wine Collectors’ Dinner at The Kittle House Inn, guests talked (and tasted!) wine, enjoyed a dinner of Sicilian crudo, rabbit roulade, and New York strip steak, and joined in a special salute to the four generations of the Zaro clan of Zaro’s Family Bakery, headquartered in Westchester.
Blue skies and gentle breezes made for a perfect day at the Grand Tasting Village. Guests tried over 200 wines and spirits—all ideal for pairing with top-notch food, including homemade pasta and tuna tartare crisps. In the demo tent, visitors got to learn tips and techniques from notable chefs including Marc Taxiera, executive chef behind Augustine’s Salumeria in Mamaroneck and Vida Restaurant in Thornwood, chef Anthony Gonçalves of Kanopi The Restaurant in White Plains, chef Michael Psilakis of MP Taverna in (website) and Klēma (website), and chef Brian Lewis of OKO in Rye.
Sunday marked the close of a phenomenal week. At The Sea Fire Grill in Yonkers, the Last Taste: A Sunday Soirée treated guests to views of the city skyline and excellent seafood; the raw bar and caviar and champagne pairing station were particular highlights! For younger palates, the Cross County Center Family Food Summer Fest offered kid-friendly tastings and entertainment, including huge bubbles, mini golf, bouncy houses, carnival games, and live music.
To inquire about opportunities for the 2027 Festival, email Head of Marketing Jackie Graziano at jgraziano@todaymediainc.com.
