Salute!

If simply closing your eyes and imagining how the goodness from your favorite Food Network show smells isn’t satisfying enough, this weekend promises events to make you swoon. The Food Network New York City Wine and Food Festival is off and running through the weekend. In its third year, the festival promises scrumptious events hosted by all of our favorite Food Network personalities. Until smell-o’vision is invented (much more needed than 3-D, I say), at least we have this weekend.

Events abound this weekend, all over the city, for both families and those looking for a fun, adult night out. Thursday’s already sold-out shows include a Meatball Madness, hosted by Giada De Laurentiis, Tour de Beef, for the true carnivores interested in a tour of a practicing meatpacking facility, still in existence in the city and Bacon and the Blues, hosted by Todd English. The party continues through the weekend. Friday events still available to purchase tickets for include Meatpacking Uncorked, featuring Cooking Channel personalities at various shopping locales throughout the neighborhood, wine in hand, of course.

Featuring everything from book signings to culinary demonstrations, tours of meatpacking processors to wine tastings, the Food Network Wine and Food Festival is a true celebration of food. Tickets are going fast, so check out the website for a complete schedule. One hundred percent of the net proceeds from the weekend will benefit hunger relief organizations Food Bank For New York City and Share Our Strength, so grab your foodie friend or lover, and prepare to eat, drink and be merry. It’s all for a good cause.