“Taste NY,” the program to promote New York State food and beverages started by Andrew M. Cuomo, will be front and center at the Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival presented by FOOD & WINE when it hosts the “Taste NY” Brunch on Saturday, October 19, 2013 Participating chefs include Howard Kalachnikoff, Marc Murphy, Liz Neumark, Joe Realmuto, and more.
Taste NY,” a recent initiative launched by Andrew M. Cuomo supports New York’s agriculture by promoting the wide variety of products made and grown in the Empire State and making them readily accessible and recognizable to New York residents, visitors and beyond.
Tickets for the “Taste NY” Brunch are priced at $150 per person, and as with all Festival events, 100% of the proceeds benefit the hunger-relief programs Food Bank For New York City and Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign. The “Taste NY” Brunch is part of the 6th Annual Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival presented by FOOD & WINE, October 17 to 20, 2013.
“Taste NY” is a joint marketing initiative of the Empire State Development Corporation and Department of Agriculture and Markets focused on branding and expanding New York’s food and beverage industry by making the wide variety of foods made and grown close in the state readily available and recognizable to New York residents, tourists and the world. Part of Governor Andrew Cuomo’s efforts to promote agribusiness across the state, “Taste NY” is part of a $60 million-plus tourism campaign, the largest in decades.
The program brands and publicizes New York-made food and beverage products via promotions such as “Taste NY” tents and pavilions at food and wine events and “Taste NY” stores and kiosks located at Thruway rest stops, airports and other transportation hubs. There’s also a new “Taste NY” website with links to food and beverage producers that sell direct to the public such as farms, wineries, breweries and distilleries along with listings of special food events such as farmers’ markets and festivals.
Renee Blodgett is the Founder and Managing Editor of We Blog the World, a global travel, culture and lifestyle publication exploring the world through the lens of meaningful experiences, human connection and cultural depth. Having lived in 10 countries and traveled to 95, Renee has spent much of her life immersed in the people, traditions, landscapes and ideas that shape how we experience the world.
Since launching We Blog the World in 2007, she has written and produced extensive editorial coverage spanning boutique and luxury travel, culinary experiences, arts and culture, wellness, adventure, technology, spiritual traditions and transformative travel. Her work is rooted in the belief that travel is about more than where we go—it is also about what a place, culture or encounter awakens within us.
Renee brings more than three decades of experience across journalism, photography, media, brand strategy, technology, wellness and global storytelling. She has worked with companies and organizations around the world on brand positioning, communications, product launches, media strategy, speaker positioning and storytelling. Through Blue Soul Media, she works with authors, entrepreneurs, thought leaders and purpose-driven brands to clarify their message and expand their impact, which includes speaker coaching/training for high-profile stages such as TED and bringing authors’ work to market while retaining authors rights.
She is also the co-founder of Blue Soul Earth, an educational platform exploring consciousness, ancient wisdom, spirituality, healing and the intersection between science and the nature of reality. Renee is the producer and host of the award-winning Blue Soul CHATS, a conversational series bringing together leading voices in science, technology, consciousness, wellness and spirituality.
Her growing body of work also includes Blue Soul Living, which extends her interest in consciousness and well-being into the spaces we inhabit, exploring how intentional design, energy and environment can support greater harmony and connection.
Renee is the award-winning co-author of the bestselling Magdalene’s Journey and founder of the Magdalene Collection, inspired by women’s voices, stories and wisdom across cultures and generations.
A longtime photographer and storyteller, Renee has documented people, places and cultures around the world and produced photographic collections focused on destinations including the Galápagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome and Ecuador. She also co-founded Traveling Geeks, an international initiative that brought entrepreneurs, journalists, creators and technology leaders together with their counterparts in other countries to exchange ideas and explore innovation across cultures.
Renee’s work has been recognized by Forbes, the United Nations and others for her influence in media and social storytelling. Across her work in travel, media, consciousness and culture, a common thread remains: curiosity about the world, the stories that connect us and the ways meaningful experiences can change how we see ourselves and one another.
