Every great festival needs a grand finale, and NYCWFF is going out with a serious bang. The Cookout presented by Mike's Amazing takes over The Rooftop at Pier 17 starting at 6:15pm on Sunday October 18, 2026, bringing together an all-star lineup of chefs, free-flowing drinks, sweeping waterfront views, and a live performance by hip-hop legend Method Man. Hosted by James Beard Award-winning Chef JJ Johnson, Power 105.1's Angela Yee, and EGOT winner Whoopi Goldberg, this is one closing-night celebration you don't want to miss.
Grab your $79 GA Ticket (a $170 value) that gets you admission, as well as access to a 2 Hours & 45 Minutes of Unlimited Cocktails, Wine, and Beers from 6:15pm until 9:00pm, plus, 2 Hours & 45 Minutes of Delicious Foods Prepared and Served by Top Chefs & Restaurants! Come hungry, come thirsty, and leave plenty of room to taste your way around one of NYCWFF's most electric events.
Curated by FIELDTRIP founder JJ Johnson, The Cookout puts Black cuisine and culture center stage, celebrating the flavors, traditions, creativity, and culinary voices shaping New York's food scene today. The seriously stacked roster includes James Beard semifinalist Ayo Balogun of Dept of Culture BK, New York Magazine-acclaimed Tosh Chareton of Tosh's Patties, Chopped alum Nadege Fleurimond of BunNan, Michelin Guide-recognized Diana Tandia of Berber Street Food, Chopped champ Claude Lewis of Freetown Road, Marcus Woods of James Beard America's Classics Award-winning Sylvia's Restaurant, and plenty more.
Then, turn your attention from the plates to the stage. As the sun slips behind the Manhattan skyline and drinks keep flowing, Method Man takes over for a live one-hour performance, bringing decades of hip-hop greatness to the Pier 17 rooftop. With Whoopi Goldberg joining the festivities and Angela Yee keeping the energy high, expect the kind of food-meets-music-meets-NYC moment that feels less like a tasting event and more like the city's best block party, only this one comes with waterfront views and some seriously impressive chefs.
Eat, sip, dance, repeat...
The Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival presented by Invesco QQQ is back for its 19th year, bringing serious culinary star power to New York City. Across four delicious days and 50+ events, more than 300 celebrated chefs, restaurateurs, winemakers, mixologists, creators, and entertainers come together for everything from intimate dinners to sprawling tastings and only-in-NYC parties. Better yet, the feasting does some good. Net proceeds benefit the Event Zero Foundation and James Beard Foundation, supporting a more sustainable events industry and the culinary community.
Among the weekend's hottest tickets, The Cookout presented by Mike's Amazing returns as NYCWFF's closing-night blowout, curated and hosted by FIELDTRIP's James Beard Award-winning Chef JJ Johnson alongside Angela Yee of Way Up with Angela Yee, with EGOT winner Whoopi Goldberg joining the festivities. This year's celebration puts Black cuisine front and center, gathering a phenomenal roster of chefs and restaurants to tell stories through the ingredients, techniques, traditions, and flavors that continue to shape New York's culinary landscape.
And what a roster it is. Expect creations from a seriously acclaimed lineup of chefs and restaurants celebrated by the James Beard Foundation, Michelin Guide, The New York Times, Bon Appétit, New York Magazine, The New Yorker, Eater, Time Out, and more, alongside Top Chef winners, Chopped champions, and Food Network favorites.
This year, it all unfolds high above the city at the Invesco QQQ Festival Campus in the Seaport's Rooftop at Pier 17, where panoramic views of the Brooklyn Bridge, East River, and glittering skyline provide one spectacular backdrop. Unlimited cocktails, wine, and beer keep glasses full while plate after plate of incredible food keeps the party fueled, all part of the Festival's Norwegian Cruise Line Rooftop Series.
Then there's the soundtrack. Wu-Tang Clan legend Method Man takes the stage for a live one-hour performance as The Cookout sends NYCWFF 2026 out on a high. Incredible Black culinary talent, free-flowing drinks, an EGOT winner in the house, hip-hop royalty on stage, and one of downtown Manhattan's most spectacular rooftops. Let's go...
Your $79 GA Ticket (a $170 Value) Includes:
The Food Network NYC Wine & Food Festival presented by Invesco QQQ's Website | The Cookout
May purchase as many vouchers as you like for personal use or for gifting.
Event runs 6:15pm-9:00pm.
Must be 21+.
Valid only for event on Sunday October 18, 2026.