Last week, FashionIndie took the Food Network's New York City Wine & Food Festival, hosted by Food & Wine, by storm, and we lived to tell the tale. From S.Pellegrino's Meatball Madness to the Blue Moon Burger Bash, there was a ton to eat and for a great cause - all proceeds from the fest went to the NYC Food Bank and Share Our Strength®. Check out my delicious experience after the jump.

Photo credit: BFANYC.com

Hosted by Food Network personality Giada De Laurentiis, Thursday's S.Pellegrino Meatball Madness was an adventure in the meatiest balls of NYC. The people's choice award went to Donatella Arpaia of Donatella for her tomato-braised veal meatballs, but the critics crowned Gabe Thompson, of the soon-to-open L'Apicio, winner for his meatballs with Amatriciana. My personal favorite was the spicy pork meatball with spicy meat sauce and polenta from The Meatball Shop's Daniel Holzman and Michael Chernow. Yum.

And last Friday, Rachel Ray hosted the Blue Moon Burger Bash , presented by Pat LaFrieda. Twenty-eight contenders set up shop outside at Basketball City, making sure every man, woman and child there left smelling like a BBQ. In addition to Blue Moon, guests enjoyed Diet Pepsi, Acqua Panna and wine to cleanse their palettes in between sampling the best burgers in NYC. The Blue Moon people's choice award went to Josh Capon of Burger & Barrel for his Bash Burger with caramelized onion, bacon jam, shaved pickles, secret sauce and American cheese, served with salt and vinegar potato chips. The critics gave the Burgermeister Award to Michael White of Ai Fiori for his White Label Burger with Nueske's bacon, white American cheese, McClure's pickles and mustard, served with Pommes Dauphines. Also my personal favorite, The White Label Burger (pictured above) got my vote.

If you missed NYCWFF this year, not to worry! It will be back next October for the sixth year in a row.