Contact:

Jessica Gago
San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival
619-312-1212
gago@fastforwardevents.com

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRESTIGIOUS CELEBRITY CHEFS AND TASTEMAKERS JOIN LINEUP AT SAN DIEGO BAY WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL

Weeklong Wine & Culinary Experience Features Appearances By Nationally Acclaimed Chefs, Legendary Winemakers and Television Personalities

San Diego, CA, November 7, 2011 – Producers of the 8th Annual San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival are proud to announce a high-profile lineup of celebrity chefs, winemakers and culinary personalities lending their talents to the weeklong food and wine festival.  The talented ensemble will headline the wine and food festival’s cooking and wine tasting classes, Wine Spectator Celebrity Chef Luncheon, and more, said Michelle Metter, the Festival’s co-producer.

“Wine and food enthusiasts can expect a world-class epicurean experience at this year’s 8th annual festival,” added Metter.  “This year’s star-studded lineup of celebrity chefs touches on every end of the culinary spectrum, from James Beard and Michelin Star award-winning chefs to television personalities from Top Chef and The Next Food Network Star.  Additionally, this year we are also pleased to announce the Bocuse d’Or Culinary Council Dinner, featuring four celebrated American chefs from around the country.”

This year’s highly esteemed lineup includes James Beard Foundation award-winner for “Outstanding Pastry Chef of the Year,” Chef Gale Gand of one-star Michelin rated, four-star Mobil and five-diamond AAA restaurant TRU in Chicago; James Beard Foundation award-winner for “Best California Chef,” Chef Bradley Ogden of James Beard award-winning “Best New Restaurant” Bradley Ogden in Caesar’s Palace; former San Diego Chef Gavin Kaysen of New York's three-star Café Boulud and USA Team Coach for Bocuse d'Or 2013; Chef Michael Cimarusti of two-star Michelin famed Providence in Hollywood; Chef Douglas Keane of Cyrus in Healdsburg, also a two-star Michelin winner; Addison Relais & Châteaux Grand Chef William Bradley; Executive Chef/Owner Suzette Gresham of one-star Michelin rated Acquerello in San Francisco; Executive Chef/Owner Celestino Drago of Drago Centro in Los Angeles; Winners of The Next Food Network Star The Hearty Boys, Dan Smith and Steve McDonagh; former contestants on Bravo TV’s Top Chef, chefs Rich Sweeney, Kenny Gilbert, Eli Kirshtein and Brian Malarkey; and local favorites such as Chef Bernard Guillas, Executive Chef of The Marine Room and Chef Denise Roa, Executive Chef of Rancho La Puerta.

The 2011 Festival is also host to numerous distinguishable names in the wine industry, including award-winning winemakers, sommeliers and master sommeliers, who will be leading wine-tasting seminars and topic discussions on Thursday, November 17th and Friday, November 18th at the San Diego Wine & Culinary Center.  The esteemed list includes Master Sommelier Joseph Spellman; Master Sommelier Robert Smith; Lisa Redwine, Advanced Sommelier and Food and Beverage Manager for the La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club; Advanced Sommelier and Maître d' Will Costello; Sommelier Bonnie Graves; and Paul Mugnier of Dow’s Port.

Schedule of Classes:

Thursday, November 17:

• Makin’ Bacon (SOLD OUT)—Featuring Food Network’s The Hearty Boys.  11:30 am – 1:00 pm; $65 per ticket.
• Love Connection: Gourmet Mac & Pinot Noir—Featuring former contestant on Bravo TV’s Top Chef, Chef Rich Sweeney.  11:30 am – 12:30 pm; $65 per ticket.
• Talking Terroir: France’s Champagne Region—Featuring Master Sommelier Robert Smith and Sommelier Bonnie Graves; 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm; $45 per ticket.
• Pleasure Principles: Spoil the One You Love with Cocktails and Cuisine Made Simply At Home—Featuring 2011 “Chef of the Fest” winner Chef Robert Ruiz of Harney Sushi.  2:00 pm – 3:00 pm; $55 per ticket.
• The Inquisition: Spanish Varietal Tasting—Moderated by Advanced Sommelier Lisa Redwine; 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm; $55 per ticket.
• Two Farms, Two Families, One Vision: From Portugal to Point Reyes (A Tasting of Dow’s Port & Cheese from Point Reyes Farmstead)—Featuring Paul Mugnier of Dow’s Port and Jill Basch of Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company.  4:00 pm – 5:00 pm; $45 per ticket.

Friday, November 18:

• A Taste of the Mid East—Featuring Executive Chef of Cooking Light Magazine, Chef Billy Strynkowski; 11:00 am – 12:00 pm; $65 per ticket.
• Master Sommelier Blind Tasting—Featuring Master Sommelier Joseph Spellman and a panel of local sommeliers; 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm; $85 per ticket.
• Italian Master Class—Featuring Executive Chef/Owner of Acquerello, Chef Suzette Gresham; 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm; $65 per ticket.
• Belgian Beer Tasting & Cheese Pairing—Featuring Executive Chef of Mirabelle at Beaver Creek, Chef Daniel Joly; 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm; $55 per ticket.
• Brunch and Beyond: Weekend’s Favorite Meal—Featuring James Beard award-winning chef Gale Gand of TRU; 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm; $85 per ticket.
• Napa Versus Napa: A Comparative Tasting and Panel Discussion of Napa Valley Mountain Regions—Featuring Joseph Spellman and a panel of Napa producers; 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm; $65 per ticket.
• Super Chef All Stars—Featuring San Diego’s own Chef Brian Malarkey and featuring former Bravo TV Top Chef contestants; 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm; Macy’s School of Cooking; $85 per ticket.

The Bocuse d'Or Culinary Council Dinner is hosted by Chef William Bradley, Executive Chef of Addison at The Grand Del Mar, who is on the Culinary Council for Bocuse d'Or USA, and features a $300 six-course prix-fixe dinner to benefit the Bocuse d'Or USA Foundation.  The extravagant meal will be prepared in Addison's kitchen by Chef Gavin Kaysen, Chef Michael Cimarusti, Chef Douglas Keane, and Chef William Bradley.  Wine pairings will be selected by Advanced Sommelier and Maître d' Will Costello of The Grand Del Mar.

Wine and food enthusiasts may also get their celebrity chef fix at this year’s Wine Spectator Celebrity Chef Luncheon & Big Bottle Auction, taking place on November 20, from 10:30 am – 2:30 pm.  The luncheon is an unforgettable dining experience featuring five courses expertly paired with wines from 15 legendary wineries and features chefs Gale Gand, Bradley Ogden, Suzette Gresham, Celestino Drago, Bernard Guillas and Denise Roa.  The luncheon will kick off in a spirited live auction with jet-setting vacation packages, large format bottles, and one-of-a-kind items that are perfect for the serious wine and food enthusiast. Proceeds from the event’s auction benefit scholarship programs for The American Institute of Wine & Food Culinary and the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs.  Starting at $175, tickets includes five course luncheon and wine pairing; if you are interested in sponsoring a full table, please call 619-312-1212 for package rates and your selection of winemaker table.

In addition, many of these celebrity chefs, winemakers, and culinary personalities will be present at the Grand Tasting Event held on November 20. The Grand Tasting features 170 wineries, 70 of San Diego’s top fine dining restaurants, 30 gourmet food companies, the lively “Chef of the Fest” competition, live entertainment, and more. Tickets start at $125.

The San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival is held November 16 – 20, 2011.  A complete schedule of events is available online at www.worldofwineevents.com.  Tickets may be purchased online or by calling 619-342-7337.

SAN DIEGO BAY WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL

The 8th Annual San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival is an international showcase of the world's premier wine and spirits producers, chefs and culinary personalities, and gourmet foods.  Held November 16-20, 2011, the event benefits the American Institute of Wine & Food’s culinary and enology arts scholarship program.  Over 800 wines, 70 of San Diego’s top fine dining restaurants and gourmet food companies, and exhibitors participated in the 2010 Festival.  For more information visit www.worldofwineevents.com. Produced by World of Wine Events and Fast Forward Event Productions.  For more information call 619-342-7337.

FAST FORWARD EVENT PRODUCTIONS

As an award-winning turnkey event management and marketing solutions provider, Fast Forward Event Productions specializes in the creation of world-class trade and consumer events, brand activation and experiential marketing strategies, street team and mobile marketing tours for the luxury marketplace.  From elite wine and food experiences for thousands of discriminating palates to intimate brand-to-press networking events in the heart of Manhattan, productions by Fast Forward Events accelerate human connections, put brands in front of key influencers, and deliver an unparalleled return on experience.  Fast Forward Events is the producer of the San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival, Southern California’s largest luxury wine and culinary experience now in its eighth year.

 

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