NOVEMBER 2009
Seasonal
Tip:
BEAUJOLAIS NOUVEAU is released with celebrations everywhere this
month! |
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September
25-November 8
Lake
Buena Vista, FL—Epcot International Food
and Wine Festival |
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Its a small world at the fourteenth annual Epcot
International Food and Wine Festival held at Walt
Disney World Resort in Florida.
A six-week extravaganza of wine seminars, cooking demonstrations, cultural experiences, and live concerts will entertain guests
throughout the festival. Entrance to the Epcot International
Food and Wine Festival—plus various wine and beer seminars
and cooking demonstrations—is included with regular
Epcot admission. To make reservations for any of the
ticketed events, call 407-WDW-FEST. For details go to www.disneyworld.com. |
October 30-November 1
New York , NY—The Chocolate Show |
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The annual Chocolate Show is a must-attend event for chocoholics. The festival will be held at the Metropolitan Pavilion on W. 18th St.,
and will feature top exhibitors, chefs demonstrations, a chocolate fashion show, gifts, activities for children, and more.
There will be two culinary theaters with demonstrations
by renowned pastry chefs. which in past events have included Colleen Grapes of Red Cat, Martin Howard of Brasserie
8 1/2, and Joe Gabriel. For tickets and more
information visit www.chocolateshow.com. |
November 1-December 3
Yosemite National Park, CA—Vintners' Holidays |
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This is The
Ahwahnee's annual celebration of fall and the
bounty of top vineyards. Each Vintners' Holidays session
features prominent wineries and industry experts, providing informative seminars, panel discussions and
wine tastings moderated by nationally recognized wine
authorities. The sessions conclude with a five-course
Gala Vintners' Dinner in the Ahwahnee Dining Room,
highlighting wines from the session's participating wineries, paired with a custom gourmet menu by Ahwahnee's
Executive Chef Percy Whatley. Participating wineries include Mumm Napa, Silver Oak Cellars,
Dutton-Goldfield and Ravenswood. Hotel packages are
available for Vintners' Holiday guests. Be sure to
reserve your space early. For more information, call 801-559-4884 or visit www.yosemitepark.com. |
November 2-7
Sonoma, CA—Cooking Cup Final Cook-Off |
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The California Travel & Tourism Commission (CTTC), in conjunction with the Sonoma County Tourism Bureau, is proud to play host to the finals of the Cooking Cup, the biggest cooking contest for non-professional chefs in Germany. Throughout the year, California cuisine has been the main focus for all promotional activities and cooking events, and CTTC has been the main destination partner. The five finalist teams will vacation in Sonoma for a week and compete in the final cook-off, creating dishes that will highlight this year's theme of California cuisine using a variety of selected fishes and meats. For more information click here.
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November
6-8
San Luis Obispo, CA—SLO Vintners Harvest Celebration |
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The 19th annual SLO Vintners Harvest Celebration is a showcase of the central coast's 30 best wineries and restaurants. This year, the Avila Beach Golf Resort will host the line of events, featuring a Grand Tasting & Auction, Winemaker Dinners, and the SLO Vintners Open House. The Grand Tasting will feature wines from Bianchi Winery, Domaine Alred, Per Bacco Cellars and many more. Participating restaurants include Gardens of Avila, Lido at Dolphin Bay and Novo. This three-day party is an exhibition of local wines and flavors that you don’t want to miss. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.slowine.com. |
November 6-15
Kailua-Kona, HI—Kona Coffee Cultural Festival |
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Hawaii's longest-running food and coffee festival revolves around America's favorite caffeinated beverage. The ten-day Kona Coffee Cultural Festival offers community events such as art exhibits, tastings, cupping competition, farm tours, sporting events, a coffee-bean picking contest and parades. Sip java to your heart’s content and learn about historical Kona coffee farms, mills and roasting operations through various tours offered. A blend of the ancient tradition of coffee and modern technology will be served up at the Keauhou Resort Kona Coffee Label & Website Competition, intended to promote the history of the Kona coffee industry. Along with coffee-centered activities, there will be a bowling tournament and an outdoor concert. For more information, email info@konacoffeefest.com or visit www.konacoffeefest.com. |
November
7-8
Temecula,
CA—Harvest Wine Celebration |
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The Temecula Valley Winegrowers Association is marking
the end of harvest season by hosting the
annual Harvest Wine Celebration. Guests will travel, on their own, to any or all
of the more than 20 participating wineries where they can chat
with the owners and winemakers as well as taste an
abundance of wines, including new, unreleased and
some barrel and tank samples, along with wine-friendly
foods at each stop. The event is open to guests over
21 years of age, and tickets cost $89 per person ($79 if purchased before October 5).
Tickets
are by reservation only and can be purchased by calling
800-801-WINE or online at www.temeculawines.org. |
November
7-8
Sonoma County, CA—A Wine & Food Affair |
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Join more than 70 wineries along the Russian River
Wine Road at the 11th annual Wine & Food Affair.
The Russian River Wine Road is an association of 130
wineries and 50 lodgings throughout Sonoma County
wine country. Guests
can enjoy Champagne and wine and food pairings. Ticket prices are $60 for the weekend, $40 for Sunday only, and $25 for designated drivers. For more information call 888-900-0024
or visit www.wineroad.com. |
November
10-15
San
Antonio, TX—New World Wine and
Food Festival |
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Enjoy and food pairings, seminars,
winemaker dinners and luncheons at the annual New World Wine and Food Festival.
There will also be a Texas Vintner Cruise along the San Antonio River and a Cultural Cocktail Event featuring a variety of cocktails shaken, muddled and poured to your delight. Other highlights include a winery lunch at Becker
Vineyards and the New World Grand
Tasting at the grotto outside of the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. For more information call
210-822-9555 or visit www.nwwff.org. |
November
12-15
Whistler,
BC—Cornucopia |
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Whistler's 11th annual celebration of food and wine offers
a diverse program of educational seminars, wine
tasting, elaborate dinners, late-night parties and
the chance to get face-to-face with wine and food
specialists. Wineries
from all over the world, including Canada and the Pacific
West Coast, as well as Chile, Australia, Germany, Italy and South
Africa, participate in the event. A complete schedule of events, participating
wineries, restaurants, celebrity chefs and the ever-growing
list of wine and food presenters can be found
at www.whistlercornucopia.com. |
November
12-22
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico—International Gourmet Festival |
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The International Gourmet Festival of Vallarta, Mexico celebrates 15 years in 2009. This annual gourmet event will feature a welcome gala dinner at Casa Velas Hotel Boutique to introduce the visiting chefs, a Sunday brunch with traditional mariachis, and nightly "Gourmet a la Carte" specials prepared by guest chefs at all participating festival restaurants. During the week, guests can attend cooking classes, learn about wine pairing, taste the newest and best in both wines and tequila, and, dine on special festival menus at participating Puerto Vallarta restaurants. Fore more information, visit www.festivalgourmet.com. |
November
13-15
Monterey, CA—The Great Wine Escape
Weekend |
The Great Wine Escape Weekend is the food and wine event of the year for Monterey County featuring over 50 Monterey wineries, local and national celebrity chefs, and the ultimate travel experience in the unparalleled setting of Monterey Wine Country. Events throughout the weekend include wine and food pairing sessions on Friday afternoon, wine country open houses and tours on Saturday, a hidden gem and boutique wine tasting on Saturday afternoon, over 25 winemaker dinners by world-renowned chefs on Friday and Saturday evenings, and The Great Wine Escape Grand Finale on Sunday at the Intercontinental the Clement Monterey. Call 831.375.9400 or visit www.montereywines.org for details. |
November
14-15
Longboat Key, FL—20th Annual Stone
Crab, Seafood & Wine Festival |
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A
nationally acclaimed line-up of chefs and vintners will
be present at this event, held in conjunction with the
beginning of the stone crab season in Florida.
Festival guest chefs will prepare and serve their favorite
seafood creations, many of them incorporating the Florida
Stone Crab. Past participants have included chefs Kevin
Rathbun, Carmen Gonzalez, Larry Finn, Nitzi Rabin, Cindy
Hutson and Donna Scala. Winemakers from many leading
wineries will pour a selection of their finest offerings. The culmination
of the festival is a Chefs Gala Collaboration Dinner,
a seven-course meal, prepared and presented by the guest
chefs. Dancing throughout the evening and late into
the night creates a fitting conclusion to this memorable
culinary event. Festival packages including accommodations
and more are available. Call 941-383-6464, ext. 2854
for more information. The Colony
Beach & Tennis Resort, 1620 Gulf of Mexico Dr.,
Longboat Key, www.colonybeachresort.com. |
November
18-22
San
Diego, CA—San Diego Bay Wine &
Food Festival |
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This grand culinary celebration features wine dinners,
cooking classes by celebrity and local chefs, live and silent auctions and more. Enjoy several wine-paired
dinners at San Diego's finest restaurants, as well as cooking and tasting classes at Macy's
School of Cooking and at the San
Diego Wine & Culinary Center. The highlight
of this four-day festival will be The Grand Event, an elegant afternoon with a chance
to try the offerings of more than 170 wineries and
spirit producers and over 60 of San
Diego's top chefs, along with gourmet food producers
and festival exhibitors. All classes and events
are priced separately; packages are also available.
For more information visit www.worldofwineevents.com or call 619-342-7337. |
November 20
Dallas,
TX—Beaujolais Wine Festival |
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By French law, Beaujolais Nouveau is only released from
wineries at the stroke of midnight on the third Thursday
of every November. Villagers and city folk take to the
streets to celebrate, and that party comes to
Dallas! Special arrangements are made to fly in
some of the first cases of Beaujolais Nouveau, so that
Dallas can share in the celebration as well. Wine lovers will
have the opportunity to taste the latest Beaujolais Nouveau
as well as vintages. Tasty bites will be provided by some of Dallas' top restaurants, including Salum and Lavendou. The festival will
be held at the InterContinental Dallas. Call 972-241-0111 or
visit www.faccdallas.com for more information. |
November
27-29
Willamette
Valley, OR—2008 Wine Country Thanksgiving |
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Wine tasting season in Oregon's Willamette
Valley begins with this annual event, held the weekend after Thanksgiving.
Visitors will be able to explore the pastoral beauty of
the valley and taste a wide range of Oregon wine from
more than 100 wineries. Many family-owned wineries only
opened to the public during Thanksgiving and Memorial
Day weekend offer a chance to meet the winemakers and
sample new releases (hours are between 11 am-5 pm). Each winery organizes various events
ranging from artisan food tasting of local cheeses and
hand-dipped truffles to art displays and live music. For
more information, call 503-646-2985, or visit www.willamettewines.com. |
Back
to the Calendar
(Updated:
10/25/09 BLS) |
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