NOVEMBER 2007
Seasonal
Tip:
BEAUJOLAIS NOUVEAU is released with celebrations everywhere this
month! |
|
|
September
28-November 11
 Lake
Buena Vista, FL—Epcot International Food
and Wine Festival
It’s a small world at the twelfth 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 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.
| November 1-December 21 |
 |
Saint Barthélemy, French West Indies—10th Annual Festival Gastronomique
Philippe Guérin, executive chef at Château du Domaine St. Martin in Vence, will have a starring role on St. Barts when Hôtel Guanahani & Spa presents its tenth annual Festival Gastronomique. Working with the hotel’s executive chef Philippe Masseglia, Guérin will create a nightly dinner menu that is included in the price of a night’s stay during the festival. With this culinary collaboration, Masseglia honors his roots, as his career began at Château du Domaine St. Martin. Gourmands will savor the talents of this dynamic duo at Bartolomeo, Guanahani’s gourmet restaurant which is now open year-round. In addition to the dinner, the gourmet festival rate includes breakfast and all taxes and service charges. Rates begin at €565 per night. Reservations can be made by calling direct at (011 590) 590-27-6660, via The Leading Hotels of the World at 800-223-6800, or at guanahani@wanadoo.fr. For more information, visit www.leguanahani.com. |
November 4 -December 6
 Yosemite National Park, CA—Vintners' Holidays
This is The
Ahwahnee's annual celebration of fall and the
bounty of top vineyards. Each Vintners' Holidays session
features four prominent wineries and industry experts
through 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. Participating wineries include Joseph Phelps Vineyards, Silver Oak Cellars,
Dutton-Goldfield and Ravenswood. Hotel packages are
available for Vintners' Holiday guests. Be sure to
reserve your space early. Call 559-253-5635 or visit www.yosemitepark.com for further details. |
November
2-11
Kailua-Kona,
HI—Kona Coffee Cultural Festival
Hawaii's oldest food festival and only coffee festival in the
U.S. revolves all around America's favorite beverage.
The ten-day Kona Coffee Cultural Festival offers nearly fifty community events, such as art exhibits, tastings,
cupping competition, farm tours, sporting events,
a coffee-bean picking contest and parades. Here you
can sip java to your heart’s content and learn
about historical Kona coffee farms, mills and roasting
operations through various tours offered. The ancient
tradition of coffee will also be united with our modern
technological world with 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. The $3 festival button is your admission
to almost all events. Email info@konacoffeefest.com or visit www.konacoffeefest.com for more information. |
November
3-4
 Temecula,
CA—Harvest Wine Celebration
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 21 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 $83 per person.
Safety is always a priority, and designated driver
tickets can also be purchased for $63 per person.
A souvenir wine glass is included in the price. Tickets
are by reservation only and can be purchased by calling
800-801-WINE or online at www.temeculawines.org. |
November
3-4
 Sonoma
County, CA—A Wine & Food Affair
Join more than 70 wineries along the Russian River
Wine Road at the ninth annual A 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, as well as a copy of the new "Tasting Along the Wine Road" cookbook volume 9 included with the ticket price. Ticket prices are $60 for the weekend, $40 for Sunday only, and $20 for designated drivers. For more information call 800-723-6336
or visit www.wineroad.com. |
|
November
7-11
San
Antonio, TX—New World Wine and
Food Festival
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 spirits from Moët & Hennessy. Other highlights include a winery lunch at Becker
Vineyards on Friday ($60) and the New World Grand
Tasting at 7 p.m. Saturday ($75) at The Lodge Restaurant of Castle Hills. For more information call
210-930-3232 or visit www.nwwff.org. |
|
November
8-12
Whistler,
BC—Cornucopia
Whistler's eleventh 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. About 75 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.mywhistler.com. |
|
November
8-18
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico—International Gourmet Festival
The International Gourmet Festival of Vallarta, Mexico celebrates thirteen years in 2007. This annual gourmet event will feature an inauguration cocktail party at Thierry Prime Steak House to introduce the visiting chefs, a Sunday brunch with traditional mariachis, and the final gala event topped off with fireworks that light up the night sky. 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
9-11
Monterey, CA—The Great Wine Escape
Weekend
Discover Monterey's wine country at this tenth annual
event that brings together the wineries, restaurants
and hotels of Monterey county for a weekend filled
with tasty food and great wines. Attractions will
include an "Around the World Luncheon" at the Monterey
Plaza Hotel & Spa where chef Warren Schwartz of Whist in Santa Monica and chef James Waller of Duck Club in Monterey will tempt your taste buds. Also
at the Plaza, guests can partake in hands-on food
and wine pairing seminars. Monterey County wineries
and local restaurants will collaborate to provide
winemaker dinners with celebrity chefs and winery
representatives. Further attractions include open
houses at participating wineries, guided wine country
tours and a silent auction. The weekend will end
with the Grand Finale at the Quail Lodge where guests can savor the cuisine
of chefs Kris Morningstar of Blue Velvet in Los Angeles and Rick Moonen of rm seafood, plus wines
from more than ten local wineries. Weekend packages are
available. For more information call 831-375-9400
or visit www.montereywines.org |
November
9-12
 Las
Vegas, NV—2007 Las
Vegas Odyssey
This celebrated event enjoys its seventh anniversary
with an exhilarating weekend that will showcase Las
Vegas' epicurean talent. This year’s highlights
will include an “Timeless Legends ”
five-course dinner at Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab.
Gourmet cuisine and sumptuous wines and spirits will
culminate at the Masters Dinner, with a live and silent
auction of luxury lifestyle holidays and fine art. Golf aficionados can
also enjoy the celebrity chef golf tournament on Sunday.
Check back for updates on participating chefs and
ticket prices. For more information, call 877-370-9182
or visit www.lasvegasodyssey.com. |
|
November
9-11
Manhattan, NY—The Chocolate Show
The
annual Chocolate Show is a must-attend event
for chocoholics. Once again the festival will be
held at the Metropolitan Pavillion and Altman Building,
and will feature top exhibitors, chefs demonstrations, chocolate fashion, gifts, activities for children, and more.
There will be two culinary theaters with demonstrations
by renowned pastry chefs. In the past, featured
chefs included Jacques
Torres, François Payard, Bill Yosses
(Citarella), Nicole Kaplan (Eleven
Madison Park) and Martin Howard (Brasserie
8 1/2). Tickets are available online or at the
door. Check back for details on ticket prices and
this year’s attending chefs. Hours are as
follows: Thursday night preview featuring fashion
show, 6:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Saturday,
10 a.m.-8 p.m.; and Sunday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. For more
information visit www.chocolateshow.com. |
|
November
14-18
San
Diego, CA—San Diego Bay Wine &
Food Festival
This grand culinary celebration features wine dinners,
cooking classes by celebrity and local chefs, an olive oil competition, live and silent auctions and more. Wednesday and Thursday
evenings will feature several wine-paired
dinners at San Diego's finest restaurants. Thursday and Friday will bring cooking and tasting classes at Macy's
School of Cooking and at the San
Diego Wine & Culinary Center. Friday evening attendees will enjoy tasting reserve
wines accompanied by a silent auction. The highlight
of this four-day festival will be The Grand Event
on Saturday, an elegant afternoon with a chance
to try the offerings of more than 150 wineries and
spirit producers, 50 of San
Diego's top restaurants, 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 17
 Dallas,
TX—Beaujolais Wine Festival
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. Check back for updates on participating
gourmet sponsors and ticket prices. The festival will
be held at the World Trade Center. Call 972-241-0111 or
visit www.faccdallas.com for more information.
November
23-25
 Willamette
Valley, OR—24th
Annual Wine Country Thanksgiving
Wine tasting season in Oregon’s Willamette
Valley begins with this annual event. The event runs
from 11 a.m.- 5 p.m. and is 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. Each winery organizes various events
ranging from artisan food tastes of local cheeses and
hand-dipped truffles to art displays and live music. For
more information, call 503-646-2985, email info@willamettewines.com or visit www.willamettewines.com.
Back
to the Calendar
(Updated:
04/19/08 HC) |
