October 2011 Food & Wine Events Calendar

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September 29-October 2
Greenough, MT — Montana Master Chefs
The fifth annual Montana Master Chefs at The Resort at Paws Up will feature two-hour cooking seminars and five-course wine dinners, not to mention outdoor activities like fly-fishing and horseback riding. Participating this year are Bravo TV's "Top Chef" contestants Dale Levitski, Tiffani Faison, Dale Talde, Antonia Lofaso and executive chef Wes Coffel (The Resort at Paws Up). For more information, call 800-473-0601 or visit www.montanamasterchefs.com.

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September 29-October 2
Kansas City, MO — American Royal Barbecue Contest
If you take your barbecue skills seriously or even if you don’t and just like to feast on grilled, sauced meats, this is the event for you. This year marks the 32nd anniversary of the “World Series” of barbecue, where contestants from all over the U.S. and Canada descend upon Kansas City to battle for the title of Grand Champion. Launched in 1980, The American Royal Barbecue is the season finale for the competitive circuit. For more information, visit www.americanroyal.com.

September 29-October 2
Santa Rosa, CA — Sonoma County Harvest Fair
The 2011 Sonoma County Harvest Fair invites families to celebrate the harvest with farm-fresh food and local wines. This three-day event will feature the World Championship Grape Stomp, over 150 wineries, chef demonstrations, micro-brew tastings, wine tastings, live jazz music, a petting zoo, agricultural activities and much more. Admission to the fair is $8 for adults, $3 for children 7-12 years old and free for kids 6 years and under. Wine tasting prices are $35 per flight or $60 for both flights on Friday (fair admission included), and $12 for a glass and four taste tickets on Saturday and Sunday. For more information, visit www.HarvestFair.org or call 707-545-4203.

September 30-November 13
Lake Buena Vista, FL — Epcot International Food and Wine Festival
It's a small world at the sixteenth 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 is included with regular Epcot admission, although some events require additional ticket fees. To make reservations for any of the ticketed events, call 407-WDW-FEST. For details, go to www.disneyworld.com.

October 2
Redwood City, CA — Fourteenth Annual Arts & Olive Festival
Celebrate olives and the arts amidst hundreds of olive trees on the beautiful Cañada College campus. Bay Area residents will enjoy a day of entertainment, savory foods and wine, as well as olive oils and vinegars. Entertainment for the little ones will include balloon art, face painting and crafts. Last year's event featured live musical performances by the Bartron Tyler Group, the Zambalita Middle Eastern Dance Company and the Samba Brazilian Dance Troupe. This event is held from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. For more information, visit www.olivefest.com.

October 14-15
Wichita, KS — Midwest Beerfest
This annual beer bash is hosted by the Wichita Chapter of The American Institute of Wine and Food. Scheduled events include gourmet dinners, educational seminars, cooking demonstrations, live music and, of course, plenty of beer tasting. Last year's festival included tastings of more than 350 beers from around the world, including local microbrews from Kansas. For more information, call 316-682-5502 or visit www.midwestbeerfest.com.

October 13-16
First Annual Los Angeles Food & Wine
The first edition of the Los Angeles Food & Wine event will take place October 13-16 at L.A. Live and other venues in the city. The four-day celebration will feature celebrity chefs including Wolfgang Puck, Thomas Keller, Daniel Boulud and Tom Colicchio, as well as stars who have made their names in music, film, television and sports. Events include special lunches at restaurants such as Mélisse, Providence and WP24, wine tastings, cooking demonstrations and grand tastings. For more information, visit lafw.com.

October 14-15
Edgartown, MA — Martha’s Vineyard Food and Wine Festival
Martha's Vineyard celebrates the fall harvest from the sea, farm and vine at the fifth annual Food and Wine Festival. Come and sample fare from Island farms, taste culinary creations by renowned chefs and try a variety of international wines, all on the island of Martha's Vineyard, located just seven miles off the Massachusetts coastline. The festival will kick off with a reception at the Boathouse Field Club, followed by two days of sampling, sipping, wine dinners and educational seminars. Last year's seminars covered a wide range of fun and educational topics, such as "Adventure with an Affineur," "Chocolate & Dessert Wines" and "The Price is Right." For a complete list of this year's events, attendees, lodging and ticket information, please call 508-939-0880 or visit www.mvfoodandwine.com.

October 14-17
Soufriere, St. Lucia — Spices of the Caribbean Food Festival
Caribbean spices take center stage in St. Lucia this fall in a three-day culinary event at the Jade Mountain resort. Guided by chef Allen Susser, the weekend will highlight the tropical cuisine of the island region with an emphasis on fiery flavors. A cocktail party with spiced exotic libations and finger foods kicks off the event on Friday evening, while Saturday morning brings cooking demonstrations and local market excursions, including a walking and tasting tour of the Emerald Gardens. There will also be a five-course specialty dinner featuring seasonal spices paired with local wines. For more information visit www.jademountain.com or call 800-223-1108.

October 20, 2012
Norfolk, VA — Spring Town Point Virginia Wine Festival

This fall festival favorite, held downtown at Town Point Park, will showcase over 200 of Virginia's finest wine varieties and encapsulate the elegant flavor and flair of the region. Festival guests will enjoy a blissful weekend of sampling a wide selection of Virginia Wines in Town Point Park. The day offers premier wine vintages and live musical performance in addition to gourmet foods and specialty wares for purchase. Guests can reserve tables, private chalets, purchase general admission or sampling tickets, or park-side boater packages. Advance tickets will be available March 5 and may be purchased online or by calling 757-441-2345 by May 4. For more information, visit www.visitnorfolktoday.com.

October 20-22
Portland, ME — Harvest on the Harbor
Experience the flavors of Maine during this three-day event that features tastings, seminars and dinners. Learn from food experts and sip fine wines, beers and spirits, all while enjoying one of the most beautiful seasons in Maine. The Grand Tasting at the Gateway kicks off the event on Thursday at Portland's Ocean Gateway, and is a showcase of Maine's finest local culinary talents with wines and spirits from around the world. Maine's own world-class microbrews will also be featured. Friday is packed with a full day of culinary events, tastings and seminars. The grand finish to the weekend is the Food & Wine Marketplace, where guests can sample wines, ales and spirits from local artisans and epicurean purveyors. Cooking demonstrations and food samples will also be given. All Harvest on the Harbor events are individually priced.  For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.harvestontheharbor.com.

October 20-23
Kohler, WI — Kohler Food & Wine Experience
The eleventh annual Kohler Food & Wine Experience will feature a weekend bursting with flavor. Enjoy succulent fare from award-winning local and international chefs, acquire some culinary knowledge from food and wine specialists and meet and greet celebrity chefs. The weekend will be packed with events such as Taste of the Vine, a signature event featuring samples of vintages from a collection of wineries, and the Kohler Chefs' Challenge, in which six Kohler chefs turn surprise ingredients into culinary masterpieces. For more information, a complete schedule of events and tickets, call 800-344-2838 or visit www.KohlerFoodandWine.net.

October 21-23
Paso Robles, CA — Harvest Wine Weekend
The Paso Robles Vintners and Growers Association invites wine lovers to enjoy the 2010 harvest through a combination of over 150 individual events, including special winemaker dinners, vineyard tours, seminars, cooking classes, concerts and arts. Over 130 wineries are taking part in this year's celebration, presenting the perfect opportunity to meet winemakers and find great harvest discounts in the fastest-growing wine region of California. For the latest information on participating wineries, call the Paso Robles Vintners and Growers Association at 800-549-WINE or visit www.pasowine.com.

October 22
Fredericksburg, TX — Fredericksburg Food & Wine Fest
This 21st annual festival will feature Texas wines, food and entertainment at its best, along with music, specialty booths and a food court. Participating Texas wineries include Haak Winery, Llano Estacado and Brennan Vineyards. Tickets are available for advance purchase online and will also be available at the gate. Admission is $20 for adults, $5 for anyone under 21 and free for kids under 12. The $20 entry fee includes a Souvenir Fest wine glass, six tickets for free wine samples, and five sessions of the Grape Expectations Cooking School, as well as Texas wine and specialty food to sample. For more information, visit www.fbgfoodandwinefest.com.

October 22-23
Atlanta, GA — Taste of Atlanta
The 10th annual Taste of Atlanta, the city's top food, wine, beer and cocktail festival, takes place in the streets of Midtown's Tech Square on October 22-23. Experience delicious tastes from more than 80 of Atlanta's favorite restaurants; exceptional food, wine, beer and cocktail tastings; and seminars, food pairings and relaxing music cafes. Let the festival entertain you with demos and competitions on three live cooking stages and beverage seminars led by Atlanta's own Gil Kulers and Bob Townsend. Or go Inside the Food Studio where Atlanta's top foodies, including John Kessler, Christiane Lauterbach and Richard Eldredge, will teach you about Atlanta's food history alongside current and future trends. Stay connected with Taste of Atlanta for up-to-the-minute information about who's cooking in our kitchens and how you can gain access to special backstage "Eat and Greets" as well as securing your very own "Official Food Judge" badge so you can rub elbows with Atlanta's foodie community. For more information, visit www.tasteofatlanta.com.

October 27-30
Tucson, AZ — Tucson Culinary Festival
Presented by the Tucson Originals, a group of independent local restaurants, The Tucson Culinary Festival is a four-day celebration filled with food, wine and fun. The festival gets off to a great start with the World Margarita Championship on Thursday, October 27. Held at Maynards Market & Kitchen located in the Historic Train Depot downtown, the purpose of this event is to choose the "World's Greatest Margarita." Both celebrities and regular folks alike are part of the monumental decision. On Saturday evening, the crowds gather at Loews Ventana Canyon Resort for the Reserve and Grand Tasting. Seminars on grilling and mixology are scheduled as well. On Sunday, things really heat up with The Copper Chef Challenge and Barbecue. Expect excitement and excellent cuisine to ensue as two chefs duke it out in this mystery ingredient challenge. For more information,visit www.tucsonculinaryfestival.com.

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(Updated: 02/03/12 BH)