Palm Desert Food and Wine Festival 2017
Palm Desert Food and Wine Festival 2017. The 7th annual Palm Desert Food and Wine Festival is almost here, starting with the James Beard Gourmet Four-Course Luncheon featuring emcee Gail Simmons, judge on Bravo’s Top Chef. The luncheon is expertly prepared by four celebrity chefs and served in an elegantly appointed tent, followed by two days of Grand Tastings featuring delectable morsels from more than 40 restaurants, created by renowned chefs from all across California and beyond. More than 60 premium wines and champagnes will be offered as well as craft beers and cocktails, and participants will be able to interact with the vintners, spirits purveyors, brewers, and chefs to discuss the offerings in detail.
This year’s Bravo’s Top Chef and Celebrity Chefs are from the north, south, east and west. The line-up includes Tory McPhail, New Orleans (Executive Chef, Commander’s Palace, New Orleans, Bravo’s Top Chef, and James Beard Award Winning chef), Gale Gand, Chicago (Chef/Owner of Tru, Chicago, cookbook author Gale’s Root Beer, and James Beard-Award winning chef), Casey Thompson, Napa Valley (Season 3 finalist of Top Chef and participant in Season 8 and upcoming 2016-2017 Season 14 Top Chef All Stars), Zac Young, New York City (Named one of the Top 10 Pastry Chefs in America in 2015, finalist on Bravo’s Top Chef: Just Desserts, and Pastry Director for Craveable Hospitality Group). A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Friends of the James Beard Foundation, an organization at the center of America’s culinary community, dedicated to exploring the way food enriches our lives. Guests must be 21 years or older to attend.
MENU
Gale Gand
First Course
Bacon Wrapped Shrimp Stuffed Sweet Peppers
Paired with Barrymore by Carmel Road 2013 Pinot Grigio
Tory McPhail
Second Course
Commander’s Turtle Soup
Paired with Foxtrot Four Shadows 2014 Chardonnay
Casey Thompson
Main Course
Braised Pork Cheek, Poached Egg, Wood Ear, Enoki, Tofu, Black Bean, Radish Microgreens
Paired with Harumph Wines 2013 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Zac Young
Dessert
Frozen Strawberry S’mores
Strawberry cheesecake semifreddo, graham cracker angel food cake, pinot noir marshmallow
Paired with Grgich Hills Estate 2013 Napa Valley Merlot
Saturday, March 25, 2017
10 a.m. – 11 a.m. – Gale Gand’s PIE CAMP*
10 a.m. – 4 p.m. – VIP Grand Tasting with Gale Gand’s PIE CAMP*
11 a.m. – 4 p.m. – VIP Grand Tasting
12 p.m. – 4 p.m. – Grand Tasting
12:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. – Chef Demonstrations
VIP Grand Tasting pass will include early entrance to the event, special champagne tasting, and an exclusive chef demonstration featuring Gail Simmons and Brooke Williamson. Grand Tastings will feature delectable morsels from more than 40 restaurants, created by renowned chefs from all across California. More than 60 premium wines and champagnes will be offered as well, and participants will be able to interact with the vintners and chefs.
*About Gale Gand’s Pie Camp:
Do you have a fear of Pie Crusts? Come to Chef Gale Gand’s PIE CAMP, a one hour cooking demonstration to help you learn how to make the perfect pie crust and make the best double crust apple pie in your neighborhood. You’ll learn the secret to keeping your crust flaky, what’s the best kind of apples for pie, and how to make your pie look finished including how to do a decorative crimped edge.
Sunday, March 26, 2017
11 a.m. – 4 p.m. – VIP Grand Tasting
12 p.m. – 4 p.m. – Grand Tasting
12:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. – Chef Demonstrations
VIP Grand Tasting pass will include early entrance to the event, special champagne tasting, and an exclusive chef demonstration featuring Aarti Sequeira. Grand Tastings will feature delectable morsels from more than 40 restaurants, created by renowned chefs from all across California. More than 60 premium wines and champagnes will be offered as well, and participants will be able to interact with the vintners and chefs.
Join the event early with a VIP Grand Tasting Ticket and enjoy an intimate, interactive VIP-only demonstration:
Saturday, March 25: Brook Williamson, Chef/Owner Tripel, The Hudson House, Playa Provisions and Gail Simmons, food expert, Food & Wine’s Special Projects Director, and judge on Bravo’s Top Chef (includes book signing)
Sunday, March 26: Aarti Sequeira, host of Food Network’s Aarti Party, Season 6 winner of 2010 Food Network Star (includes book signing)
ADDITIONAL TASTING EXPERIENCES
Saturday, March 25
Grill Demonstration & Tasting: Daniel Villanueva Jr., Executive Chef/Owner, Beyond Balisage
11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Garden
Smoker Presentation & Tasting: Leonel De Leon & Tony France, Chef’s, JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort &Spa
11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Garden
Sunday, March 26
Grill Demonstration & Tasting: Daniel Villanueva Jr.,Executive Chef / Owner, Beyond Balisage
11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Garden
Smoker Presentation & Tasting: Leonel De Leon & Tony France, Chef’s, JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort &Spa
11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Garden