I love food events but I always seem to find out about them after the fact. So I decided to compile a list of upcoming food events that look really fun and are on my wish list:
Cochon 555
Dates: March 11, 25, April 1, 22, 29, May 6, 20
Locations: Portland, Boston, Miami, DC, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco
What: The event supports sustainable agriculture which is something we can all get behind. But you have to like pork for this one because that’s what it’s all about. This is a “10-city culinary competition and tasting tour” which has already rolled through NYC, Napa and Memphis. Five chefs compete in each city, creating a “snout to tail” menu and the winners from each city compete at the grand finale (or “Grand Cochon”) at the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, Colorado on June 17.
Food & Wine Festival – Palm Desert
Dates: March 23-25, 2012
Location: Palm Springs, California
Why go?: The Food & Wine event features California chefs and on the first day provides attendees with a four-course luncheon. The next two days take attendees through a journey of gourmet food and wine tastings. And the event benefits the Culinary Institute of America’s Endowed Scholarship Fund.
Culinaria 5K Wine Run
Dates: March 24, 2012
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Why go?: A 5K run on the edge of Texas Hill Country that begins and ends with delicious food, wine and spirits? To be honest, I’m not into running but if I were, this would be right up my alley (and unlike the Pebble Beach event, it only costs $35 to participate if you register before March 20). They are only taking 2,000 entries for the run so you have to be quick if you want to participate (I’m pretty sure you can attend the festivities even if you’re not running).
Pebble Beach Food & Wine
Dates: April 12-15, 2012
Location: Pebble Beach, California
Why go?: The Pebble Beach Food & Wine Festival is billed as a “four-day extravaganza” and brings out some of the heaviest hitters in the chef game: Daniel Boulud, Todd English, Tyler Florence, Thomas Keller, Masaharu Morimoto, Charles Phan and Michael Symon, to name just a handful. There are so many events of different types – truly something for everyone. But it’s not cheap (no event costs less than $100) so this one will remain on my wish list for a while longer.
Food & Wine Classic in Aspen
Dates: June 15-17, 2012
Location: Aspen, Colorado
Why go?: This is another event that really brings out the big names in food and wine: José Andrés (Dana’s favorite), Mario Batali, Rick Bayless (my favorite), Tom Colicchio, Danny Meyer and Andrea Robinson, to name a handful. And it’s the 30th anniversary year which means the event planners are pulling out all the stops. I see a “late-night dessert bash” on the schedule that is making my stomach grumble just imagining it. But again, not cheap ($1,125 for a ticket!). Like Pebble Beach, this one will be languishing on the wish list for a while longer.
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