Food and Wine Classic in Aspen

Wow.  That’s all I can say.  This event was unbelievable.  Celebrity chefs, delicious cocktails and –oh my goodness- the most delectable food EVER.

Thanks to my wonderful job, I was able to attend the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen.  This was the best food and wine event I’ve ever gone to.  Nothing holds a candle to this one.  We arrived on Thursday and started the weekend off with a bang attending the kick-off party.  We began at the St. Regis for a cocktail hour, running into Gail Simmons, Laura Werlin, Jennifer Carrol, Richard Blais, Top Chef Season 9 winner, Paul Qui, and many other Top Chef stars.  How could the night get better?  Oh, and it did followed by a private party in a lovely Aspen home with scrumptious nibbles and the most enjoyable Presseco lime infused bubblies. 

We were off to a great start on Thursday, imagining what the rest of the weekend would hold for us.  Our wildest dreams were about to come true, and we didn’t even know it.  Friday we started by attending a cooking demonstration with Chef Tim Love.  If you haven’t seen him – you should.  He definitely has personality.  Absolutely hilarious, and great grilling tips too!  Now it was time to work – off to the Grand Tasting to man our booth space.  Our afternoon seminar was the Melted Cheese Master Class with Laura Werlin.  She’s my hero when it comes to all things cheese.  Cooking with cheese, pairing cheese, talking cheese, you name it, Laura Werlin is master.  We couldn’t wait to see what the evening would bring.  After the Grand Tasting Sessions we attended a pre-party hosted by Stella Artois.  Then took a lovely ride to the top of the mountain to the Publisher’s Party with FOOD & WINE Publisher Christina Grdovic for A Taste of New Orleans at the Sundeck on top of Aspen Mountain.  What a view!  Absolutely breathtaking.  And then I met Emeril!  And the food was to die for, so delicious.

After several cocktails we were off to the Late Nite Dessert Bash hosted by Gail Simmons for sweet treats, more cocktails and a dance floor.  This party was unbelievable.  If you’re a dessert fan – you would have been in heaven!  So many decadent desserts to choose from.  We ate, drank and danced the night away.  This late night party was my favorite of the weekend!  You can’t beat watching Gail Simmons breaking down on the dance floor!

Friday was so wonderful and surreal we weren’t sure what Saturday would bring.  After the Grand Tasting we attended the Bobbly Flay Parisian Flair seminar.  The food looked and smelled amazing – I only wish we were able to taste it!  Our afternoon session was a second cheese seminar with Laura Werlin – pairing cheeses with wine.  These cheeses were unbelievably delicious.  Unfortunately, some of them were so unique we can no longer purchase them.  After the day of seminars and Grand Tastings were over, we were on our way to the 30^th Anniversary Party. More amazing food from chefs like Mario Batali and Jose Andres.  To end the night, Elvis Costello performed.  Seriously.

Our last day kicked off with none other than the Classic Cook Off with Food and Wine host Sissy Biggers.  The Cook Off pitted Bobby Flay and Michael Symon against Jacques Pépin and his dear friend Jean-Claude Szurdake.  We had front row seats for this in a culinary race against the clock, sitting right in front of Michael Symon and Bobby Flay.  Words will not do this even justice.  The duos were absolutely hysterical.  And Sissy Biggers made you laugh with every other comment.  And the dishes they created!  I wish I could create amazing dishes like that on the fly.  They looked absolutely amazing.  The winners were Jacques Pépin and Jean-Claude Szurdake.

Quite the event.  I hope I’ll have a chance someday to return.  Truly an amazing experience, one I’ll never forget.