The Inaugural Snowmass Culinary & Arts Festival Caters to Foodies, Wine Connoisseurs & Art Lovers Alike. Escape the summer heat of Denver & head to Snowmass CO

Starting a new tradition this year with celebrity chefs from across the country, a juried art exhibit with more than 30 regionally and nationally recognized artists food and presentation experts and a Palette of Pairings tasting including wine and spirits, Snowmass Colorado will be placing itself on the map for a gourmet destination in this mountaintop paradise.

Friday August 13th through Sunday August 15th join with foodies, wine connoisseurs and art lovers to indulge yourself and awaken all of your senses in this sumptuous weekend getaway.

Two of New York’s finest executive chefs including:

• Alfred Portale, Executive Chef and Co-owner, Gotham Bar and Grill in New York City and
• Laurent Tourondel, Executive Chef and Owner of BLT Restaurants in New York City.
  Executive Chef Laurent is a classically trained French chef with a passion for traditional American foods as evidenced by his chain of restaurants. BLT Steak, BLT Fish Shack, BLT Burger, BLT Bar & Grill, BLT Prime and Casa Nova.

They will be joined by Denver’s own,

• Frank Bonanno, Executive Chef & Owner of Mizuna, Luca d’Italia, Osteria Marco and Bones in Denver - Follow Chef Bonanno on Twitter
  
  
• Christy Rost – Public Television (PBS) Chef and Texas Cooking & Lifestyle TV series host.
  She’s also the author of two cookbooks and a holiday CD
  
  • Where’s My Spatula?
  • The Family Table
  • A Home for Christy Rost: Thanksgiving (DVD
    

The caliber of chefs that will be featured right here in Snowmass is extraordinary,” said Susan Hamley, Director, Snowmass Tourism.  “Plus the price of the festival is extremely reasonable.  Other food festivals of this type cost well over $100 and don’t include all the workshops, panel discussions and gourmet food paired with wine and spirits.”

Art lovers will gather Saturday form 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to enjoy a juried show of more than 30 artists who will be showing and selling their wares throughout the Snowmass mall. The Live Art Auction at Anderson Ranch begins at 1:30 p.m.  For more information go to www.andersonranch.org

For the foodies in the crowd, PBS Chef Christy Rost will kick off the morning as she teaches you “The Art of Presentation” describing how to impress guests by bringing it all together for a memorable dinner.

Saturday also include cooking workshops by two renowned Celebrity Chefs, Executive Chef Portale  and Executive Chef Tourondel. Following will be a panel discussion on New American Cuisine & Local Foods moderated by Ryan Hardy, Executive Chef of The Little Nell.

11:30am - 12:30pm Celebrity Chef Cooking Workshop by Alfred Portale Executive Chef & Co-Owner, Gotham Bar and Grill, New York City.

1:00pm - 1:45pm New American Cuisine & Local Foods Panel Discussion including Alfred Portale and Laurent Tourondel with Moderator Ryan Hardy, Executive Chef, The Little Nell, Aspen.

2:30pm - 3:30pm Celebrity Chef Cooking Workshop by Laurent Tourondel, Executive Chef and Owner of BLT Restaurants in New York City. Join Chef Tourondel for a unique and rare opportunity as he talks about his exciting journey from a young chef in France to world-renowned restaurateur. See Tourondel in action as he demonstrates his unique approach to tuna tartare, a signature item that has quickly become one his most popular dishes.

4:00pm - 6:00pm Palate of Pairings – Enjoy a variety of Colorado wines and spirits paired with small plate gourmet food. Featured Chefs Frank Bonanno, Executive Chef &Owner Mizuna, Luca d’Italia, Osteria Marco & Bones in Denver, and PBS Chef Christy Rost along with local Roaring Fork chefs.

Evening-Time TBA: Winemakers Dinner at the Artisan Restaurant with Chef David Von Holten.

Call 923-2427 for reservations or more information.

Beer Pairing Dinner at the Brothers’ Grille with Chef Alan Sirull.

Call 923-8285 for reservations or more information. Cost: $45

Sunday, August 15:

10:00am- 4:00pm Artist Exhibition - Regionally and nationally recognized artists exhibit their work in various media categories: ceramics, drawing, fiber, glass, graphics & printmaking, jewelry, metal-works, mixed media, painting, photography, sculpture and wood.

11:00am -1:30pm Gastronomic Tour throughout Snowmass by Foodie Food Tours. Meet and enjoy intimate conversation with local celebrity chefs from il Poggio Restaurant, The Artisan to Buchi and others. Local chefs will open their kitchens and converse about the food they cook as you enjoy their signature dishes. Cost is $80. Go to www.foodiefoodtours.com for more information and tickets.

Saturday from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., Executive Chefs Bonanno and Rost along with 20 or more Aspen Valley chefs, will prepare and serve small gourmet plate dishes in a two hour “Palate of Pairings” matching their dishes with selected wine and spirits. Event goers can walk from booth to booth sampling each chef’s specially prepared dish.

Some of the selected wines and spirits include:

• 901 Tequila
  
• Tranahan’s Colorado Whiskey
  
• Peach Street Distillers
  
• Depaz Blue Can Rhum Agricole
  
• Ty-ku Asian Liqueur
  
• Chinaco Tequila
  
• St. Germain Liqueur
  
• Carmel Road Winery
• Grand River Vineyards
  
• Michael & David Vineyards and
  
• Guy Drew Wines

A’la carte options will be available throughout this gourmet’s delight including:

Friday August 13th

• Sushi Chef Francis Mo will conduct a lunchtime sushi making class at the Viceroy Snowmass
• A Winemakers Dinner at the Viceroy Snowmass Eight K Restaurant with Viceroy Chef Rob Zack.

Saturday August 14th

• Winemakers dinner at the Artisan Restaurant
  
• Beer Pairing Dinner at Brothers’ Grille

Sunday August 15th

• A Gastronomic Tour throughout Snowmass by Foodie Food Tours.
  The tour gives guests the opportunity to meet and enjoy intimate conversation with Snowmass chefs from il Poggio Restaurant, The Artisan to Buchi and others while enjoying their signature dishes.

The cost for Snowmass Culinary & Arts Festival is only $65 which includes all the workshops, the panel discussion and the two-hour Palate of Pairings.  The artist exhibition is free.

To purchase event tickets or for more event information, go to www.snowmassculinaryandarts.com For lodging packages which start as low as $318 for two nights lodging and two event tickets, go to www.stayaspensnowmass.com or call 1800SNOWMASS (1-877-266-0087).

Executive Chef Frank Bonanno shows how to prepare a Chilled Soba Noodle Salad at Bones Restaurant.

Chrissy Morin is the Colorado Travel Examiner.  To get travel and event ideas follow her here:

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