Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Afternoon Tea at Mille Feuille Chocolates & Patisseries
2:30 to 4:30 p.m.

3896 5th Avenue at corner University & 5th, San Diego 92103  (Hillcrest)

Meet their Tea Sommelier

Mille Feuille opened in August 2008. Local designer Beverly Hunter Jackson pushed the boundaries of cutting-edge kinetic design by collaborating with glass artist Lea de Wit and architect Warren Scott to create a chocolate waterfall on display at the entrance of the boutique to capture the aesthetic of chocolate flowing through mille fueilles, "a thousand leaves." The environment of the boutique was envisioned as a pristine, white setting with accents of green and stainless steel.

French Pastry Chef Thomas Gérard began his work in pastry at the age of 13. He has worked with Pierre Orsi as a pastry assistant in Lyon, France, in New York City as a private pastry chef at the General Consulate of France, assisted acclaimed pastry chef Nicolas Berger of Alain Ducasse at the Essex House, and as an executive pastry chef on the west coast at Patina Restaurant in Los Angeles. During his time at Patina, Starchef named him "Los Angeles Pastry Chef Rising Star."

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November 12-16, 2008

San Diego Bay Wine and Food Festival

The 5th Annual San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival is an international showcase of the world's premier wine and spirits producers, chefs and culinary personalities, and gourmet foods. Held November 12-16, 2008, the event benefits the American Institute of Wine & Food culinary arts scholarship program. Over 700 wines, 60 of San Diego’s top fine dining restaurants and 30 gourmet food companies and exhibitors will participate in the 2008 Festival. For more information visit
www.worldofwineevents.com

AIWF Members are entitled to purchase tickets at discount.
Call 619-297-0951 for your discount ticket code.

 

Wednesday, November 12th , 2008

San Diego Wine Rave

Price:        $40 per person advanced purchase/ $50 at the door
Time:        7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Location:   TBD

Thursday, November 13th, 2008

Arousing the Senses with Chocolate & Vino—Master Chef Michael Antonorsi:
Chocolate tasting is an adventure of both observation and the imagination. Chocolate and wine pairing takes that adventure to a whole new level! Experience the aromas, textures and flavors of the world’s finest chocolate as you indulge in perfectly paired wines, inviting the arousal of all your senses. Join your personal chocolate guide, Chuao Chocolatier’s Master Chef & Chocolatier, Michael Antonorsi, for a multi-sensorial trip into the World of the Wild Truffle!

12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m
San Diego Wine & Culinary Center
$45 per ticket (limited to 50)


Shrimply Delicious—Executive Chef Gary Thompson of Viejas Casino
“2007 Chef of the Fest” winner presents a delicious lesson on various shrimp dishes you can prepare at home to wow you family and friends. In this class you will learn how to create simple yet flavorful shrimp dishes that are flexible enough to be served as an appetizer or dinner. You will learn selection, preparation and presentation techniques while we make several creations, such as Pickled Ginger Shrimp Scampi, Classic Shrimp Cocktail with a twist and of course the 2007 Award Winning Sweet Tequila Marinated Grilled Shrimp with Spicy Gazpacho.

2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
San Diego Wine & Culinary Center   
$45 per ticket  


A Tapestry of Local, Organic Ingredients: Feng-shui Cuisine with Chef Scott Wagner
His menus are designed around the seasons and inspired by fresh herbs, fruits and organic vegetables grown in the fertile coastal soils of north county San Diego.  His infectious enthusiasm for the finest products inspire even the most casual of home chefs to cook with organic ingredients and learn everything they can about creating optimal organic flavors.  As Executive Chef for the award-winning all-organic catering company, ChileCo, Chef Scott Wagner will take you, and your taste-buds, on a true culinary adventure.  Noted for a Caribbean flare, and incorporating the passionate attributes of foods from the countries founded upon the tropic of cancer, Chef Scotty's culinary philosophy is centered upon the chile (heat, passion, North African, Orient, Caribbean, Hispanic, Pacific) as the fifth element to the palate – following acidic, sweet, salty, and bitter. Each dish is artistically crafted to meld the heat and passion with the chi – the vital force believed to be inherent in all things. This combination defines a sublime taste adventure – one to be savored and remembered.

4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
San Diego Wine & Culinary Center
$55 per ticket


Find the Opus—John Alonge: Wine Expert/Owner, San Diego Wine & Culinary Center
Did you ever wonder if those high-priced, highly rated wines are really worth the money? Do you think you can tell the difference? Join San Diego Wine & Culinary Center owner John Alongé to find out! The session will begin with an exploration of how we really perceive wine aromas and flavors. This will be followed by a “blind” tasting of four red wines, one of them a high scoring, high priced wine, the other three under $20 a bottle. Without the help of the hype and the fancy label, see if you can find the Opus by taste alone!

1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
San Diego Wine & Culinary Center
$45 per ticket


World's Best Sake Tasting—Sponsored by Young's Market
Take a step back in time to learn about this ancient rice wine, believed to have first been produced in the 3rd century! In this class you will taste through and learn about the many different varieties of sake, get a quick history lesson about sake production and modern brewing techniques.
In addition to the tasting, you will also learn what foods pair well with Sake from traditional Asian dishes such as tempura and sushi as well as many Western dishes traditionally paired with white wines.

3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
San Diego Wine & Culinary Center
$45 per ticket

Friday, November 14th, 2008

Celebrity Chef Luncheon & AIWF Big Bottle Auction
The AIWF Celebrity Chef Luncheon & Big Bottle Auction will take place on November 14 during the weeklong San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival.  The luncheon will feature 15 celebrity winemakers and a world-class menu prepared by a nationally acclaimed celebrity chef.  Guests will dine at tables of 10, each table featuring one winemaker pouring favorites from their portfolio.  Celebrity artist Thomas Arvid will be on-hand to serve as emcee of the event and will also host one table.

The luncheon will culminate in a spirited live auction with jet-setting vacation packages, large format bottles, and one-of-a-kind items that are perfect for the serious wine and food enthusiast.

Proceeds from the event’s auctions benefit The American Institute of Wine & Food Culinary and Enology Scholarship program.  Each year, thousands of dollars are awarded to professionals and students in San Diego to further their careers in culinary and enology arts.  To date, over $100,000 has been awarded to deserving students from proceeds raised at auctions during the San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival.

Time:      11:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Price:      Starting at $150, includes four course luncheon and wine pairing
Location: San Diego Marriott Hotel & Marina

Gavin Kaysen
Executive Chef of Cafe Boulud, New York City
Bernard Guillas
Executive Chef of the Marine Room, La Jolla
Jimmy Schmidt
Owner/Executive Chef of The Rattlesnake Club, Detroit and Palm Desert
Sondra Bernstein
Owner/Executive Chef of The Girl & the Fig, Sonoma.


Top Chef All Stars—Hosted by San Diego’s own Chef Brian Malarkey and featuring four celebrity Top Chef Contestants!
"Foodies" and reality show addicts alike tune in each week to watch chefs from all walks of life battle it out in the Top Chef kitchen, Bravo's hit reality TV drama which has just wrapped its fourth season. If you are a Top Chef fan, or just love really great food, this class is for you!
The Challenge: Five former Top Chef contestants have collaborated to prepare a mouth-watering five-course wine paired tasting menu exclusively for you. They each have 20 minutes to teach you the techniques to prepare their recipes at home, and then wow your taste buds with a sampling of the dish prepared during the class.

11:30 - 1:30 PM
Macy's School of Cooking
$75 per ticket (limited seating)


Rhone Varietal Panel and Tasting—Panel of Winemakers
American Rhone-style wines are made from the same grapes that have flourished for centuries in France’s Rhone River Valley, and their growing popularity in the United States speaks to their versatility with food, wide range of rich flavors, and to the skills of American winemakers.  Join a panel of Rhone varietal producers in a tasting and discussion on the variety of grapes that contribute to Rhone style blends, old world versus new world styles, and the varied approaches these skilled artisans take in bringing wine to your table.

2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
San Diego Wine & Culinary Center    
$50 per ticket


Master Sommelier Blind Tasting—Joe Spellman: Master Sommelier, Justin Vineyards & Winery
Join Master Sommelier Joe Spellman as he teaches the audience how to determine varietal, vintage and AVA through classic techniques using sight, smell and taste. Hear what professionals look for and learn how to identify different varietals and styles of wine following the Master Sommelier technique of wine identification. The blind tasting will be conducted in the Court of Master Sommeliers' tasting format.
A panel of local San Diego Sommeliers will try to establish the varietal, region and vintage. Each panel member will talk through why the particular wine’s color, aroma, and palate lead them to believe they know the wine’s properties and characteristics.
Taste from six exceptional wines along with our expert panel and test your ability to determine the grape varietal, AVA and age.

4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
San Diego Wine & Culinary Center    
$75 per ticket


Surf, Turf, and Cocktails with Sam Zien, The Cooking Guy
Join Sam Zien, host of Sam The Cooking Guy on Discover Health and learn to prepare a meal that's 'big is taste and small in effort. Real home cooking is discovered through Sam's simple but delicious recipes that involve only a handful of ingredients and a few steps. Learn to cook up a meal that will impress your family and friends and discover that cooking is fun and easy with Sam's old school classic favorites. Nobody said cooking was just about French delicacies and cheese fondue, did they?

2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
San Diego Wine & Culinary Center  
$60 per ticket


The Food You Want to Eat With Ted Allen, Food & wine Ambassador for Discover Wines with Robert Mondavi
Join food and wine authority Ted Allen of Food Detectives, Top Chef, and PBS's Uncorked as he shows you how to prepare two smart, cool and easy recipes. Scared of pairing wine with food? Ted will lead you through some of the basics of how to match up these dishes with food-friendly Robert Mondavi Private Selection wines. Impress your guests at your next party with delicious dishes and perfectly paired wines with a little help from a well known entertaining expert!

Time - 3:00 - 4:00 PM
Macy's School of Cooking
$75 per ticket


Reserve & New Release Tasting Hosted by Ted Allen
Featuring AIWF Silent Auction
Join host Ted Allen and over 150 award-winning winemakers as they pour from their reserve, library or barrel sample wines.  Set aboard Hornblower’s three-story yacht, the Inspiration, this year’s Reserve & New Release Tasting once again features a selection of 15 gourmet food stations from some of the city’s top caterers and the mega-collector’s Silent Auction.  Bid on great values and hard to come by vintages, large format bottles, libraries, private dining experiences and more!  Action proceeds benefit the American Institute of Wine & Food culinary arts scholarship programs.

Time:   6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.                  
Price:   $90 (in advance)   $120 (at the door)
Location:   Hornblower's 1,000 passenger Inspiration (stays at the dock) - Located at Harbor Dr. and Grape Pier


Saturday, November 15, 2008 

Grand Tasting Event 
The Grand Finale of the sizzling five-day festival is the star-studded Grand Tasting Event held November 15 on the Embarcadero Park North behind Seaport Village.  Take in the beautiful San Diego Bay and enjoy the ocean breeze as you partake in the largest, most talked about wine and food festival in Southern California. As we like to say, its glass clinking, celebrity watching, swishing, swirling, mouth watering kind of fun! 

Time:        11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (VIP, TRADE & MEDIA ONLY)
Time:        12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.   (Open to public)              
Price:        $100 (in advance)    $125 (at festival)
$150 VIP (early entry, VIP Gift Bags, and VIP tent access, not available onsite)
$60 Designated Driver (in advance) $100 (at Festival)
Location:      Embarcadero Marina Park North -Behind Seaport Village

This year you will enjoy:

160 Wine & Spirit Purveyors
With over 700 different wines being poured at this year’s Grand Tasting we challenge you to pick out just one favorite!  Taste from a wide range of domestic and international wineries, discover new labels to add to your home collection, and visit old favorites.

60 of San Diego’s Top Chefs
Your inner foodie will be in heaven as you taste cuisine from over 60 of the city’s most talented chefs as they pull out all the stops to wow you for their chance to win over $50,000 in cash and prizes!

Gourmet Foods, Art & More!
As if 60 chefs weren’t enough we’ve also brought together just over 30 gourmet food companies for you to nosh your way through.

Chef of the Fest:  
The “Chef of the Fest” competition is an action-packed culinary showdown involving all chefs during the Grand Tasting event on November 15.  Chefs compete in one of five categories and are judged by a panel of local and national celebrity chefs, authors and members of the food and wine media. Through a tiered judging process, one chef is selected as the best representation of innovative, fresh, flavorful cuisine and crowned “Chef of the Fest” walking away with up to $50,000 in cash & prizes and some serious bragging rights.

Cookbook Author Signing:   
Celebrity chefs will be on hand in the Border's Bookstore book tent to autograph copies of their best selling cookbooks.

Live Entertainment:   
Live musical performances will take place on both ends of the Festival.

Charity:  
Proceeds from auctions at the San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival benefit the American Institute of Wine & Food (AIWF) culinary arts scholarship programs. AIWF Scholarship

Sunday, November 16, 2008 

Hornblower Cruises Roederer Champagne Tasting Brunch

Time:        11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (the ship stays in the calm waters of San Diego Bay)
Price:    $59.95 per person (adults) plus tax, prior to November 12; $57.95 (seniors/military); $35.95(children 4-12)  
Location:    Cruise departs from 1066 North Harbor Drive, downtown San Diego, Ca 92101
Reservations: Call 619-686-8715 for or visit
http://www.hornblower.com/IDC/calendar.aspx?port=sd

Enjoy a relaxing two hour cruise on the San Diego Bay with a lavish brunch buffet and spectacular city and bay views. Your senses will be ignited with fresh air and amazing views and your taste buds will be tantalized with free flowing sparkling wines from Roederer Estate in the Anderson Valley-Roederer Estate Brut, the first California sparking wine produce by Champagne Louis Roederer*, plus other specialty tastes including Roederer Estate Rose and Roederer Estate L’Ermitage, and delicious cuisine prepared fresh onboard by Hornblower’s Executive Chef’s. On your two-hour cruise you’ll enjoy live music from a local favorite band. Sights include San Diego's famous Coronado Bay Bridge, Star of India, USS midway, Naval Fleet and Historic Ships.

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Thursday Evening, December 4


Holiday Party at Private Home

Members Only

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Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Breakfast at The Art Institute of CA - San Diego
8:30 a.m.
7560 Mission Valley Rd.
San Diego, CA 92108

Reserve at 858-598-1405 and specify AIWF. Each pays for his/her own breakfast, continental or a la carte with specialty omelets and treats from pastry class. This is the best-kept secret in town. Breakfast is served this semester October 13-Dec. 16, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday 7:00-10:00 a.m.