2nd
Annual Santa Barbara Food & Wine Weekend
To
spend an entire day in a dreamy destination like Bacara
Resort & Spa enjoying panoramic views while meeting with
renowned chefs, vintners, authors, marketing stars and foodies
from around the country at the 2nd Annual Santa Barbara Food
& Wine Weekend was beyond delightful.
Origins of Modern Cookbooks Tasting Items
There were over eighteen seminars and tastings on Saturday April
17 at the Bacara, many scheduled at the same hours and guests
could select one from each time frame. The seminars I selected
to attended were all so interesting and well presented, and
the chef food demonstrations offered a taste of some unforgettable
samples and sips. From a cookbook promotion guru like Lisa Ekus
to renowned authors like Anne Willan it was both highly educational
and totally inspiring for guests who love to cook, love fine
food and wine, love the history of cookbooks, or need to know
what to do with all those cookbooks they've collected over the
years that are collecting dust.
Julia
Child Foundation curators lead a Seminar on Julia's Kitchen
at the Smithsonian in Washington that was outstanding. The Scoop
on Julia's Kitchen at the Smithsonian seminar was packed with
guests to hear the story on Julia's Kitchen and details for
the upcoming Food History Weekend in October, plus announcements
on the upcoming Julia Child Award Gala. It was great fun to
hear curators Paula Johnson & Tanya Steel share the their
personal memories on how Julia's Kitchen finally made it into
the Smithsonian.
Foley
Wines sponsored a blind tasting that was a sipping party for
a huge group of guests at the Bacara weekend event, and a good
time was had by all in their charming Foley Wine Tasting Room
located on the Bacara hotel property. This venue is a perfect
atmosphere to relax and taste some of the 200 wines being poured
daily.
Margerum M5 Wine
Doug Margerum, one of my favorite vintners in Santa Barbara,
poured wines at a demonstration done by Executive Chef Mayet
Crystobal - Bon Appetit Management Comany - Getty Museums, who
prepared Manila inspired appetizers that were sensational. Her
husband Chef Bobby Bognar, The Point Restaurant owner and History
Channel Food Tech host was an able assistant and Mayet's Tuna
Kinilaw and Slow-Braised Octopus Adobo presentation got raves
from the audience.
Author
Anne Willan gave a brilliant seminar & tasting on Origins
of the Modern Cookbook, and Lisa Ekus, Lisa Ekus Group Culinary
Talent Representative, assisted Anne Willan with "Secrets
from the La Vareene Kitchen" display. The seminar on the
history of cookbooks included tastes of medicinal Ypocras wine,
cheese balls and historic seedy cake. I was thrilled to meet
Anne, and have been a huge fan of her cookbooks for years. Anne
Willan, who has written The Cookbook Library, One Souffle At
A Time, and her new book La Varenne Kitchen, being released
this month. Anne was accompanied by her husband Mark Cherniavsky,
who co-authored The Cookbook Library with her. Lisa Elkus gave
her own seminar on collecting cookbooks, and was interviewed
by Todd Schulkin of the Julia Child Foundation.
Author Anne Willan with Lisa Ekus
The Celebrity Chef Seafood Lunch featuring dishes by Chefs Suzanne
Goin, Lucques Restaurant & David Lentz, Hungry Cat Restaurant
was amazing, and Thekla Sanford poured a variety of wonderful
Alma Rosa Wines for guests to pair with their luncheon selections.
The menu included a salad with walnuts and perfectly cook asparagus,
a creamed polenta with snap peas, a ceviche appetizer and entree
selections of salmon with crisp lettuce and green goddess dressing
or breaded chicken steak. Dessert was provided by McConnell's
local ice cream, and was tempting on a cookie with raspberry
sauce.
Dessert
lovers enjoyed an informative seminar and divine tasting with
renowned chef Jim Dodge, director of specialty culinary programs
for Bon Appetite Management Company who has won numerous James
Beard awards and cookbook kudos for books he has authored on
baking. Jessica Foster, the Santa Barbara chocolate lady left
everyone sighing over her chocolate truffles sampled with a
variety of local wines.
East vs West Panel, Russ Parsons, Kim Seversen & Todd Schulkin
JCF
A fantastic East vs. West Panel Discussion included Russ Parsons,
Los Angeles Times Food Editor and Atlanta Bureau Chief for the
New York Times Kim Severson, which was narrated by Todd Schulkin
of the Julia Child Foundation. The banter was both interesting
and amusing. A good time was had by all listening to different
views and approaches to food trends from opposite points in
America, and the food experts gave the audience some hearty
laughs, as well as some serious food for thought!
Year in Champagne
The
evening screening of "A Year in Champagne" a delightful
film on the joys and sorrows of making champagne, which premiered
at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) last
year, was written & directed by David Kennard and featured
wine expert Martine Saunier. It is a truly magical look at the
making of French champagne and gives a new awareness to the
value of making a toast! The reel deal finale included chocolates
with champagne and was the sweetest ending to an unforgettable
day.
By Bonnie Carroll
http://www.lifebitesnews.com