Every year the International Wine & Food Festival comes to DC and gives consumers and hospitality trade the chance to eat, drink, and be merry. They get to meet and greet and see what?s new and hot in food and drink. This year?s festivities were held on February 11 and 12,2012 and were again hosted at the cavernous marble monument to commerce that is the Ronald Reagan Building.
The festival offers attendees a chance to attend tastings, sample products, watch chefs? demonstrations, and get an education, albeit on-the-fly, that are on a par with other world-class gastronomic festivals overseas.
Like any good party, the festival had its own smooth Bossa Nova and Jazz soundtrack, thanks to the singing and musical talents of John Lewis and his group of performers who expertly played drums, flutes, and guitars.
This year there were some notable new events, products, and restaurant launches that made their debut including:
- The Sommelier Showdown held on Thursday, February 8
- The Cupid?s Not Stupid Valentine?s Day themed cocktail reception at Aria on February 10
- The iPad as portable wine list introduced by Sommelier Gustavo Iniesta of Taberna del Alabardero
- DC?s hottest new dining saloon?Jack Rose Dining Saloon
The fun got started on Thursday, when Ramon Narvaez, from Marcel?s in DC, acted as wine wonk and led five sommeliers through their paces in a three-part competition that included Brent Kroll of Adour, Eli Benchimol of Chef Geoff?s, and Theo Rutherford of Fiola.
The Grand Tastings on February 11 and 12 included more than 500 wines from 100 wineries from around the world, which proved this event was indeed a case of the cup runneth over.
Restaurant Row featured food prepared by some of DC?s hottest restaurant chefs like Xavier Romero of Taberna del Alabardero, Todd Gray of Equinox, and Jamie Montes de Oca of Zentan.
Artisan Row included gluttony of artisanal foods, food products, and drinks related products such as the sumptuous, mouthwatering foie gras and duck products sampled by Hudson Valley Foie Gras. Other standouts included Czarskaya Russian Vodka, which offered authentic vodka made using a three hundred year old recipe and Country Pride Food Service, a home delivery service that offers pure, premium meat and poultry that?s free of growth hormones, chemicals, etc.
The Washington Post sponsored the Chef Demo Stage, which was a big hit with crowds and featured some of DC?s most popular chefs and food writers including Bonnie Benwick of The Washington Post Food Section, Amy Brandwein of Casa Nonna, Gina Chersevani, David Guas of Bayou Bakery, and Allison Sonsa of DC Central Kitchen.
Anyone with enough fortitude to tackle both days of the festival was amply rewarded with a rare opportunity to mingle with fellow foodies, purchase some fantastic wine, and taste some yummy foods. Now, it?s back to the treadmill to work off the weekend?s wickedness so everyone can come back and do it again next year.
Photos by Summer Whitford ? Check out the full set on our Flickr
Category: WHAT YOU MISSED
Source: http://dceventjunkie.com/2012/02/international-wine-food-festival-rocks-dc-again/
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