dwightthewinedoctor

Saturday, May 23, 2015

2015 NEW ORLEANS WINE AND FOOD EXPERIENCE GRAND TASTINGS CELEBRATE LOCAL CUISINE, INTERNATIONAL WINES

More than a thousand vintages paired with local New Orleans cuisine

NEW ORLEANS---The Grand Tastings at the New Orleans Convention Center are the centerpiece events of the 2015 New Orleans Wine and Food Experience. More than 75 chefs from the Crescent City's top restaurants put out their best. Paired with more than a thousand wines from vintners from around the globe, it was a gastronome's paradise. More than 2,000 patrons showed up, wine glasses and plates in hand to partake in cuisine that has made New Orleans the culinary capitol of the country. Among the offerings; Venison Sliders from Charcoal's Gourmet Burger Bar, Duck Confit with Red Dragon Welsh Cheddar Tea Sandwich from the venerable Rib Room at the Omni Hotel in the French Quarter, Rabbit and Gulf Shrimp Fricasee' from Trenasse and Strawberry-Ricotta Ice Cream with Pistachios and Basil Coulis from The Creole Creamery. Constellation Brands presented a dizzying array of wines from Napa Valley and around the world, including Estancia Wines from Monterey County. Stella Artois presented its famous Belgian Brew in its signature Lager glass. As always, Rouses Market, a 4 Star Sponsor of the Experience, dazzled with a smorgasbord of local cold cuts, cheeses and their newly created signature handmade tortillas with beef and cheddar. NOWFE has donated more than $1.2 million to local charities. It has grown to become the premiere wine and food event in the country that showcases wine,beer and spirits from around the world alongside the exceptional food that New Orleans is known for. Its all here at NOWFE. Great wine, great food, all for a great cause!

Friday, May 22, 2015

A "FEW RAINDROPS" CAN'T STOP THE MOVEABLE FEAST THAT IS THE ROYAL STREET STROLL

NEW ORLEANS--Nothing stops a party in the Vieux Carre, and that proved to be the case when a downpour showed up, just like clockwork, at the annual Royal Street Stroll that was the inaugural event of the 2015 New Orleans Wine and Food Experience. More than 400 hearty souls, donning rain slickers and toting umbrellas, braved the wind and rain to slog through the rain soaked cobble stone streets of the French Quarter to scoop up Shrimp 'Martinis', Crawfish Beignets, Catfish Sliders and Lobster Mac 'N Cheese, all washed down with copious amounts of Barefoot Wine and Hendricks Gin Pimm's Cups. The Krew of Cork cut a lively step through the crowd with a jazz band playing N'Awlins favorites as the wine flowed in the art galleries and antique shops along the way. Award-winning winemaker Jeff Farthing of Michael David winery poured his Incognito and Gluttony wines from Lodi, California at the Vincent Mann Gallery, while Willamette Valley Vineyards held forth with its marvelous Pinot Noir from Washington State at the Gallery Rinard. Jen Wall, winemaker at Barefoot, poured an unlimited stream of fruit flavored Barefoot Bubbly as NOLA Restaurant and The Wine Group kept things flowing in the 500 block of Royal Street. Rouses Market served up a mean Muffaletta, the classic New Orleans sub sandwich while Hendrick's Gin mixed up some original twists on classic New Orleans cocktails and Kelly Love Jones kept the party swaying with lively swing music. Martin's Famous Pastry Shop provided a tasty after glow in the Food Truck Park on St. Phillip Street, while Tito's Lemonade Stand served up Stella Artois and Stella Cidre to "Let The Good Times Roll" into the night.

Thursday, May 21, 2015

2015 New Orleans Wine and Food Experience begins with Royal Street Stroll

Nation's biggest block party unites greatest gifts of the Crescent City, food, wine, art, antiques and jazz

NEW ORLEANS--The Royal Street Stroll brings thousands of foodies and wine lovers to the heart of the nation's largest living architectural treasure, the French Quarter in New Orleans. Its a night of experiencing fine wine, great local cuisine, rare antiques and fine art all amidst stunning historic architecture.

The stroll begins at the very doorstep of the Hotel Monteleone, one of the city's oldest hospitality landmarks, which once housed the likes of the legendary playwright Tennessee Williams, whose tome, "A Streetcar Named Desire" put the French Quarter and its many haunts on the world's literary map. Each stop along the way, food stands with outdoor "field kitchens" manned by New Orleans top chefs from such renowned restaurants as Brennan's, Galatoires, The Pelican Club, Broussard's, Commander's Palace and Arnaud's, will offer savory bites, while winemakers from around the globe will personally pour their outstanding wines. Live jazz music fills the air as revelers are joined by the Krew of Cork, who will parade down Royal Street in full Mardi Gras regalia with a "Second Line" brass and drum band and line dancers in tow. It's a colorful and joyful display that happens only in New Orleans!

The "stroll," as it is affectionately known, is the prelude to the 2015 New Orleans Wine and Food Experience, a three-day celebration of everything that makes New Orleans the culinary capital of the country. Besides the Grand Tastings, which feature 75 chefs and 1000 vintages of wine selections from around the world and live jazz from Louisiana's best musicians, seminars will feature chef demonstrations and wine and champagne tastings. Seminar leaders include the likes of Chef Nathan Richard from Kingfish and Bar Chef Abigail Gullo from SoBou and varied Champagne styles from Thomas Henriot, CEO of Champagne Henriot of France. Also showcased this year are the Wines of South America, in a tasting seminar led by Master Sommelier Evan Goldstein, author of "Wines of South America; The Essential Guide" paired with cuisine by Edgar Caro from Baru Bistro and Tapas of New Orleans.

The "King of Louisiana Seafood" will be crowned at the eighth annual Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off, hosted by the LA Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board. Ten chefs from across the State of Louisiana will compete for the coveted title with the winner representing the Louisiana Seafood Industry at events throughout the year. This year, participating chefs include Lynn Broussard of Jack Daniel's Bar and Grill, Ryan Gaudet of Spahr's Seafood and Mike Nelson of GW Fins in the French Quarter.

Rouses Market and the Southern Food and Beverage Museum will be the venues for a unique offering at this year's NOWFE, a "moving" seminar, called Makin' Groceries will have participants accompanying chefs Nathan Richard of Kingfish and Bar Chef Abigail Gullo of SoBou to Rouses Market in the French Quarter to shop the aisles and pick up food supplies to be brought back to the Southern Food and Beverage Museum to be transformed into a sumptuous 'cook-it-yourself' lunch to be enjoyed with wine pairings. Later that day, attendees will get to play Sommelier for a day when they blind taste a variety of wines and see how their opinions compare with those of top wine writers, sommeliers and critics in the "Ratings Battle" at the New Orleans Downtown Marriott at Convention Center.

At "Bean to Cup: Micro-Roasting Demonstration," participants get to watch green coffee beans transformed into a steaming cup of coffee at Geoffrey Meeker's micro-roasting French Truck parked at 1200 Magazine Street in the Warehouse District. Food historian Liz Williams of the Southern Food and Beverage Museum will explain the historical importance of coffee to New Orleans' heritage. Everyone will take home a signature roast of their own creation.

New Orleans' Grande Dames of Creole Cuisine take center stage in a seminar focusing on the city's endearing and enduring old-line dining establishments-Antoine's, Galatoire's and Arnauds with tall tales and samples from each, also at the Convention Center.

Finally, it all wines up with Rise and Dine: Brunch at Broussard's, the revitalization of this French Quarter legend. Founded in 1920, Broussard's chef Neal Swidler has made this landmark restaurant a 'must-visit' dining destination with his reinterpretations of New Orleans culinary treasures and classic cocktails. He'll whip up a morning feast while previous owners of Broussard's regale the diners with tales from the restaurant's storied past.

There's something for everyone at this year's 2015 New Orleans Wine and Food Experience and many ways to get involved and work up an appetite and a thirst for the best food and drink to be had anywhere on the planet.