The 2017 Greenwich Wine + Food Festival, presented by Serendipity magazine (www.greenwichwineandfood.com), announced that Mario Batali will be appearing at the Festival, conducting a cooking demo, a book signing and meeting attendees at the event’s festivities on Saturday, September 23, at Roger Sherman Baldwin Park.
“As a partner in Tarry Lodge in Westport and Port Chester, Mario Batali is no stranger to the incredible culinary talents in our area,” said Suni Unger, Founder & CEO of Unger Media and the 2017 Greenwich Wine + Food Festival. “We are thrilled to welcome him to the Festival for the first time, and announce the Mario Batali Foundation (MBF) as the event’s primary beneficiary. We are proud to help raise awareness and funds for this wonderful organization that strives to ensure all children are well read, well fed and well cared for.”
“I’m excited to be part of this year’s fun lineup of talent and especially honored to have MBF be this year’s main beneficiary,” said Batali. “The festival’s support of feeding, educating and encouraging children speaks volumes of their commitment to supporting their community.”
The 2017 Greenwich Wine + Food Festival have also announced this year’s class of Serendipity Most Innovative Chefs who will be honored at the event’s Master Chef Wine Dinner at Roger Sherman Baldwin Park by the water’s edge on Friday, September 22. The dinner will also honor famed restaurateur and author Scott Conant (“Chopped”, “Top Chef”), with Travel Channel star Adam Richman (“Man v. Food”) attending as a special guest.
This year’s list of Most Innovative Chefs includes:
- Carlos Baez (The Spread in South Norwalk, CT)
- Stavros Karipides (Famous Greek Kitchen, Greenwich, CT)
- Lisa and Steve Maronian (Sweet Lisa’s Exquisite Cakes in Cos Cob, CT)
- Mike Pietrafaso (Ada’s Kitchen + Coffee in Riverside, CT)
- Brad Spence (Amis Trattoria in Westport, CT)
- Ian Vest (Back 40 Kitchen in Greenwich, CT)
- Marc Weber (On the Marc Catering in Stamford, CT)
“We are thrilled to return for our seventh year, welcoming back Festival favorites Adam Richman and Alex Guarnaschelli, and for the first time, Scott Conant,” said Suni Unger, Founder & CEO of Unger Media and the Founder & CEO of The 2017 Greenwich Wine + Food Festival. “This year’s group of Most Innovative Chefs truly represents the incredible breadth of talent cooking at the top restaurants in Westchester and Fairfield Counties and pushing the culinary envelope on a daily basis.”
Celebrity chef Scott Conant will be Friday’s honoree; the Food Network star and famed restaurateur will talk about innovation in the restaurant industry and introduce the area’s top chefs who have been named Most Innovative and Ambassador chefs.
“Chef Conant’s fantastic New York City restaurants like L’Impero and Alto have made his name synonymous with innovation, so it’s only fitting that he’ll be introducing the incredible lineup of chefs in this region who also push the culinary envelope,” said Suni Unger, Founder and CEO of Serendipity and the GREENWICH WINE+FOOD FESTIVAL. “We’re also thrilled to have festival favorite Adam Richman back as a special guest who will mix and mingle with Friday night guests!”
The evening will honor Serendipity’s 2017 Most Innovative Chefs and showcase some of this year’s festival’s Ambassador Chefs. The talented lineup of Ambassador Chefs for 2017 includes: Mogan Anthony (Village Social), Rui Correia (Douro/Gaia), Constantine Kalandranis (273 Kitchen), Michael Kaphan (Purdy’s Farmer and the Fish), Geoff Lazlo (Mill Street Bar & Table), Stephen Lewandowski (Harlan Social), Brian Lewis (The Cottage), Rafael Palomino (Sonora), Forrest Pasternack (Baldanza at The Farmhouse and The Barn at The Bedford Post Inn), Christian Petroni (Fortina), Debra Ponzek (Aux Délices), Nadia Ramsey (Méli-Mélo Catering), Robin Selden (Marcia Selden Catering), David Snyder (Char), Matt Storch (Match/Nom-eez), Bill Taibe (The Whelk/Kawa Ni) and Luke Venner (Elm). The Most Innovative Chefs and additional Ambassador Chefs will be announced soon.
“These celebrated area chefs will prepare and serve their inventive dishes while interacting with guests, making this a unique opportunity for area foodies to meet the men and women behind their favorite restaurants,” added Unger. “Wine will also play a major role in this year’s dinner, featuring tastings from wineries located around the world, including buzzed-about startups, winemakers with their own labels, and larger, well-known wineries.”
The Master Chef Wine Dinner will shine a spotlight on this year’s awarded Serendipity Most Innovative Chefs, who will interact with guests while preparing and serving their creative cuisine, alongside Festival Ambassador Chefs, who have not only been honored in the past but continue to champion the Festival’s mission.
Saturday is the heart of the 2017 Greenwich Wine + Food Festival, celebrating food, beverage and music. The Grand Tasting tent is the center of the Festival, with tastings and demonstrations from more than 150+ of the area’s finest food, wine, spirits experts, in addition to the Bud & Burger, Empire City Casino and South of the Border Fiesta tents. Guests can also enjoy sommelier, mixologist and brew master presentations, celebrity book signings, Q&A sessions with top culinary experts, a celebrity green room with live interviews, The Market Place with the latest and greatest in culinary product trends and industry technology, and an exclusive Meet the Masters Panel discussion with Scott Conant, Alex Guarnaschelli and Adam Richman. The 6th Annual Burger Battle, hosted by Adam Richman (with judges Scott Conant and Alex Guarnaschelli), and the 3rd Annual Top Bartender Showdown provide friendly competition between area restaurants.
VIP ticket holders will enjoy all day access to Saturday’s VIP tent, a private bar, a secluded lounge area on the water’s edge and private restrooms. They will also experience an exclusive dinner, with the Festival Ambassador Chefs showcasing their most creative dishes, served with select wines, beers and elite liquors. In addition, VIP guests will have prime seating for the performances on the Main Music Stage and VIP parking.
True foodies will also have an opportunity to add a once-in-a-lifetime on-stage or lawn dinner experience to their VIP Pass, which will include a meet-and-greet cocktail party from 6-6:30pm with Batali, Conant, Guarnaschelli and Richman. Following cocktails, guests will enjoy a three-course dinner with table service and premium spirits, wine and beer. These private tables are the best seats in the house for the Main Music Stage performances, with liquor table service available until 9:30 pm.
Tickets are now available; visit www.greenwichwineandfood.com to purchase, and for updates on musical and culinary talent as well as the full event schedule.
The main beneficiary of this year’s Festival is the Mario Batali Foundation. Founded in 2008, MBF raises funds to provide literacy programs, as well as nutrition information and access to emergency food organizations to underprivileged children and their families. MBF also funds pediatric disease research. Other Festival beneficiaries include The Friends of James Beard Benefits and the Town of Greenwich Parks and Recreation Foundation.
ABOUT THE 2017 GREENWICH WINE + FOOD FESTIVAL
The 2017 Greenwich Wine + Food Festival is a multi-day event that celebrates the area’s rich culinary landscape, and showcases innovation in the food and beverage industries. The mission is to strengthen our communities’ non-profit partners, local businesses and renowned food culture. It will benefit multiple charitable organizations, including the Mario Batali Foundation, The Friends of James Beard Benefits, and Town of Greenwich Parks and Recreation Foundation. The Festival is partnered with Serendipity magazine. Sponsors to date include 1893 Cola, 90+ Cellars, Aitoro, Alpha Romeo, Angela Swift of Houlihan Lawrence, Budweiser, Coldwell Banker, Dacor, Deane Rooms Everlasting, Delamar, Empire City Casino, Hospital for Special Surgery, Marriott Stamford, NuKitchens, PepsiCo, Rudy’s Executive Transportation, Starr Tent, Stella Artois, Tea House Collection, Whole Foods Market, Wüsthof and Barbara Zaccagnini.* For more information, visit www.greenwichwineandfood.com.
