Cat Cora, Palm Desert Food & Wine (Photo by Dre Naylor)
Friday, April 8th through Sunday, April 10th, Palm Desert Food & Wine, presented by Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa, will feature a James Beard Luncheon and 2 days of Grand Tastings. Top chefs from across the country as well as LA and Coachella Valley’s best will provide guests with signature dishes. More than 60 restaurants and 40 premium wineries, breweries, and spirit purveyors will be participating.
Featured chefs include Aarti Sequeira (host of Food Network’s “Aarti Party” and season six winner of “The Next Food Network Star”), Ricardo Zarate (master of modern Peruvian cuisine), Suzanne Tracht (season 1 of Top Chef Masters and noted LA restaurant Jar), and Valerie Gordon (cookbook author and owner of Valerie Confections).
The event kicks off Friday with the Annual James Beard Foundation Luncheon at11:30 a.m. Each of the four courses of this gourmet luncheon will be prepared by an award-winning chef: Suzanne Tracht, Valerie Gordon, Cat Cora, and Gale Gand. The chefs will also present a culinary demonstration of their dish live on stage. The lunch includes premium wine pairings. Tickets are available for $125 per person (general admission) and $150 per person for reserved seating. A portion of proceeds will be donated to The James Beard Foundation.
Saturday, April 9th and Sunday, April 10th there will be two Grand Tastings, strolling events where you can sample bites from participating chefs while enjoying unlimited wine and cocktails. Besides the incredible food, the Grand Tastings include culinary demonstrations from Aarti Sequeira, Cat Cora, Ricardo Zarate, and a host of other chefs, plus celebrity cookbook signings. Tickets for the Grand Tastings are $100 per day. The Grand tastings take place from 12 noon until 4pm. VIP Grand Tasting, which includes early entry and special treats is $135. So get yourself a nice room and enjoy a weekend of feasting and luxuriating in the hot springs.
