2011 Hill Country Wine & Food Festival!

February 09, 2011

So, Gentle Readers, I must admit to a blase attitude for the Wine and Food Festival the last few years. I love the idea, but, frankly, found it had become boring to me. It was appealing to a nation wide audience, and thus had become lowest common denominator in tone and execution.

Not so for 2011! Yr Mst Hmbl & Obdt Svt here is rather excited by this year's line up of events! I've already bought tickets for one event, hope to attend some others as well. See you there.
 From their press release:
Here’s what guests will experience in this year’s festival:
•    Actor Kyle Maclachlan (Twin Peaks, Dune, Sex in the City, Portlandia) pairs his big red Pursued by Bear wines from with the celebrated meat-centric fare of LA chefs Vinny Dotolo and Jon Shook of Animal Restaurant, named among the very top restaurants in the U.S., who will team up with acclaimed chefs David Bull of Congress and Josh Watkins of The Carillon for an intimate multi-course dinner that celebrates the best of both worlds. Star Power: An Evening with Kyle MacLachlan & Animal Restaurant, Saturday, April 2 in the Courtyard of the AT&T Executive Education & Conference Center.

Where else but Texas to debut the country’s foremost celebration of beef? The festival heads to the Texas Disposal Systems Exotic Game Ranch to showcase Live Fire! Beef Supremacy Over •    Flames—a chef congress featuring protein royalties in the world capital of beef. Guests include NYC Cochon 555 champ Chef Brad Farmerie of Beard-winning Public Restaurant, Australian Outback chef Andrew Dwyer, Aaron Franklin of Austin’s white hot Franklin BBQ, pastry ace Rebecca Rather, Andy Ricker of Portland’s Pok Pok, and more.  Live Fire! Beef Supremacy Over Flames, Friday, April 1 at Texas Disposal Systems Exotic Game Ranch.

•    TIME Magazine columnist and James Beard-winning meat expert Josh Ozersky will lead a unique, “everything you need to know” seminar on the history of the burger, burger cooking techniques, the art of the burger blend and burger flavors. Josh Ozersky’s Burger & Beef Seminar, Friday, April 1 at the AT&T Executive Education & Conference Center.

•    Stars of the Bar: Maker’s Mark Craft Cocktail Competition, will be one of the highlights the 2011 Stars Across Texas Classic, a supreme tasting event showcasing 25 top chefs from the Lone Star State set to the tune of spirits and wines—both Texan and international. Top bartenders from Houston, San Antonio, Austin, and Dallas will compete to make the best bourbon cocktail, and the winner will be crowned the Maker’s Mark official cocktail of the 2011 festival. Stars Across Texas Classic & Stars of the Bar: Maker’s Mark Craft Cocktail Competition, Thursday, March 31 at The Long Center.

•    Move over wine as beer and cheese have sparked a gastronomic revolution challenging wine’s supremacy as the cheese pairing beverage of choice. World-renowned cheese expert Cathy Strange of Whole Foods Market will guide this unique tasting bringing together artisan cheeses and Central Texas’ new and popular craft brews. Craft Beer & Cheese—An Uncommon Pairing, Saturday, April 2 at the AT&T Executive Education & Conference Center.

•    The Sunday Fair goes urban with its new location at the Mexican American Cultural Center in Downtown Austin. Billed as an “Eclectic Urban Celebration of Food, Wine & Spirits,” local breweries, restaurants, and purveyors will throw the city’s biggest food party of the year at this pristine location along Austin’s Lady Bird Lake. Sunday Fair, Sunday, April 3 at the Mexican American Cultural Center.

•    Experience the best of the best of local artisan charcuterie salamis, pâtés, terrines, and cured delicacies in a meeting of salt, meat, wines, and minds. This showcase goes beyond the norm of rustic pairings to break new ground with fortified and fine wine pairings. Cured: A Charcuterie and Wine Tasting Friday, April 1 at the AT&T Executive Education & Conference Center.

Purchase tickets now at www.texaswineandfood.org. For more information or to sign up for email updates about the Texas Hill Country Wine & Food Festival, visit the website or call 512.249.6300. Follow the festival on Twitter at txwineandfood and become a fan on Facebook at texashillcountrywineandfoodfestival.