New food and wine festival to be headlined by star chefs

(AFP PHOTO/FILES/Nicholas KAMM)

A star-studded food and wine festival has been announced in a region that has earned a reputation for being the epicurean cradle of the US - Napa Valley, California.

Between November 17 and 20, the hotbed of culinary talent - a region that earned 14 Michelin restaurants stars in 2010 - will host a series of epicurean and wine events called Flavor! Napa Valley at the Silverado Resort and Spa.

The four-day festival, hosted by the Culinary Institute of America, will feature appearances by some of the area's famous Napa Valley ambassadors. They include celebrity chefs Thomas Keller, Michael Chiarello, and Food Network's Tyler Florence and Masaharu Morimoto, both recent additions to the Valley's restaurant scene. Tickets will go on sale May 16.

It was recently announced that Keller will be named a chevalier in the French Legion of Honor this month for his career promoting French cuisine. The French Legion of Honor is the highest decoration in France. He owns the three Michelin-starred restaurant French Laundry in the Napa Valley.

Chiarello is another chef favorite native to the area who owns Bottega Restaurant. He also came in second after rival Rick Bayless on the 2009 US show Top Chef Masters, in which 24 master chefs competed for the title of Top Chef Master and $100,000 for the charity of their choice.

"Given how much talent is here and our community's well-known leadership in crafting the finest food and wine experiences, a signature culinary event in the Napa Valley is long overdue," Chiarello said.

The Sonoma Wine Country Weekend, another epicurean and wine festival, is also an annual favorite and this year starts September 2 to 4.

http://flavornapavalley.com/

http://www.sonomawinecountryweekend.com/