Weekly gastronomy agenda: Vinitaly's World Tour en route to Florida and Whisky Live lands in Europe

(AFP PHOTO/JEAN PIERRE MULLER)

Decadent tastings and pairings from wine and whisky to exotic spices and chocolate are happening. This week Vinitaly travels to Florida and Whisky Live just landed in Belgium.

Whisky Live Belgium 2010
February 5-7
Cultural Center of Spa Casino
Spa, Belgium

Whisky Live is in its tenth year and is in the midst of a world tour that makes stops in New Delhi, Belgium, London, New York, Shanghai, Scotland and many more. As long as you have a penchant for whisky, you are invited to attend the festivities, including 450 whisky tastings with new releases; classics and special editions and collectors can get special bottles. Not to mention Anthony Delhasse, acclaimed chef from Le Postay, will be preparing memorable pairings. Reservations are required for some of the events and range in price from €20-€60. http://www.whisky-live.be

Vinitaly World Tour 2010
February 8-10, 2010
Fountain Bleu Resort
The W Hotel Miami
The Ritz-Carlton Palm Beach
Miami and Palm Beach, Florida, USA

Vinitaly’s annual tour began earlier this month with stops in India and Singapore. February began the US portion of the tour in New York City with the next stops are Miami and Palm Beach, Florida on February 8-10. The tour is scheduled to close in Sao Paulo, Brazil in June and in each stop celebrates Italian wines representing over 100 wineries and is associated with Vinitaly’s 44th Annual event in Verona in April. http://www.vinitaly.com/index.asp http://www.vinitaly.com/espositori_tour2010_en.asp

11th Annual Washington D.C. International Wine & Food Festival
February 11-14
Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center
Washington, DC, USA

Over 600 wines from Spain, France, Italy, Greece, New Zealand, and the US will be poured and added to this year’s festivities in an international food pavilion with gastronomical delights from Europe, Americas, Asia and Australia. The festival expects a crowd of 7,500 participants from over 15 countries. Ticket prices range from $30 - $140 (€21- €100) There are a series of events taking place for the public, trade and press. http://www.wineandfooddc.com/Events.html


MUNDUSvini BioFach International Organic Wine Award
February 17-20
NürnbergMesse
N ürnberg, Germany

BioFach, a World Organic Trade Fair, in conjunction with MUNDUS vini, an international wine academy, and Meininger Verlag, a respected German magazine devoted to wines, is hosting the first international organic wine award and event. A total of 700 certified organic wines (still wines, sparkling wines, pearl wines and liqueur wines) entered the competition and the wine hall will have over 300 wine exhibitors for tasting including the winners– look for the day-lit hall 4A at NürnbergMesse. Day tickets are €30. http://www.biofach.de/en/highlights/wine/

Gulfood: Bigger, Better, Business
February 21-24
Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Center
Dubai, UAE

Gulfood is the largest event devoted to Middle-Eastern ingredients and business practices for the food and beverage industry in the Middle East, North Africa and Indian sub-continent. The Salon Cuisine has six sections: Food & Drink, World Food, Seafood, Gourmet & Fine Food, Fresh Fruit & Vegetables and Organic & Healthy Eating and 75 international pavilions. In the Salon Culinaire 1300 young chefs from around the world will compete and be judged by 25 experts from the World Association of Chefs Societies (WACS). http://www.gulfood.com/page.cfm/Link=1/t=m/goSection=1


The 4th Annual San Francisco International Chocolate Salon
March 20
Fort Mason Center’s Festival Pavilion
San Francisco, California, USA

Doors open at 10 am on March 20 to 50,000 sq ft (4,645 sq m) of chocolate, wine and confections. The region's largest chocolate event has grown 66 percent in size with over 70 chocolatiers and all new “Chocolate Chef Competition” and the "TasteTV Wine Competition." Plus the Salon will have sections devoted to chocolate tastings, demos, new products, fair trade & organics, chef/author sessions, book signings, wine pairings and a live chocolate body frosting demonstration. Tickets purchased in advance are $25 (€18) or $30 (€22) at the door.   http://www.sfchocolatesalon.com/