Ask any self-professed gourmet to name the top festivals on the culinary scene. The list is sure to include Pebble Beach Food and Wine..
The event includes such luminaries as Geoffrey Zakarian, Maneet Chauhan, Nancy Silverton, Jonathan Waxman, and Marc Murphy---to name just a few of its superstars. Over 125 renowned chefs from across the country and over 175 award winning wineries and beverage makers from across the globe gather to make this celebration of food, wine and the culinary arts unparalleled.
With a wide-ranging selection of stellar lunches, dinners, seminars, and demonstrations on offer, one of the best ways to “get the festival” is to attend one of the “Grand Tastings,” which are offered on opening night, and on Saturday and Sunday. The Grand Tasting format allows you to sip and savor a wide variety of food and beverage selections while mingling with the culinary glitterati who are presenting their creations at these all-inclusive gatherings.
As the bagpipes punctuated the sunset and live jazz set the mood for easy eating, Thursday’s Gala Opening Night Extravaganza, which was called “Coast to Coast with James Beard,” heralded our arrival with champagne toasts by Louis Roederer.
Acclaimed Chef and Gala Host, Nancy Silverton, tempted the crowd with her addictive Lemon Posset, an English version of pudding made without eggs, garnished with slivered strawberries and pomegranate molasses glaze.
In addition, Iron Chef Stephanie Izard’s Glazed Beef Short Ribs, Pineapple and Sweet Potato Noodles was a tour de force of unctuous eating.
Our Friday schedule started with a “D2 Retrospective” showcasing the best of their Columbia Valley red blends paired with a curated choice of international cheeses presented by Kent Tory from The Cheese Shop, known for their impeccable selection and quality.
We celebrated Friday with “Champagne Social Happy Hour” at the Inn at Spanish Bay, sampling a selection of appetizers presented by The h.Wood Group of Restaurants paired with a variety of Champagnes. One stand out chef was Geo Ketchedjian who served Steak Tartare, Oysters Rockefeller and Truffled Grilled Cheese with classic perfection.
We ended Friday evening at The Beach and Tennis Club where a “California Coastal Pacific Feast,” hosted by Jeremiah Towers, was set against the sunset of the stunning coastline.
Chefs tempted us with an array of savory bites showcasing the bounty of the state. Some of the signature nibbles included Michael Chang’s Smoked Monterey Bay Black Cod & Seaweed Salad.
Also featured was Michael Rotondo’s Grilled Pacific Oysters.
Saturday morning’s “Effervescent Indulgence” was an extraordinary Champagne and Caviar Pairing Seminar. This event had us indulging in vintage Brut and Rose champagnes from Charles Heidsieck, Piper-Heidsieck and Rare Champagne, each paired with premium caviar selections from Antonius Caviar.
These signature “Grand Tasting” events on both Saturday and Sunday afternoon were a perfect way to satisfy your culinary curiosity about the many offerings available at Pebble Beach Food and Wine.
The Wagyu Beef Carpaccio created by Danny Grant was a crowd pleaser.
At this same event, Marc Murphy presented his signature spice blend Surf n’ Turf Roasted Salmon to his delighted food network followers.
Saturday’s Happy Hour took us to the ocean front fire pits of The Inn at Spanish Bay for “Burgers, Bourbon and Bordeaux.” Each bite was better than the next, but some of our favorite burgers included Alvin Cailan’s Kara Kare Chili Burger.
Another standout at this mouthwatering outdoors event was Anna Marie Bayonito’s Wagyu Burger.
Saturday evening was capped off with a stellar walk around tasting event called “From the Cellar: A Michelin-Star Showcase,” featuring an array of delectable creations from Michelin starred and World’s 50 Best Chefs accompanied by large format, vintage and premier bottlings, which were indeed “from the cellar,” including magnum pours from Raymond Generations Cabernet Sauvignon Napa California Wine, from proprietorJean-Charles Boisset.
A divine dish of Caviar and Cauliflower--created by Chris Barnum-Dann--made for an exceptional gourmet bite at this event.
Our home away from home during this unforgettable weekend was The Inn at Spanish Bay, Pebble Beach, conveniently situated where most of the events took place. Surrounded by majestic Monterrey Pines, this unrivaled Pebble Beach destination is the ideal lodging to complement this gourmet getaway.
Unpretentious luxury and relaxed, attentive hospitality are the hallmarks of this abode. The spacious, comfortably appointed accommodation with custom, quality finishes and plenty of plug ins to address the needs of digital nomads is just the beginning of the experience. From the electronic fireplace settings to the pillow selection, to the Nespresso coffee and tea set up to the complementary beverages and snacks replenished daily, this hotel delivers guest satisfaction throughout.
With access to the private clubs, spas, fitness facilities and links that are part of the Pebble Beach properties, your stay is just a shuttle or golf cart hop away from everything that makes this enclave so unique and customer care oriented. Perhaps most memorable is the warm, service orientation that turns every request into an opportunity to surprise and delight their guests. This dedication made our stay an integral part of the equally spectacular weekend.
If this year’s inaugural reboot of Pebble Beach Food and Wine sounds sensational, stay tuned for next year’s events which will, no doubt, surpass this year’s lineup to exceed its guests’ expectations. Better yet, be there for an unforgettable gourmet getaway!
Stay tuned for details at Pebble Beach Food and Wine
