2008 Food & Wine Adventures

Cultures collided in a riot of flavorful ideas when you sat down with food legends Darina Allen, Kristine Kidd, Joan Nathan and Nancy Silverton. Guests discovered why these four women are true leaders in their field: Darina Allen—was this year's honored chef, known as Ireland's favorite cook; Kristine Kidd—a chef, cookbook author and for 20 years the food editor at Bon Appétit Magazine; Joan Nathan—a food writer, cookbook author and the "doyenne of Jewish-American food"; and Nancy Silverton—chef, author and co-founder of La Brea Bakery. The four shared secrets and stories about food from many cultures. Guests also were treated to a gourmet lunch provided by our honored local celebrity chef, Cal Stamenov (Bernardus Lodge).

Paired with the lunch were premium wines provided by Chappellet Vineyards. Carissa Chappellet, ambassador at large for the second-generation family winery, talked about the sustainable practices that have helped the Chappellets create world-class wines that have mirrored the great first growth Bordeaux for more than three decades. They've been a leader in the use of organic farming techniques to manage pests and diseases in an environmentally responsible way.

Tours 1- 5

A tour of Monterey's commercial wharf with celebrity chef Andrew Brown (White Dog Café, Philadelphia) and Wendy Brodie (Art of Food, Carmel Highlands), included the aquaculture operation of Monterey Bay Abalone Co. They offered tips about how to select the freshest seafood, and a Seafood Watch staff member from the Aquarium will share information about choosing sustainable seafood. Then they headed south to Wendy's home in the Carmel Highlands where Andrew and Wendy prepared and served a gourmet lunch in her demonstration kitchen with sweeping views of forest and ocean. Premium wines were provided by Estancia.

Tour 2: Paradise Found

An extravagant mixture of culture and flavors that will surprise and delight you, uleashed by award-winning restaurateur, best-selling cookbook author and TV host Sam Choy and Patrick Mullin, executive chef of The Lodge at Pebble Beach. Sam offered an educational, entertaining cooking demonstration as he showed off culinary techniques that have earned him an international reputation. Afterward, a fabulous lunch was prepared by the talented chefs of The Lodge, featuring premium wines from Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards and Jekel Vineyards.

Tour 3: Esalen Adventure

Grounds and vibrant organic gardens at world-renowned Esalen Institute in Big Sur were explored with celebrity chef Michel Nischan (The Dressing Room, Fairfield, Connecticut). Guests learned how Esalen creates and nourishes extensive organic gardens that supply flowers and produce for the 27-acre human potential center. They toured the Esalen kitchen with Matt Glazer, Director of Food Service Operations there, and learn about other approaches the Institute takes to integrate gently with the landscape. The day included an open-air cooking demonstration by Michel Nischan, and a gourmet picnic lunch prepared by the Esalen kitchen, served on Esalen's blufftop grounds overlooking the Pacific. Premium wines from Paul Dolan Vineyards were served. Their organic and biodynamic winegrowing practices create special wines, while sustaining the environment.

Tour 4: Corralitos Wine Trail

Guests joined celebrity chef Doug Katz (Fire, Cleveland, Ohio) as they explored the country roads of Corralitos, a wine region in southern Santa Cruz County known for its pinots. Along the way, they met Richard Alfaro and toured Alfaro Family Vineyards' incredible hillside winery. Richard talked about his sustainable winemaking practices and led guests through his picturesque vineyards. Guests tasted incredible Alfaro wines before they headed down the road to Deer Park Ranch for a picnic lunch and further sampling of great vintages. Chefs Terry Teplitzky (Michael's Catering) and Doug Katz treated guests to a memorable outdoor feast. They tasted several notable wines, all made from Deer Park grapes.

Tour 5: Beauty and the Feast

Guests enjoyed a rare opportunity to meet and explore nature with Bob Talbot—one of the world's most renowned marine photographers and filmmakers. Talbot's photographs have been published in magazines such as Audubon, TIME and National Geographic. Guests explored picturesque Pt. Lobos—the crown jewel of the California park system—as Bob led them on a gentle coastal hike and helped them see the beauty he captures through his lens. Guests then headed inland to a gracious private residence in Monterey to enjoy a land/sea feast prepared by talented celebrity chef Michelle Bernstein (Michy's, Miami, Florida) and the talented culinary team from Asilomar. Vintners Bill and Doris Cooper of Cooper-Garrod Estate Vineyards poured limited-production wines from their sustainably farmed estate vineyards.