With beautiful spring weather, and plenty of tasting and sipping to enjoy, 2018 Austin Food + Wine Festival is shaping up to be the best festival yet. Some of our favorite booths will be on display at the Chef Showcase event on Saturday and Grand Taste on Saturday & Sunday.
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The festival grounds at Auditorium Shores will feature an interactive area where chefs will cook over live Fire Pits and offer tastes to attendees throughout the weekend. Offering multiple stations daily, the expanded Fire Pits will provide interactive experiences cooking with live fire from local and national pitmasters and chefs. Less structured than a demo, and more intimate than the hands-on grilling classes, the Fire Pits provide a forum for culinary Q&A, and an opportunity to taste the chefs’ bold creations, including whole-roasted meats, ash-cooked vegetables, and much more.
The traditional cocktail shaker has been upgraded and transformed into the ultimate cocktail machine. The Monkey Mixer resembles a cement truck, complete with rotating drum, or in this case, a cocktail shaker. It can hold up to 2,400 gallons of liquid (that’s equivalent to 18,000 bottles of Monkey Shoulder!) and is over 27 feet long, 13 feet tall, and 8 feet wide. The sound system packs over 2,000 watts of power! Come visit with Monkey Shoulder Ambassador Vance Henderson who will be serving the Mixed Up Monkey cocktail from the machine’s chute, and sharing the Monkey Shoulder mission. Watch this video to see The Monkey Mixer in action.
Re-think whisky with Glenfiddich Brand Ambassador David Allardice, a native Scotsman and whisky connoisseur. Step into the Glenfiddich Experimental Dome and experience Glenfiddich Single Malt Scotch Whisky like never before. The dome provides an immersive experience and opportunity to try three different whiskies, either neat or in an innovative cocktail.
Hendrick’s Gin Brand Ambassador Mattias Horseman would like to invite you to stop by The Hendrick’s Gin Most Utterly Inefficient Cocktail Bar. Mattias can pour you a must unusual Hendrick’s Gin cocktail, featuring a delicious duet of rose and cucumber essences, and take you on a tour of the peculiar three-story bar that really makes no sense.
Festival attendees are invited to join Winemaker Fintan du Fresne at the new Malene 1969 Airstream at the Austin Food + Wine Festival on Saturday, April 28 and Sunday, April 29. Malene Wines, the newest member of Crimson Wine Group, is proud to introduce its official Malene Rosé 1969 Airstream Overlander Trailer. The airstream – known as the “Malene Scene” – is normally parked adjacent to Chamisal Vineyards’ tasting room in San Luis Obispo, but will be making an apperance at this year’s festival.
Geraldine’s at Hotel Van Zandt featuring Executive Chef Stephen Bonin
Mattie’s featuring Executive Chef Joshua Thomas
Boiler Nine Bar + Grill featuring Executive Chef Jason Stude
City Hall Bistro at The Adolphus featuring Executive Chef Jeramie Robison (Dallas, TX)
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New Orleans, LA - On October 22, 2024, I recently had an opportunity to attend the grand opening of Caesars New Orleans, marking the completion of a stunning $435 million transformation of the former Harrah’s New Orleans. It was an evening to remember, filled with excitement, luxury, and the vibrant spirit of New Orleans. The festivities began on Canal Street with an exhilarating ceremony led by Caesars Entertainment CEO Tom Reeg, President & COO Anthony Carano, and Caesars New Orleans General Manager Samir Mowad. The atmosphere was electric as they joined Caesar himself and an iconic New Orleans second-line band in a lively procession into the casino. It felt like the entire city had come out to celebrate, with Caesars New Orleans team members and Mayor LaToya Cantrell also joining the event to commemorate this historic occasion. Anthony Carano’s pride in introducing Caesars to New Orleans was palpable. “From local favorite Emeril Lagasse to our long-time partner, Chef Nobu, to the beautiful state-of-the-art Caesars Sportsbook, all-new rooms and gaming floor, and of course, our gorgeous new center bar, Octavia, Caesars New Orleans offers something for everyone. It’s a world-class resort in the heart of the Big Easy, and we can’t wait for our guests to experience it,” he said. The ceremony was a spectacle, kicking off with an iconic Mardi Gras float featuring Caesar and his court, and a dazzling firework show that lit up the New Orleans sky. The second-line band then led us revelers into the resort’s elegant center bar, Octavia, where we indulged in a “Taste of Caesars New Orleans.” Each bite from the six on-property restaurants was a delightful journey, capturing the essence of New Orleans’ rich culinary scene. Throughout the night, elemental entertainers, including the Saints Cheer Krewe, Mardi Gras Indians, Zulu Tramps, and showgirls, created an authentic and unforgettable Big Easy experience. Everywhere I turned, there was something new to marvel at, each performance more mesmerizing than the last. Samir Mowad, SVP and GM of Caesars New Orleans, highlighted the significance of the transformation, stating, “This year marks 25 years since we opened in New Orleans, and the completion of this project is the perfect way to usher in a new era with Caesars. Synonymous with the Caesars name, our new resort is pure elegance, and we’re excited to introduce a luxury brand like this to New Orleans. We are extremely grateful for the support of the community, our team members, and our guests as we come to the finish line of this tremendous transformation.” The hotel itself is impressive,…