Guess what? One of my favorite weekends of the year is just a few days away! That’s right, Pebble Beach Food & Wine is back for the 11th year, bringing with it top chefs, renowned sommeliers and enthusiastic oenophiles for a celebratory weekend you don’t want to miss.
While I didn’t attend last year as I was pregnant, I have been three previous times. I can honestly say this is one of the most fun and impressive wine and food festivals around. If you’re into sampling delicious food from culinary masters, tasting wine from some of the world’s best wineries, and mingling with celebrity chefs and wine professionals, then you should definitely get a ticket to Pebble Beach Food & Wine 2018. There’s a reason why this event is one of the nation’s premier wine and food festivals year after year. Here are a few highlights of this weekend’s PBFW:
Golf Tournament & Opening Night Party
Every year, PBFW kicks off with a golf tournament followed by an opening night party. Yes, golf and Pebble Beach go hand in hand, but when you throw in celebrity chefs, Champagne on the first tee and food stations throughout the course, you’re in for a treat. While the golf tourney comes with a hefty price tag ($1000), you can still get into the celebratory spirit at the official opening night party on Thursday. Expect food from 23 chefs, over 200 wines and plenty of hedonistic fun to kick off the weekend in style.
Wine Seminars & Cooking Demos
Burgers and Beaujolais, Bubbles & Caviar, 30 Years of Patz & Hall? These are just some of the wine seminars offered at PBFW 2018. Led by Master Sommeliers and top wine pros, they may sound all fun and games, but expect to learn a thing or two at these educational seminars. There’s also celebrity chef cooking demos, like Recipes to Know By Heart with Alex Guarnaschelli, and French Cooking with Daniel Boulud and Ludo Lefebvre. These two will both be demonstrating how to cook up classic French comfort food from their home country like only they could!
Lexus Grand Tasting
It’d be hard to attend Pebble Beach Food & Wine and not be blown away by the food and wine extravaganza that is the Lexus Grand Tasting. Held both Saturday and Sunday, you’ll find over 300 wines, delectable food from 30 chefs and thousands of eager people ready to take it all in. Sponsored by Lexus, the grand tasting takes place under the roof of a jumbo sized white tent and is one giant party.
Gourmet Lunches & Fancy Dinners
While the lunches and dinners always impress, I have to say that this year’s line-up looks pretty awesome. ‘The Art of Handmade Pasta’ sounds like a carb-lover’s dream. And the ‘Goldilocks and the Three Bears’ lunch sounds like it’ll be a good time. If you watched the latest season of Top Chef, you’ll recognize the “three bears” as the culinary trio from the show. “Goldilocks” is well-known chef, Elizabeth Falkner.
Chef Elizabeth Falkner
Then there’s the dinners, which always over-deliver with amazing food, exceptional wine pairings and fantastic company. One that stands out is definitely the Single Thread Grower Champagne Dinner. Single Thread is one of only 4 restaurants in the U.S. to be awarded two Michelin Stars in its first year. I haven’t been, but it sounds like a magical dining experience. Add in 20 bubbles — yes 20! — from six different Champagne producers and you’ve got yourself one incredible evening!
Pebble Beach Food & Wine 2018 is happening this weekend, April 5-8, and promises to be a good time. More details can be found online here. Will I see you there?! Cheers!
