2009 Food & Wine Adventures

Deluxe Adventure: The Legends Tour

Saturday, May 16 (9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.)

Enjoy a day with three giants from the worlds of food, wine and ocean conservation when you travel to the Packard family’s Rancho Grande on the Big Sur coast for a fine meal, wonderful wine and casual fireside chat with chef of the year Thomas Keller, wine innovator Jim Fetzer and Monterey Bay Aquarium Executive Director Julie Packard.

As you take in the spectacular views from the ocean-view ranch house, you’ll hear stories from our three legends about their inspiration and experiences. Your gourmet lunch prepared by Whole Foods will be delicious and dramatic, highlighting many influences from Spain: tapas, tasty cheeses and a flavorful paella prepared as you watch—all paired with premium Ceàgo Vinegarden wines.

Tour 1: The Art of Food

Join celebrity chef Floyd Cardoz (Tabla Restaurant, New York) and Wendy Brodie (Art of Food, Carmel Highlands), along with members of the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch staff for a tour of Monterey’s commercial wharf, including the aquaculture operation at Monterey Bay Abalone Company. You’ll then head south to Wendy’s Carmel Highlands home where she and Floyd will prepare and serve a gourmet lunch in a demonstration kitchen that affords sweeping views of forest and ocean.  Premium wines provided by Estancia.

Tour 2: Paradise Found

Join award-winning restaurateur, best-selling cookbook author and TV host Sam Choy and Benjamin Brown, executive chef of The Lodge at Pebble Beach, as they unleash a mixture of culture and flavors for your pleasure. Sam will offer an educational, entertaining cooking demonstration, and show off the culinary techniques that have made him famous world wide. Afterward, you’ll enjoy a fabulous lunch prepared by the talented chefs of The Lodge, accompanied by premium wines from Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards.

Tour 3: Scheid Vineyards Celebration

Enjoy a driving tour through Monterey County’s acclaimed Salinas Valley wine region with chef Michel Nischan (The Dressing Room, Fairfield, Connecticut). You’ll arrive at the beautiful Scheid Vineyards in sun-drenched South County for a vineyard walk with winemaker Dave Nagengast before Michel entertains you with a cooking demonstration. You’ll relax over a gourmet lunch provided by Terry Teplitzky of Michael’s Catering, accompanied by Scheid’s award-winning wines.

Tour 4: A Culinary Affair

Join three great cooking teachers for a hands-on experience at the Culinary Center of Monterey on Cannery Row. You’ll create dishes inspired by the cuisines of Spain, Mexico and Southeast Asia as you work side by side with John Ash, one of America’s most engaging cooking instructors; Mary Pagan of the Culinary Center of Monterey and Jeff Jake of Carneros Inn in the Napa Valley. Participants will have a chance to work with each chef, then dine together on the “small plates” dishes you’ve prepared. Your meal will be accompanied by great wines from Bonterra and Fetzer vineyards, and you’ll get insights into the wine from a Fetzer/Bonterra expert.

Tour 5: Esalen Adventure

You’ll explore the beautiful grounds and vibrant organic gardens at the world-renowned Esalen Institute in Big Sur with celebrity teacher, chef and author Joyce Goldstein.  Guests will learn how Esalen creates and nourishes extensive organic gardens that supply flowers and produce for the 27-acre human potential center. You’ll tour 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 includes an open-air cooking demonstration by Joyce Goldstein, and a gourmet picnic lunch prepared by the Esalen kitchen, served on Esalen's blufftop grounds overlooking the Pacific. Premium wines will be featured from Benziger Estate Family Winery. A Benziger representative will be on hand to talk about their wines and biodynamic vineyard practices.