3^rd Annual Art of Food
& Wine™ Palm Desert
Poised to become the premier West Coast destination for the discerning palate, the four-day Art of Food & Wine celebration will kick off Thursday, Nov. 6 and run through Sunday, Nov. 9, featuring the very best in art, food and wine hospitality, and education.

 The Art of Food & Wine Palm Desert is a unique four-day celebration attracting thousands of art and culinary enthusiasts from across California and around the country to enjoy the very best in art, food and wine hospitality and education. Taking place November 6-9, 2008 in Palm Desert, California, the event features food and wine tastings, celebrity chef demonstrations, culinary seminars, art, music, shopping and golf — all nestled in Southern California’s beautiful Coachella Valley.

New to the schedule in 2008, the opening night “Food Flight!” – a friendly, interactive competition featuring Coachella Valley’s finest chefs and bartenders; wine dinner benefits, pairing local restaurants and charities with celebrity chefs and master sommeliers; “Sweet Dreams,” a nightcap event showcasing delicious desserts, wines, champagnes and after-dinner drinks poolside at the Desert Springs JW Marriott Resort & Spa; the dedication of 18 new sculptures to enhance the beauty and excitement of Palm Desert’s El Paseo shopping district, a fashionista’s paradise; and a concert at Palm Desert’s first-class music venue, the McCallum Theatre. 

The Art of Food & Wine’s signature two-day Grand Tasting will again feature celebrity chefs, elite vintners and exclusive restaurants. Returning are Rick Tramonto, Art of Food & Wine Palm Desert Chef Ambassador, James Beard award winner and Food & Wine magazine’s Best Chef (2002); two-time James Beard award winner and food and wine expert David Rosengarten, editor of The Rosengarten Report; former Food Network stars The Hearty Boys and “Breakfast Queen” Ina Pinkney. These chefs and others promise to dazzle guests with impressive recipes and demonstrations. Event attendees can also look forward to delicious samples prepared by local chefs and chefs from Palm Desert’s Sister Cities, as well as wine and lifestyle seminars, book signings, artists, exhibitors and tastings of wines and spirits from around the world.

Schedule of Events
NOVEMBER 6:
El Paseo Invitational Exhibition Dedication: 6 p.m.; Free and Open to the Public. Join us for the dedication of eighteen new sculptures that enhance the beauty and excitement of Palm Desert’s El Paseo shopping district.

Opening Night “Food Flight!”  7 – 10 p.m.; $65. You be the judge as some of the Valley’s finest chefs --- spatulas at the ready --- bring out their very best in the quest to be crowned “Food Flight! Favorite.” Local bartenders will show off their talents, too, in the evening’s “Food Flight! Shake-Up Showcase.” Live music, great art, celebrity chef appearances, and informal modeling from El Paseo’s chic boutiques, round out this evening of non-stop fun.

NOVEMBER 7:
A Taste of Desert Willow:  7:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.; $275. Join celebrity chefs and other notables at the gorgeous Desert Willow Golf Resort for a terrific day of golf, complete with tasty surprises spread all around the course. Breakfast gets the day off to a great start, and an Awards Ceremony and Player’s Reception finish off the day’s play.

The Art of Shopping on El Paseo: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Free and Open to the Public. The Art of Food & Wine Palm Desert is proud to raise its glass and toast the incredible fashionista’s paradise that is El Paseo. Be sure to stop, shop and enjoy the miles of style and special in-store events being hosted during The Art of Food & Wine weekend. 

Wine Dinners: 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.; Price per person varies. Art of Food & Wine Celebrity Chefs and Master Sommeliers are pairing up with local restaurants and charities to create intimate and intricate wine dinner benefits.

Sweet Dreams: 8 – 10 pm; $45. There’s no better way to start your night than with delicious desserts created by Art of Food & Wine chefs, complemented by a sampling of sumptuous wines, champagnes and after-dinner drinks. The festivities continue late into the night at Costa’s, the desert's legendary nightclub. Entry into Costa’s is included with your Sweet Dreams ticket.

NOVEMBER 8:
Music at the McCallum: 7 – 10 pm. Enjoy a great concert at Palm Desert’s premier music venue. Bring your ticket stub to Sunday’s Grand Tasting and receive a special discount price.

NOVEMBER 8 & 9:
The Art of Food & Wine Palm Desert - Grand Tastings:  11 a.m. –  4p.m.; $150 per day. Don’t miss your opportunity to enjoy wonderful wines and spirits from around the world, delicious foods prepared by local restaurants, Celebrity Chef demonstrations, book signings, Wine and Lifestyle Seminars, great shopping options and live music, too. It’s all part of The Art of Food & Wine Palm Desert’s main event --- the Grand Tastings, at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa.

Amy Harris (Event Director), Ben Ford (Celebrity Chef), Ira Norof (Sommelier and Certified Wine Educator and Direcotr of Education of Southern Wine & Spirits in Southwern California) and Gregory Stocks (contemporary Artist) were featured guests on the online radio show, Eat, Drink & Be Merry! that aired on September 29, 2008. To listen to the entire, unedited show, please click here. To listen to Amy discuss the event, Ben discuss the Celebrity Chefs, Ira discuss the wines and Gregory discuss the art, please double click on the Play Button below.