One of the biggest highlights of the year for Fairfield County is the Greenwich Wine + Food Festival, brought to you by Serendipity Magazine. Now in its third year, this three day event marks the beginning of fall, but also celebrates the best of food and drink in Fairfield and Westchester Counties. Something else that makes the Greenwich Wine + Food Festival great is that proceeds from ticket sales go directly to The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, a charity started by Paul Newman in 1988 that gives seriously ill children a chance at a fun and soul-healing summer camp experience.
This year you can expect more food, more celebrity chefs, more wine, more beer, more drinks, and more awesomeness than ever before. All the fun starts off on Thursday, October 3 with the Kick-off Party at Miller Motors in Greenwich. Then, on Friday is the Grand Tasting Gala that we were fortunate enough to go to last year…it was excellent. We met lots of chefs, sampled some amazing food, and even had some wine. And, finally on Saturday there is the heart of the Greenwich Wine and Food Festival: culinary village, chef demo tents, lots of food and drinks, meets and greets with celebrity chefs, and a monumental burger contest hosted by Joe Bastianich and judged by an all-star panel.
Here’s a breakdown of each day with prices and info. Hope to see you there fellow winos, beerocrats, cocktailers, and foodicianados!
Thursday, October 3
: KICK-OFF PARTY
Miller Motorcars, Greenwich, CT
6:30 – 9:00 p.m.
The official kick off to the 2013 Greenwich Wine + Food Festival! This is a who’s who of parties with wine from Ninety+ Cellars, gourmet goodies, awesome Serendipity gift bags, and a silent auction. All of the evening’s ticket sales and auction proceeds are going directly to The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp. Cocktail attire is required.
Tickets are $150 and can be purchased here.
Friday, October 4:
GRAND TASTING GALA (Sponsored by Betteridge Jewelers)
Roger Sherman Baldwin Park, Greenwich, CT
6:30 – 10:00 p.m.
A Scotch egg from Tim LaBant of The Schoolhouse at Cannondale, made at the Greenwich Wine + Food Festival
6:30 and on: Fairfield, NYC, and Westchester’s finest chefs gather and present bite-size morsels that will hit the spot. Also, The Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits will be on hand , there will be beer from Stella Artois, and plenty of cocktails from American Harvest. Partygoers will receive a festival wine glass, a gift bag, and a one-year subscription to Serendipity. Dress it up casual chic. Now, look at this amazing list of chefs who will be cooking live for you:
- Michael William Batt, Food Design Catering, Greenwich, Connecticut.
- Rui Correia, Douro Restaurant, Greenwich, Connecticut.
- Clifford Crooks, BLT Steak, New York, N.Y.
- Eric Gabrynowicz, Restaurant North, Armonk, N.Y.
- Bryan Gilmore, 121 Restaurant, Oxford, Connecticut.
- Frederic Kieffer, L’Escale, Greenwich, Connecticut.
- Michelle Klem, CakeSuite, Westport, Connecticut.
- Fritz Knipschildt, Chocopologie, New Haven/South Norwalk/Stamford, Connecticut.
- Eric Korn, Good Life Gourmet, Irvington, N.Y.
- Tim LaBant, The Schoolhouse at Cannondale Restaurant, Wilton, Connecticut.
- Debra Ponzek, Aux Delices Foods, Greenwich/Westport, Connecticut.
- Bill Taibe, LeFarm and The Whelk, Westport, Connecticut.
8:30 p.m and on: live music from country music star Pat Green.
Tickets are $275 and can be purchased here.
Saturday, October 5
: Culinary Village, Chef Demos, Book Signings, Music, and More…
Roger Sherman Baldwin Park, Greenwich, CT
12:00 – 5:00 p.m. Culinary Village presented by Serendipity
Tastings of 90 (count ’em, 90) of the best food, wine, and spirit vendors in the Northeast:
Restaurants and liquor
300 Joules Liqueurs, Bambou Asian Tapas & Bar, Shaw Vineyard, Aunt Sassy’s Sauces, Bar Sugo, Cockspur Rum, Iceberg Vodka, Barcelona Restaurant & Wine Bar,Green Leaf Organic Bakery & Cafe, Fortina Restaurant, Greenwich Salad Co., Harlan Social, Douro Restaurant Bar, Dan Rooney’s Cafe and Bar, DaPietro’s Restaurant,Cayman Islands, Hudson Grille, Harvest Wine Bar & Restaurant, NEAT Artisan Coffee, Napa & Company, NoMa Social Restaurant and Lounge, Nothin’ But Premium Foods, Arrosto, Nessa, Zeppoleme, Parallel Post Restaurant, Pinch Food Design, Path Coffee Roasters, Waterfront Roasters, Pecan Patti, Organic Planet Restaurant, Morello Italian Bistro, Char Restaurant, Master Brands, Prima Dolce Company, Quintessential Wines, Redding Roadhouse, Rizzuto’s Restaurant & Bar, Restaurant North, Tea-rrific Ice Cream, Sweet and Simple, The Spread, The Mumbai Times, Saffron Indian Cuisine, Rowayton Seafood, Rodizio Grill, Bar Rosso, Chantilly Patisserie, Tabouli Grill, 55 Wine Bar & Restaurant, Cava Wine Bar & Restaurant, Scena Wine Bar & Restaurant, Sticky Nuts, Connecticut Cookie Company, Benjamin Steakhouse, Aunt Whiskey’s, Sweet Loren’s, Eliá Taverna, The 808 Bistro, Macduff’s Public House, Pinkberry, Bar Q, Coffee Labs Roasters, Crew Restaurant, Roger Sherman Inn, Zuppa Restaurant & Lounge, Brooklyn Republic Vodka, Post 154, The Tavern at Croton Landing, Rive Bistro, Total Wine & More
Star Distributors Inc., Captain Lawrence Brewing Company, Leinenkugels Summer Shandy, Sixpoint Brewery, Two Roads Brewing Company, Widmer Brothers Brewing, Narragansett Beer, Yonkers Brewing Co., Beaver Beer, Half Full Brewery
BBQ Pitmasters
Preppy Pig BBQ, The Cookery’s Dough Nation Pizza Truck, The Local Meatball, Shake Shack, My Favorite Place, Bobby Q’s, Chef Johnson Food Truck, Plan B Burger Bar
12:00 – 10:00 p.m. VIP Tent
Super exclusive tent with a private lounge, open bar, special tastings, and a buffet dinner. You’ll also get VIP Parking, private restrooms, and a killer view of the band.
1:00 – 5:00 p.m. Celebrity Demonstration Tents presented by Clarke Kitchens
Celebrity Demo Tent ONE presented by Clarke Kitchens:
- 1:30 p.m.
Michael Psilakis juggling imaginary meatballs
One-Pot Greek Paella with Michael Psilakis
- 2:30 p.m. Baking with Duff Goldman
- 3:30 p.m. Cooking with Master Chef Graham Elliot
Celebrity Demo Tent TWO presented by Clarke Kitchens:
- 1:00 p.m. The Singing Chefs Neil Fuentes and Billy DiCrosta
- 2:00 p.m. Dim Sum with Dale Talde
- 3:00 p.m. Crispy Fish Tacos with Richard Blais
- 4:00 p.m. Crispy Chocolate Phyllo Pastry with François Payard
- 5:00 p.m. Five Ingredient Weeknight Entrées with Sara Moulton
Celebrity Sommelier and Mixologist Tent:
- 1:30 p.m. Beyond Organic: Great biodynamic wines from Spain with Gretchen Thomas
- 2:30 p.m. “Something to Wine About” and wine pairing with Stand-Up Sommelier Laurie Forster
- 3:30 p.m. Brewmaster George Reisch introduces Stella Artois Cidre
- 4:30 p.m. Mixologist Adam Patrick talks about the evolution of “Classic American Whiskey Cocktails”
1:00 – 5:30 p.m. Celebrity Book Store presented by Celebrity Cruises
Not only will you get to meet these famous celebrity chefs and bakers, you’ll also be able to get their signatures on their cookbooks!
- 1:30 p.m. Duff Goldman & John Stage
John Stage of Dinosaur Bar-b-que talks with OmNomCT (press photo)
- 2:00 p.m. Graham Elliot & Richard Blais
- 2:30 p.m. Ray “Dr. BBQ” Lampe & François Payard
- 3:00 p.m. Michael Psilaskis & Debra Ponzek
- 3:30 p.m. Katie Workman & Sara Moulton
SOUTHERN BASH & BBQ PITMASTER STAGE from 3:30-8:30 at the Burgers, Beer, & Bluegrass Tent
3:30 – 8:30 p.m. BBQ Pit Masters Demo Tent
Check out some BBQ pit bosses as they cook up some awesome food.
3:45 p.m. BBQ with Tim Doherty
4:30 p.m. Burger Battle with Celebrity Guest Judges
Competitors from Fairfield and Westchester Counties will duke it out to see who has the best burger! The winner will be announced sometime after 4:30. While you’re there, check out all the awesome beer and the live bluegrass band. Joe Bastianich will be hosting this event with the amazing judging panel of Michael Psilakis, Richard Blais, Graham Elliot, Duff Goldman, Ray “Dr. BBQ” Lampe, John Stage and Dale Talde.
5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. “A Little Bit Country” presented by Serendipity and Bobby Q’s Bodacious BBQ & Grill
This ticket add-in will get you a bourbon tasting, BBQ from Bobby Q’s, smokiness from the cigar bar, and live music.
5:30 p.m. The Gourmet Grilled Burger with Ray “Dr. BBQ” Lampe
6:15 p.m. Dinosaur Bar-B-Que’s John Stage and his famous Pulled Pork Sliders. Plus, Saugatuck Craft Butchery’s Ryan Fibiger talks Butchery 101.
6:30 p.m. LIVE Stage presented by Serendipity
The night will start off with an intro from The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp and Serendipity Magazine. Then, from there the Ian Murray Band will open. Then, the night will come to a close with Dispatch playing.
OmNomCT 
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