Great Taste Magazine

The Napa Valley Mustard Festival, entering its 16th annual Season of Sensational Events, January 31 through March 28, 2009.YOUR HOSTS

Meet Napa Valley Mustard Festival Host Chef Ken Frank, Executive Chef/Owner of La Toque, and the Host Winemaking Team of Robert Mondavi Winery, as well Host Artist Melissa Baker, at the events. La Toque recently moved from Rutherford to the new Westin Verasa Napa, where the season’s gourmet sit-down extravaganza, Le Grand Dîner, will be held on Saturday, February 21.

THE EVENTS

Mustard Magic

Mustard Magic, the opulent grand opening event, will launch the season on Saturday, January 31, 7 pm, at The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone in St. Helena.

As you stroll through art-filled, candlelit spaces tantalizing tastes of food and wine will entice you at every turn. Take a turn on the dance floor in the barrel room where the Visual Art Competition Exhibit and Silent Auction is surrounded by chefs and winemakers. Visit the teaching kitchen on the third floor for a gourmet buffet and raise your paddle high at the live auction to win food and wine experiences you could not otherwise buy. Luxurious trips, art, wine and more will also go to the highest bidders.

Drape yourself in Art Nouveau attire for this extravaganza magnifique. Allow Magique to inspire a fanciful headdress. Tickets are $125 in advance through January 9; $150 in advance through February 1; $175 at the door. Tickets may be purchased on line at mustardfestival.org, by calling 707-938-1133, or at local ticket outlets: Antique Fair in Yountville, Art on Main in St. Helena, Embassy Suites in Napa, and Jessel Gallery in Napa.

Mustard Magic Art Auction and A Weekend of Fine Art

Add to your art collection at the Mustard Magic Visual Art Competition and Silent Auction in the barrel room at The Culinary Institute of America on January 31; then meet the artists at a reception at St. Supéry Winery on Saturday evening, February 7 during A Weekend of Fine Art. The exhibit will be displayed and offered at retail through March 30. Galleries throughout Napa Valley will feature special exhibits and receptions on February 7 and 8 during A Weekend of Fine Art. Don’t miss the magnificent Magique de la Moutarde at HALL Wines in St. Helena. There is no admission charge to these open house events.

Le Grand Dîner

Indulge in seven courses presented by seven of the region’s most notable chefs and winemakers, headed by Host Chef Ken Frank and Margit Biever Mondavi of Robert Mondavi Winery at Le Grand Dîner on Saturday, February 21, 6 pm, at La Touque, newly located at the Westin Verasa Napa. The evening will include a silent auction of exceptional wines and experiences. Seating is limited to 120 at $350 per person.

The Awards ~ A Spicy Soirée!

Don jewels and black tie or dazzle guests with diamonds and denim for a glitzy evening of food, wine, music, and dancing at The Awards ~ A Spicy Soirée! on Friday, March 13, 7 pm, at the beautiful Black Stallion Winery on Silverado Trail in Napa. Top off your gown with a rhinestone hat; wear tails and tooled boots; kick up your heels to California Cowboys’ personal brand of country rock at this former equestrian estate where stallions once ruled.

While sipping Napa Valley’s finest vintages and tasting your way through the most creative mustard recipes of the year (entries in the Festival’s Napa Valley Chef’s Mustard Recipe Competition), the Critic’s Choice recipe judging, headed by Gene Burns of KGO Newstalk AM810, will take place behind closed doors. You’ll then have the chance to compare your taste buds with those of the professionals as you cast your ballot for People’s Choice Chef of the Year.

Tip your hat to World Champion Mustard Makers who’ve come to Napa Valley from around the world to walk the red carpet and receive their Napa Valley Mustard Festival World-Wide Mustard Competition Awards. Tickets are $100 in advance; $125 at the door.

The Marketplace ~ A Signature Event for Connoisseurs

Celebrate the mustard season and taste mustards from around the world at The Marketplace on Saturday and Sunday, March 14 and 15, 11 am to 5 pm at Robert Mondavi Winery. Highlights of this rain or shine food, wine and arts festival include: celebrity chef cooking demonstrations, a KGO Newstalk AM810 live remote broadcast of Dining Around with Gene Burns, a Sunset Magazine pavilion, and taping of Martha Stewart Living radio shows. Artful activities include fine arts and crafts presented by juried artists and artisans, and live performances of jazz, world, and classical music.

Adult admission to The Marketplace at $35 in advance, $40 at the door, includes eight food and five wine tasting tickets (value $1 each), plus a souvenir wine glass. Student admission, ages 13 to 20, at $10 includes five food tasting tickets. Admission for children ages 6 to 12 is $5. Children under the age of 6 are admitted for free. Visit participating Raley’s, Nob Hill Foods and Bel Aire Markets to purchase adult tickets in advance, which include a voucher for five additional tasting tickets.

Purchase a weekend package in advance at mustardfestival.org which includes both The Awards and The Marketplace at $125 per person.

Park and shuttle free to the event. There will be no on-site parking.

The Mumm Napa Photo Finish ~ The Grand Finale Event

View the season’s beauty captured by photographers from far and wide at The Mumm Napa Photo Finish, the inevitably “sold out” and wildly exuberant Napa Valley Mustard Festival Grand Finale Event, at Mumm Napa in Rutherford on Saturday, March 28 at 7 pm. Taste a heady array of Napa Valley wines along with sweets and savories, view the Napa Valley Mustard Festival Photography Contest Exhibit of photographs, available for purchase, and revel in the party until the last dance. Tickets are $95 in advance; $125 at the door.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

Don’t miss the array of community and non-profit events that further enrich the Mustard Season calendar. Mustard, Mud & Music - A Calistoga Jazz Festival will take place on Saturday and Sunday, March 7 and 8 in Downtown Calistoga; and A Taste of Yountville on Saturday, March 22 in downtown Yountville.

BENEFACTOR’S PACKAGE

Treat yourself to a Benefactor’s Package and take advantage of the full spectrum of Napa Valley Mustard Festival events. The package includes one ticket to each of the following events: Mustard Magic, The Awards, The Marketplace, and The Mumm Napa Photo Finish; and one entry in the Festival’s American Airlines Trip to France Drawing- plus a 2009 Napa Valley Mustard Festival poster signed by Melissa Baker, for $350 per person (a value of $445); or, $600 per person with Le Grand Dîner. Tickets are transferable and may be given as gifts.

COMPETITIONS

Napa Valley Mustard Festival activities include Fine Art and Photography Competitions, The World-Wide Mustard Competition, overseen by Barry and Patti Levenson of the Mt. Horeb Mustard Museum in Mt. Horeb, Wisconsin, and a Napa Valley Chef’s Mustard Recipe Competition.

WHERE TO BUY TICKETS

For tickets and information, call Summers-McCann, Inc., Public Relations, event producer, at 707.938.1133, or visit the Festival website at mustardfestival.org. Tickets may also be purchased at local ticket outlets: Antique Fair in Yountville, Art on Main in St. Helena, Embassy Suites in Napa, and Jessel Gallery in Napa.

Visit participating Raley’s, Nob Hill Foods and Bel Aire Markets to purchase adult tickets for The Marketplace, which include a voucher for five additional tasting tickets.

The Napa Valley Mustard Festival is a non-profit community service organization.

xxx

P.O. Box 3603 • Yountville, CA 94599
707.938.1133 • Fax 707.938.0123
mustardfestival.org

Wine and food festival to benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of San Diego.

Tickets at 858.578.9463 or www.ryhthmandvine.org

LAGUNA BEACH, CALIF. (December 1, 2008) – Who doesn’t love, love, love lobster? As a special holiday treat now through December 23, Chef/Owner Azmin Ghahreman is inviting dinner guests to select from Sapphire Laguna’s “Lobster Madness” Menu. Each night that this special menu is offered, there will be several different Lobster Feasts offered at the ridiculously sensible price of $19.95 per Whole Live Lobster with Accompaniments.

WHY:             This is the time of the year when you want to think summer, but it’s really getting to be winter. This is the time of the year when you often want to eat something that is not turkey, ham, duck or pork. And, this is a great time to enjoy a favorite chef’s surf, not turf – after a hard day of shopping or planning for the holidays – without breaking the bank. It would be difficult for a home cook to serve Lobster Madness meals at this reasonable price.

WHAT:           LOBSTER MADNESS       

Dinner selections will change nightly, but may include such dishes as: Lobster Mango Red Curry with Eggplant and Garlic Fried Rice; Home Baked Lobster Deep Dish with Mushrooms, Peas, Mashed Potatoes and Herb Crumbs; Fresh Lobster Enchilada with Roast Corn and Poblano Mornay; and Classic Broiled Lobster with Fingerling Potatoes, Asparagus and Drawn Butter.

Includes Fresh Whole Lobster with Sides, $19.95 per dinner, exclusive of tax and gratuities.

WHEN:           Now until December 23, 2008

Dinner Served Nightly, 5:30 to 10:30 p.m.; open until 11 p.m. on weekends.

WHERE:         Sapphire Laguna

1200 South Coast Highway

Laguna Beach, CA 92651

For reservations, please call (949) 715-9888.

www.sapphirelaguna.com

# # #