News Flash: The Austin FOOD & WINE Festival, April 27-29, 2012

News Flash: The Austin FOOD & WINE Festival, April 27-29, 2012

C3 Presents and FOOD & WINE Magazine Announce This Inaugural Festival to Feature Celebrity Chefs, Texas All-Stars, Live Performances and Much More in the Live Music Capital of the World

Charlie Jones, founding partner of Austin, Texas-based C3 Presents (whose musical festival production credentials include Austin City Limits and Lollapalooza), and Christina Grdovic, publisher of FOOD & WINE, are pleased to announce the schedule of events for the inaugural Austin FOOD & WINE Festival, April 27-29, 2012.   Tickets go on sale Tuesday, January 24, 2012, at 12:00 p.m., CST.

The Austin FOOD & WINE Festival is a newly formed partnership including chef Tyson Cole, chef Tim Love, restaurateur Jesse Herman and C3 Presents.  Featuring world-class chefs, sommeliers, cocktail experts, culinary personalities, rising stars, and musical acts, Austin FOOD & WINE Festival will attract a national and international audience of food, wine and music lovers, while showcasing the talent, innovation and unique flavors of Texas.

Offering more than 40 events over three days, the Austin FOOD & WINE Festival will include grand tasting tents, seminars, chef demonstrations, hands-on classes, wine and cocktail tastings, book signings, live musical acts and more.  Featured talent at the Austin FOOD & WINE Festival is scheduled to include: Tony Abou-Ganim (author and founder of The Modern Mixologist); Michelle Bernstein (chef, Michy’s restaurant); Tyson Cole (chef/owner, uchi and uchiko); Ray Isle (executive wine editor, FOOD & WINE); Anthony Giglio (author, sommelier, media personality); Elizabeth Karmel (executive chef, Hill Country Barbecue Market NYC and Washington, D.C., and Hill Country Chicken); Tim Love (chef/owner, The Lonesome Dove Western Bistro, The Love Shack and The Woodshed); Mark Oldman (author, media personality); Tony Mantuano (cookbook author and chef/partner, Spiaggia, Cafe Spiaggia, Terzo Piano and Bar Toma); Jim Meehan (mixologist  and author); Masaharu Morimoto (chef and author); Marcus Samuelsson (chef/owner, Red Rooster Harlem and co-founder, FoodRepublic.com); Gail Simmons (author and special projects director, FOOD & WINE, and Top Chef judge); Christina Tosi (chef/owner, Momofuku Milk Bar); Jonathan Waxman (chef/owner, Barbuto NYC); Joshua Wesson (award-winning author, wine retailer and former top-gun sommelier); and Andrew Zimmern (chef, author, teacher, James Beard Foundation Award winner from Bizarre Foods on Travel Channel).

Programming highlights include Friday night’s New Taste of Texas VIP Kickoff Event, with a live performance by Grammy-Award winning artist Lucinda Williams, and some of the Lone Star State’s most acclaimed culinary talent, including: David Bull (executive chef/owner, Congress, Second Bar + Kitchen and Bar Congress); Tim Byres (chef/co-owner, SMOKE); Jason Dady (chef/owner, Jason Dady Restaurant Group, San Antonio, Texas); Aaron Franklin (pitmaster, Franklin Barbecue); Bryce Gilmore (chef/owner, Barley Swine); Sarah Grueneberg (executive chef, Spiaggia and Cafe Spiaggia); Rene Ortiz (executive chef, La Condesa Austin and La Condesa Napa Valley); Monica Pope (chef, t’afia); Paul Qui (executive chef, uchiko); Laura Sawicki (pastry chef, La Condesa Austin and La Condesa Napa Valley); Phillip Speer (pastry chef, uchi and uchiko); Gabe Thompson (chef/partner, Anfora, dell’anima and L’Artusi); Nate Wales (mixlogist); and Andrew Weissman (executive chef, The Sandbar Fish House & Market and Il Sogno).

On Saturday night, celebrity chefs Michelle Bernstein, Tyson Cole, Elizabeth Karmel, Tim Love, Tony Mantuano, Masaharu Morimoto, Marcus Samuelsson, and Jonathan Waxman will compete against one another in the Rock Your Taco VIP Event to create the ultimate taco.  Winners will be selected by a panel of judges including Christina Grdovic, Gail Simmons, and Andrew Zimmern, while attendees will have the opportunity to cast their votes for the coveted People’s Choice award.

Rounding out the talent roster is Devon Broglie (Master Sommelier); Joe Campanale (sommelier); Craig Collins (Master Sommelier); Russell Kane (author from www.VintageTexas.com and Texas wine expert); Sam Mason (owner, Empire Mayonnaise);  Pichet Ong (pastry chef, Coppelia NYC); and June Rodil (sommelier).

Live music will also play an integral role in the Austin FOOD & WINE Festival.  In addition to an appearance by the legendary Lucinda Williams, festival producers have collaborated with multiple venues to activate Austin with top talent, including The Black Keys, Arctic Monkeys, Blue October, Bear in Heaven and Nocturnal Wonderland, to name a few.  Please visit the Austin FOOD & WINE Festival website (www.austinfoodandwinefestival.com) regularly as new shows are announced.

The festival also marks presenting sponsor FOOD & WINE’s first festival involvement in Texas.  With 30 years experience developing, organizing, and sponsoring leading culinary destination festivals around the world, FOOD & WINE’s portfolio of world-renowned epicurean events include the FOOD & WINE Classic in Aspen and Pebble Beach FOOD & WINE.

“It’s a very exciting time for the Austin culinary scene with so many new restaurants and up-and-coming talents making their mark on our city,” says Charlie Jones.   “We’re proud to be included in the FOOD & WINE portfolio of events and to host world-class chefs, winemakers, and food enthusiasts who will all experience Austin as the incredible food and music destination we know that it is.”

A portion of festival proceeds will benefit The Austin Food & Wine Alliance, a 501 C(3) organization dedicated to fostering awareness and innovation in the Central Texas food and wine community through grants, educational programming and events.  Learn more about the Alliance at www.austinfoodwinealliance.org

Tickets for the Austin FOOD & WINE Festival go on sale Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at 12:00 p.m., CST, and are $250 for a Weekender pass, and $850 for a VIP pass.  All attendees must be 21 years of age or older.  For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.austinfoodandwinefestival.com, or follow us at Twitter @austinfoodwine and Facebook.com/austinfoodwine.