Relais & Châteaux, the collection of fine hotels and gourmet restaurants, will celebrate 60 years of history with a series of fine dining events throughout the world beginning with the first annual GourmetFest. The wine and food festival is a four day foodie extravaganza featuring an exclusive roster of Relais & Châteaux Chefs and wine estates set to take place March 27-30, 2014 in the charming village of Carmel-by-the-Sea, California.
The festival will feature the talents of legendary Relais & Châteaux Chefs including Grands Chefs Barbara Lynch (Menton), Michelin 3 star Christopher Kostow (The Restaurant at Meadowood), Michelin 3 star Jean Michel Lorain (La Côte Saint Jacques), Gaetano Trovato (Arnolfo), Jason Franey (Canlis), Joachim Splichal (Patina), Johann Lafer (Johann Lafers Stromburg), Justin Cogley (Aubergine at L’Auberge Carmel), Michael Tusk (Quince), Michael White (Marea), Patrick O’Connell (Inn at Little Washington), William Bradley (Addison), and many others. The event will also feature prominent winemakers from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Maison Drouhin, Champagne Krug, Weingut Dönnhoff and Weingut Künstler.
L’Auberge Carmel, a picturesque pine-forested coastal Relais & Châteaux property in the quaint village of Carmel, will host the festival. Events will include an opening night welcome party, cooking demos, wine tastings, world class wine dinners, an exclusive rarities dinner, and a closing seafood grill. The festival will benefit Rancho Cielo and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
“We are thrilled to welcome guests from all around the world to the first annual GourmetFest” said David Fink, founder of Relais & Châteaux GourmetFest and owner of L’Auberge Carmel. “Gourmet cuisine has been in the heart of Relais & Châteaux for the past 60 years and we want to take a moment to celebrate the fine foods and finest wines and champagnes.”Sample of featured events during GourmetFest: