Press Release

Relais & Châteaux Celebrates 60th Anniversary with GourmetFest

January 15, 2014

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:
  • Welcome Party - March 27, 2014: Watch the talented Relais & Châteaux Grands Chefs in action. Chefs will be paired with wine estates to welcome and kick-off the festival
  • Taste of Italy - March 28, 2014: Discover the true flavors of Italy with Relais & Châteaux Grands Chefs Gaetano Trovato, Michael White, and Michael Tusk
  • Wild Mushroom Hunt & Lunch - March 29, 2014: Partake in the ultimate hunt for wild mushrooms with Mycologist Chuck Bancroft amidst 2o,000 acres of the beautiful Santa Lucia Preserve
  • Wine Tasting - March 29, 2014: Experience one-of-a-kind wine tasting with Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Richebourg
  • Relais & Chateaux Grands Chefs Dinner - March 29, 2014: Savor and indulge in the most exquisite plates from the best Chefs in the world
  • Champagne Tasting - March 30, 2014: Join Olivier Krug for a Journey in the Krug Universe while toasting the 60th anniversary of Relais & Châteaux
  • Seafood Grill - March 30, 2014: Top off your gourmet journey with a delicious seafood grill featuring the finest fishmongers with Relais & Châteaux Chef stations and champagne houses

Established sixty years ago when top hoteliers teamed up with talented chefs, Relais & Châteaux now sets a unique standard for excellence in hospitality. GourmetFest will celebrate this unparalleled experience and engage those who share the same passion. The 2014 festival is sponsored by Lufthansa, San Pellegrino & Acqua Panna, Mercedes-Benz, Moët & Chandon, Valrhona, Orlane, and Casa Dragones.

For more information about the 2014 Relais & Châteaux GourmetFest visit: www.gourmetfestcarmel.com.


MIRABEL HOTEL & RESTAURANT GROUP: Corner of Mission & Seventh Streets, Carmel-by-the-Sea, California // Mailing Address: PO Box 7228, Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, 93921
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