With nearly a million residents—and New York City in our backyard—Westchester is a dynamic county and a wonderful place to live. And those of us who live and work here know that the county is so much more than just an affluent New York suburb. Like our cultural and business communities, Westchester’s culinary scene is also thriving—booming, in fact.
We’ve known this for a long time, which is why, five years ago, we launched a Wine & Food Festival right here. I have personally attended the wine and food events in South Beach, Aspen, and, of course, New York City. Chefs from all over the country travel to these events, and thousands of people attend. And if attendance to and reviews of Westchester Magazine’s previous four Wine & Food Festivals are any indication, our 5th annual Wine & Food Festival, which takes place June 3 to 6, is guaranteed to be a fabulous time for all.
Each year, we strive to improve upon the previous one, and this year’s festival is no exception. For our 5th annual celebration, we’ve brought back some of your favorite festivities, but we’ve mixed things up a bit, too. We kick things off on Wednesday, June 3, with our Fashion, Food & Wine event at Bloomingdale’s in White Plains, where Kathie Lee Gifford will be back as our special guest host, and where Chef Peter Kelly will be cooking some delicious food. There’ll be a fashion show, too, where you can see the latest style trends.
On Thursday, June 4, you can help pick the winner at our Burger & Beer Blast. Held outside at the spacious Kensico Dam Plaza in Valhalla, the Blast features 30 local restaurants, all competing for the coveted bragging rights to the best burger in Westchester. Sample them all (if you dare!) and cast your vote. Plus, enjoy craft beer, spirits, food trucks, and more.
Meanwhile, over at 42 The Restaurant in The Ritz-Carlton, Westchester, in White Plains, we’ll be hosting a wine seminar with Piero Incisa della Rocchetta, who will present samples of his limited-production Pinot Noirs of Bodega Chacra and the debut release of the 2012 Super Tuscan Sassicaia.
We return to 42 The Restaurant on Friday night, June 5, for the inaugural An Evening with Westchester’s Tastemakers, at which 11 of the county’s top chefs will be cooking some of their signature dishes, which will be paired with the best wines from around the world by Zachys Wine & Liquor of Scarsdale, our partner in the Wine & Food Festival.
Last but not least, on Saturday we present our Grand Tasting Village at the Kensico Dam Plaza. With a farm-to-table theme, 44 restaurants will serve locally sourced food along with more than 200 wines and spirits. The Grand Tastings Village will also feature a series of celebrity chef cooking demonstrations, craft beer, mixology experts, a food truck court, and a mini farmers’ market.
Not only does this extended celebration of wine and food help our economy by celebrating and spotlighting local merchants, restaurateurs, and food and drink purveyors, but a portion of the proceeds from the week’s events will benefit two very worthy charitable organizations: the Food Bank for Westchester and Friends of Westchester County Parks. So when you come out and enjoy yourselves with us, you’ll be doing some good in the process.
For more information on the festival’s events please turn to page 41 in this issue. You can also purchase tickets at westchestermagazine.com/winefood. I, and everyone on the Westchester Magazine team, look forward to seeing you there.