Gourmet Latino Festival Announces Educational Seminar Series
That Unites Latin Gastronomy, Drinks and Culture
June 5-6, 2010
12 Sessions Feature Leading Chefs, Cocktail Luminaries and Sommeliers
NEW YORK, May 25, 2010—Gourmet Latino Festival, the ground-breaking socially conscious celebration of Latin culinary traditions and culture, today announced its educational seminar series that will feature food, cocktail and wine luminaries discussing and sampling authentic Latin dishes and drinks, as well as their interaction and cultural significance. The 12 seminars, which will include in-depth demonstrations, as well as food and drink tastings, will take place at the Astor Center in New York City on June 5-6, 2010. Ticket prices begin at $35 per seminar and are available for purchase at www.gourmetlatinofestival.com.
The festival and its seminars benefit GrowNYC’s (formerly the Council of the Environment of New York City) “New Farmers Development Project” that helps immigrant farmers in New York’s Hudson Valley and Catskill Regions, New Jersey and northeastern Pennsylvania.
“I’m very proud of the level of the chefs, cocktail experts and sommeliers who are participating in our seminar program,” said Steve Olson, aka wine geek and beverage ambassador of the festival. “Moreover, it’s quite unique that the beverage and culinary sides will be presented simultaneously, as an organic whole, in all of our seminars. In the Latin world, the two always go hand-in-hand and we are thrilled to honor this tradition and provide this complete experience to New Yorkers and visiting out-of-towners.”
SATURDAY, JUNE 5, 2010
Saturday, June 5, 12 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
With Chef Zarela Martínez, GrowNYC’s Latin Farmers and Hot Bread Kitchen Women
Chef Zarela Martínez (Zarela) has invited GrowNYC’s Latin farmers and one of Hot Bread Kitchen’s tortilla chefs to cook with her and prepare a delicious green mole accompanied by corn tortillas, handmade from fresh nixtamal. She will also discuss her life story as a female Mexican chef and HBK’s empowerment initiatives.
Saturday, June 5, 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Pairing Perfection: Chile’s Top Wine Regions Paired with Classic Chilean Dishes
With Chef Jacques Gautier, Fred Dexheimer and Jorge Perez
Master Sommelier Fred Dexheimer and wine importer Jorge Perez will explore superior Chilean producers from regions that include San Antonio/Leyda, Alto Maipo, Apalta and Colchagua, paired with classic Chilean dishes from Chef Jacques Gautier (Palo Santo), like an authentic guiso de cordero (lamb stew).
Saturday, June 5, 2:15 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.
Celebrating Rum: The New World’s Spirit & Its Cuisine
With Food Author/Chef Daisy Martinez and St. John Frizell
Writer/restaurateur St. John Frizell (Fort Defiance) will team up with food author/Food Network chef Daisy Martinez for a rum-fueled cruise of the Latin Caribbean and delve into this 500-year-old spirit in all of its styles, from light rums that power the Daiquiri and Mojito to well-aged sipping rums. Guest mixologists will prepare classic and contemporary rum drinks for all.
Saturday, June 5, 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Agave & Maize: The Crown Jewels of Mexico’s Spirits and Cuisines
With Chef Sue Torres and Steve Olson
Chef Sue Torres (Sueños Restaurant) will be joined by spirits expert Steve Olson (aka wine geek and beverage ambassador of the festival) to discuss the corn-based dishes that have sustained Mexicans since pre-Hispanic times when the process of nixtamalization was developed and their natural interplay with agave-based elixirs such as Tequila and Mezcal, which have their own ancient origins and distinct terroirs.
Saturday June 5, 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Coco: An Exploration of the Coconut in All of Its Creative Forms
With Chef Máximo Tejada, Denisse Oller and Amaury Robayo
Chef Máximo Tejada (Rayuela and Macondo), food author Denisse Oller and Master Mixologist Amaury Robayo (Rayuela) explore the various gastronomic and drinks uses of this historic fruit, taking attendees on a journey that surveys the flavors of the tropics to those of Spanish descent. Chef Máximo’s Estilo Libre Latino dishes include paella roja (beet coconut rice with seafood), ceviche de caracol con navajas (sliced conch and razor clam ceviche) and surena coquera (a seafood coconut soup).
SUNDAY, JUNE 6, 2010
Sunday, June 6, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Start Your Sunday Morning with Coffee and Cacao
With Chef Maricel Presilla
Chef Maricel Presilla (Cucharamama and Zafra), who is not only a top chef, but also a chocolate (cacao) historian, will present a delightful morning lecture filled with history and cacao from Ecuador and beyond, paired with coffees provided by Cafe Juan Valdez.
Sunday, June 6, 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
With Chef Julian Medina and Dale DeGroff
Chef Julian Medina (Toloache and Yerba Buena) and Master Mixologist Dale DeGroff (King of Cocktails) will join forces to focus on Peru’s world renowned, fresh ingredient-driven cuisine that has grafted Spanish, African, Chinese and Japanese influences atop its native Indian roots and will celebrate Peru’s national spirit, Pisco, and its legendary cocktails, such as the Pisco Sour.
Sunday, June 6, 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Levantamuertos Food & Cocktails
With Chef Aarón Sánchez and Steve Olson
Chef Aarón Sánchez (Food Network star and culinary ambassador of the festival) and spirits expert Steve Olson (aka wine geek and beverage ambassador of the festival) will showcase levantamuertos (“awaken the dead”) foods and drinks at a brunch seminar that pairs regional Mexican dishes with traditional morning cocktails.
Sunday, June 6, 1:15 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.
With Chef Natalia Machado and Sommelier Ivan Ruiz
Chef Natalia Machado (Industria Argentina and Azul Bistro), accompanied by Sommelier Ivan Ruiz (a noted Latin wine authority), will explore the history, traditions and regional flavors of empanadas, as well as regional expressions of key grape varietals across Latin America in wines provided by Bodega Trapiche.
Sunday, June 6, 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Chef Roberto Santibañez (Executive Chef and Owner of Fonda Restaurant and former culinary director of Rosa Mexicano), together with Master Mixologist Junior Merino, will delve into the regional cuisines, legends, culture and rich history surrounding one of Mexico’s most ancient spirits, Mezcal, and will pour samples of many not yet available in the U.S.
Sunday, June 6, 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The Art of Authentic Cooking & Cocktail Pairing
With “Iron Chef” Jose Garces, Andy Seymour, Julie Reiner, Jim Meehan and Joaquin Simo
Chef Jose Garces (Amada, Distrito and Chifa), the newly-minted Food Network “Iron Chef,” will prepare the dishes of his childhood sojourn in Ecuador, including masitas fritas (crispy fried pork), las cosas finas (chilled hominy salad) and ceviche de conchas (clam ceviche). These dishes will be matched with Latin-inspired cocktails that incorporate both Latin and non-Latin spirits created by Andy Seymour (aka wine geek and BAR), Julie Reiner (Clover Club), Jim Meehan (PDT) and Joaquin Simo (Death & Co.) to show how spirits can bring out the rich, bold flavors of Latin food.
Sunday, June 6, 3:45 p.m. to 5:15 p.m.
Feel the Spirit of Brazil and Crank Up the Heath with Brazilian Food & Cocktails!
With Author/Chef Leticia Moreinos Schwartz, Olie Berlic, Vicente Bastos Ribeiro and Steve Luttmann
Author/Chef Leticia Moreinos Schwartz (“The Brazilian Kitchen”), together with Cachaça experts Olie Berlic (Beleza Pura), Vicente Bastos Ribeiro (Fazenda Soledad and Nega Fulo) and Steve Luttmann (Leblon), will discuss and sample Brazil’s multifaceted cuisine—boasting Portuguese, African and native Indian influences— and explore why it pairs so well with Cachaça, the country’s unique national spirit distilled from fresh sugar cane juice, which powers exuberant cocktails like the Caipirinha. The drinks will be paired with classic petiscos (bar food) featured in Chef Leticia’s cookbook, “The Brazilian Kitchen.”
SPECIAL WINE DINNERS
In addition to the educational seminars, the festival will also host two special wine dinners:
Tuesday, June 8, 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. at Industria Argentina (Two Seatings)
Special Wine Dinner Event: “La Cordillera de Los Andes from North to South”
With Chef Natalia Machado
Chef Natalia Machado (Industria Argentina and Azul Bistro) kicks off the festival’s “Authentic Dining Week” with a dinner that matches the diversity of Argentina’s regional dishes with wines from Bodega Trapiche in Mendoza. Dishes will showcase pre-Columbian ingredients like potatoes and quinoa, Patagonic lamb and Spanish/Italian influences from cosmopolitan Buenos Aires.
Thursday, June 10, 7:30 p.m. at Palo Santo Restaurant
Special Wine Dinner Event: Exploring Latin American Wine
With Chef Jacques Gautier and Wine Expert Jayne Rockmill
Chef Jacques Gautier (Palo Santo) will host a six-course seasonal menu with a focus on local Greenmarket ingredients paired with an eclectic selection of Latin American wines. The wines, selected by wine expert Jayne Rockmill, include varietals such as Tannat, Torrontes, Bonarda, Merselan and Petit Verdot. They hail from obvious “big player” wine producing countries such as Argentina and Chile, along with lesser-known players such as Uruguay, Brazil and Mexico.
About Gourmet Latino Festival
The Gourmet Latino Festival is the first world-class, socially conscious celebration of Latin culture and culinary traditions. The eco-friendly, multi-day celebration will feature renowned chefs, mixologists and tastemasters to showcase Latin America’s profound cultural richness and diversity. The festival is committed to improving the lives of farmers by bringing the highest quality products from socially responsible companies and by partnering with organizations like Greenmarket, a program of GrowNYC (formerly the Council on the Environment of NYC), the Rainforest Alliance and the Fair Trade Federation. The annual Gourmet Latino Festival will debut in New York City, June 4-12, 2010. Other cities envisioned for future Gourmet Latino festivals include Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami and Austin, Texas. For more information and ticket purchases, please visit www.gourmetlatinofestival.com.
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