Snowmass Culinary & Arts Festival Returns July 21-23

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Snowmass Tourism announces the Second Annual Snowmass Culinary & Arts Festival will be held Thursday, July 21 through Saturday, July 23.

“The festival brings foodies, wine and spirit connoisseurs, and art lovers alike together in a visual and delectable feast,” said Susan Hamley, Director of Snowmass Tourism. “Celebrity chefs will be showcased along with a free juried art exhibit of more than 30 regionally and nationally recognized artists, free chef demonstrations, and two evening events—Tapas & Tequilas and Palette of Pairings.”

Celebrity chefs for 2011 include Chef Richard Sandoval, internationally recognized as the “father of modern Mexican cuisine,” who elevated Mexican cuisine to gourmet status when he opened Maya in New York City. Named Mexico’s Toque d’Oro and Bon Appétit’s 2006 Restaurateur of the Year, Sandoval now owns and operates more than 20 restaurants worldwide.

The festival also features Chef Hosea Rosenberg, Bravo TV’s Top Chef 2009 Winner; Chef Alex Seidel, Food and Wine’s 2010 Best New Chefs in America; Chef Frank Bonanno, owner of six restaurants and bars in Denver; Chef and host of PBS Texas Cooking & Lifestyle series host, Christy Rost; and Diane Hendericks, a food and nutrition specialist, personal chef, cookbook author and on-air contributor for Good Morning America Health.

“We are thrilled to host these nationally-renowned chefs,” commented Hamley. “Combining their culinary talent with artists provides an exciting weekend for visitors amidst the scenic mountain splendor of Snowmass Village."

The schedule of events is as follows:

Thursday, July 21
5:30 p.m.: Chef Sandoval kicks off the weekend with a free cooking demonstration in the Viking Culinary Tent, followed by a free concert on Fanny Hill by blues legend, Otis Taylor.

Friday, July 22
• 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.: Art lovers will enjoy more than 30 juried artists’ works throughout the Snowmass Mall.
• 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.: Free Viking Stage Kitchen Cooking Demonstrations will include Kimball Executive Chef Vaughn Hobbs; Chef David Von Holton of The Artisan; Clark Church of Garnish; and Alan Sirull of The Brothers’ Grille.
• 4:00 p.m.: Venga Venga and Chef Sandoval will host Tequilas & Tapas, a ticketed event. Guests will sample a flight of tequilas paired with Mexican tapas.

Saturday, July 23
• 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.: Juried art exhibit continues.
• 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.: PBS Chef Christy Rost conducts a workshop entitled “A Colorado Kitchen: Celebrating Farm-to-table Menus and Decorations.”
• 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.: Chef Hosea Rosenberg hosts “Smoking at Home.”
• 1:30 p.m. to 2:15 p.m.: Chef Sandoval cooking demonstration
• 2:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.: Chef Alex Seidel hosts “Making Sheep’s Milk Ricotta – Simple & Easy.”
• 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.: Chef Frank Bonanno will perform cooking demonstration on “Niçoise Salad with Tuna Conserva” and Regional Chef Mark Fischer from Six89, Phat Thai, and the Pullman will host "Porcini and Pancetta."
• 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.: Palette of Pairings, featuring Chef Christy Rost, invites guests to indulge in a feast of small plates prepared by over 20 local chefs paired with wines, beers, and spirits.

The cost for Snowmass Culinary & Arts Festival is $65, which includes all the demonstrations and the Palette of Pairings on Saturday. Separate event tickets for Tequilas & Tapas are available for $30, and Palette of Pairings tickets are $45. The Viking Stage Kitchen Cooking Demonstrations on Friday and artist exhibition are free. To purchase tickets and to learn more, visit www.snowmassculinaryandarts.com.

For area information and lodging specials, visit www.snowmasstourism.com.

The resort town of Snowmass Village, Colorado, is located in the heart of the Elk Mountains and nine miles from Aspen, Colorado. Snowmass is a scenic three-hour drive from Denver and accessible via four regional airports (Aspen, Eagle, Grand Junction, and Denver). Snowmass offers diverse lodging and daily activities for families, adventurers, and couples. For more information on this popular mountain destination and lodging information, please visit www.snowmasstourism.com.