(International Wine & Food Festival Event Schedule via DC City Blog) – The Washington, DC region’s largest indoor wine & food festival is cleaning the glasses and sharpening the knives in preparation for four-days of festivities from February 11 -14, 2010.  In addition to the comprehensive Grand Tastings on Saturday, February 13th and Sunday, February 14th which feature over 600 wines, the International Wine & Food Festival offers several exciting wine and food focused events.  A schedule of events is listed below.  Tickets to the Grand Tastings and all events are available online at www.dcwineandfood.com.

The International Wine & Food Festival Event Schedule

Festival Kick-Off Reception

Location: PS7’s Restaurant

Date: Thursday, February 11th
Time: 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Tickets: $50

Co-Hosted by two of DC’s best-loved chefs Todd Gray (Equinox) & Peter Smith (PS7s), this Festival opener offers guests the chance to sample savory bites and sip tasty Festival wines perfectly paired in an energetic and lively setting. Both chefs will be on hand to share their expertise on food and wine pairings.

The Spirit of the Festival After Hours Reception

Location: Poste Moderne Brasserie

Date: Friday, February 12th
Time: 9:00pm – 11:00pm
Tickets: $40

Valentine love letters will be the theme at the historic building which once served as Washington, DC’s post office. Spirited creations from some of Washington, DC’s best mixologists will be themed based on historic love letters. Participants include Gina Chersevani (PS7s), Simo Ahmadi (Equinox), Dennis Burns (Aria), and Rico Wisner (Poste). Light hors d’ oeuvres will be served in the private atrium room of the Monaco Hotel. Price of admission includes four cocktail tokens.

Grand Tasting & Street-Fare Food Pavilion

Location: The Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center

Dates: Saturday, February 13th & Sunday, February 14th

Times: 2:00pm – 6:00pm

Tickets:

• Food Pavilion Ticket – Each Day:   $30.00
• Grand Wine Tasting – Saturday Only:   $85.00
• Grand Tasting Sunday Only:   $75.00
• Grand Wine Tasting – Two Day Ticket:   $140.00

Whether  a seasoned oenophile or a new wine lover, the Festival’s main event will delight guests’ palates with 100 international wineries pouring more than 600 wines for the tasting. Throughout the afternoon, guests can taste their way through some of the world’s great wine producing regions including; Spain, France, Italy, Greece, New Zealand, and the U.S.

New this year is the International Food Pavilion. This delicious culinary experience will lead guests through flavors which span globe paired with premium wines. Enjoy bites of savory Australian Lamb, delicious Alaskan Poached Cod, Mini Falafel, Salad Nicoise, and Homemade Italian Gelato.

Demonstrations on the Washington Post Main Stage

Location: The Grand Tastings, Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center

Time: 2:00pm, 3:00pm, 4:00pm & 5:00pm

Guests will want to secure their seats early to watch premier chefs in action. Several of DC’s most loved restaurants will be represented with 30 minute cooking demonstrations followed by tastes and samples.

Washington Post Main Stage Cooking Demonstration Schedule

Saturday February 13th

2pm: Chef Barton Seaver representing Alaska Seafood Institute

3pm: Chef Claudio Pirollo, Et Voila

4pm: Chef Jose Andres, ThinkFoodGroup and Create TV

5pm: Nicolas Jammet, Co-Owner, Sweetgreen

Sunday February 14th

2pm: Chef Patrice Olivon, L’Academie  de Cuisine

3pm: Chef Shannon Overmiller, Majestic Café

4pm: Chef Todd Gray, Equinox Restaurant

TastePost Wine & Cheese Pairing

Location: The Washington Post Offices, 1150 15th Street, NW Washington, DC

Date: Friday, February 12th

Time: 5:00pm – 7:00pm
Tickets: $25

Kick off the holiday weekend with cocktails and delicious bites at The Washington Post. TastePost will host the most delectable “happy hour” in town. Sample your way through the room to experience tastes such as new world wines from the Kingdom of Navarra; traditional French favorites from The Cote du Rhone, and up and coming favorites from the United States, wine cocktails have even created by savvy mixtress, Gina Chersevani(PS7s). Meet Chefs Rob Weland (Poste), Peter Smith (PS7s), Todd Gray (Equinox), Xavier Deshayes (Ronald Reagan Building), and Claudio Pirollo (Et Voila!). This is a terrific opportunity to get taste, sips and tips from the experts.

DC Central Kitchen Brunch at Ris

Location: Ris Restaurant

Date: Sunday, February 14th

Time: 11:00am
Tickets: $55

Join the IWFF for a champagne brunch at the new Ris restaurant in the West End. Chef Ris Lacoste’s delicious brunch dishes will be paired with Champagne from several respected houses. This festive brunch doubles as a friend-raiser for the DC Central Kitchen. DC Central Kitchen’s core mission is fighting poverty through job training, meal distribution and supporting local food systems. Proceeds from this event will go directly to “The Kitchen”

Festival Film Night

Location: Ronald Reagan Building & International Trade Center

Date: Sunday, February 14th
Time: 4:00pm – 6:00pm
Tickets: $20

The Festival will conclude with a screening of the film, Bottle Shock, a movie about how Napa Valley’s Montelena Winery challenged France’s position as the world’s top wine producer in 1976, putting California wines on the map. Movie goers will feast on flavor-packed popcorn by DC restaurants such as Rasika, Ceiba and PS7’s.

Tickets for all events are available online at www.dcwineandfood.com. The International Wine & Food Festival takes place from February 11 – 14, 2010 and features over 600 wines from 100 countries. For additional information and a complete list of participating wineries, please visit www.dcwineandfood.com

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