Tickets for the second annual Louisiana Food and Wine Festival are now for sale.
The “world-class culinary and beverage celebration” will span four days in September.
The festival was introduced last year to bring specialty food and wine experiences at an affordable price to the area. Founder and Festival Director Jan Gourley said that last year’s festival was “very successful,” with people from across the country and Canada coming to Lake Charles.
The success of the first year garnered attention, and it was awarded a Louey Award by the Louisiana Travel Association as the Festival/Event of the year, she said.
The Louey Award was created to honor “individuals and organizations which have made outstanding contributions to the Louisiana tourism industry.”
The “Louisiana’s Celebrity Chefs Wine Dinner” starts at 6 p.m. on Thursday, September 19, with a reception. Students and instructors from Sowela Technical Community College will serve their “culinary creations.”
A six-course Louisiana-inspired dinner, which begins at 7 p.m., will be curated by both local and global chefs. This year’s event will feature chefs like Leonair Dorsey, head pastry chef, Gracious Bakery, New Orleans; Paul Fehribach, executive chef, Big Jones, Chicago, Kevin McCarthy, executive chef, L’Auberge Casino Resort Lake Charles; Huy Pham, sushi chef, Yakuza House, Metairie; and Jernard Wells, celebrity chef and TV host.
L’Auberge will host the event.
From 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, September 20, Sowlea, alongside Rouses Markets and Louisiana Seafood, will present the “Louisiana Inspired Master Classes” at Sowela. Throughout the day, guests will participate in interactive sessions with celebrity chefs, cookbook authors and sommeliers.
“Fire on the Lake” will be held later that day, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Bord du Lac Park. During this “quintessential Louisiana celebration of live fire cooking,” guests will taste bites of several slow-cooked, grilled and smoked meats, and Louisiana seafood, cooked by chefs, pitmasters and grill masters.
Vegetarian options will be available.
New this year, the BBQ People’s Choice Awards will be hosed at “Fire on the Lake.”
Live cajun and zydeco music by Horace Trahan and the Ossun Express will be played throughout the night.
The “Louisiana Food & Wine Festival, Grand Tasting” takes place from 4:00 to 7:00 pm on Saturday, September 21 at Bord du Lac Park in Lake Charles, LA.
The event features an array of food and beverage tastings, live music, and a souvenir glass for unlimited drinks from various exhibitors. Highlights include the “Taste of Louisiana Alley” with dishes from top Louisiana chefs and “Louisiana’s Craft Brews Alley” showcasing local breweries, all complemented by music from the Flamethrowers.
The Professionally Judged Best Taste Awards and People’s Choice Best Taste Awards will be announced at the grand tasting.
The “Sunday Jazz Brunch” will close out the festival. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on September 22 at Sowela, two brunch events will be held. The event features unlimited beverage tastings with a souvenir glass, live jazz music, and a lavish brunch. The brunch includes carving stations, salad bars, Louisiana seafood, made-to-order omelets and a variety of desserts.
Guests can anticipate new features and areas during the festival, including the Rosé Love Garden – featuring rosé wine tastings – and several colling lounges. The “So Fly” charging lounge will also be available for guests throughout the weekend.
Tickets are available for purchase at louisinafoodandwinefestival.com.
Save $10 on Friday and Saturday tickets with The American Press code “AP10.”
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