When both professional and amateur epicures from the Washington, DC, region head to National Harbor for the Third Annual Food & Wine Festival on June 12 and 13, they will have the chance to sample food, wine and beer and hear lectures from acclaimed local chefs and food professionals, in addition to learning about everything from grilling techniques to the nine-step ritual of pouring a proper Belgian beer.
This year’s event will feature more space for vendors, demonstrations and relaxing. The venue has expanded from one pier to both piers at National Harbor, doubling the size for tents and adding new locations for attendees to sit, listen to live music from seven bands, and enjoy the day with a beverage and a snack.
“Saturdays have been crowded in the past, so we decided to take the second pier,” said show manager Lynn Schwartz. Event organizers are expecting 10,000 people to come to the Maryland waterfront during the weekend.
Another focus this year will be on food lifestyle events, such as HGTV star and LEED accredited designer Sabrina Soto who will give advice to attendees about greening their home kitchens. She will host public events on both days, and a private reception with Soto both days at 3:30, limited to 25 attendees. Many of the 30 speakers and 100 vendors will focus on sustainable and organic foods. Ice cream powerhouse Häagen-Dazs will spread honey bee awareness: we rely on the insects for one-third of our food supply and how they are disappearing from the earth at an alarming rate.
New in 2010 will be a private dining event on Friday night for less than 100 people, with proceeds to benefit the Erikka A. Hayes Foundation, a local charity that puts economically and socially disadvantaged people into hospitality careers. Former White House Chef Walter Scheib will share stories about cooking for the Clinton and George W. Bush families during the benefit dinner, which will be held at Aloft Hotel on the National Harbor grounds.
Parents are encouraged to bring their children and participate in a new program of activities and demonstrations focused on cooking and understanding healthy food. This program features “Hells Kitchen” 3 winner and Virginia native, Rahman “Rock” Harper, who is now an instructor at Stratford University.
“The first year we held it, the event was adults only. What we found is that many people wanted to bring their kids. The festival is held in the summertime and is outdoors, so the kids can run on the beach and have some fun,” Schwartz said.
Other local food favorites on hand include“Top Chef” finalist Carla Hall; nationally acclaimed pastry chef David Guas of Acadiana, Ceiba, DC Coast, TenPenh; sustainable seafood darling and Blue Ridge executive chef Barton Seaver; Metrocurean.com editor and food writer Amanda McClements; chef-owner of Marcel’s, BRABO & Brasserie Beck, Robert Wiedmaier; and Patrice Olivon, Program Director of Culinary Arts at L’Academie de Cuisine in Maryland.
Despite unlimited beer and wine samples, the event is not a “drunkfest” in any way. The festival continues to be influenced by the famous food festivals held annually in South Beach and Aspen, Colorado, with a focus on quality and learning. Local drinks will be well represented from Bethesda’s nonalcoholic Honest Tea, to Virginia winery Kluge Estate, Maryland’s Boordy Vineyards, Frederick Cellars, and beers from Virginia’s Old Dominion. Stella Artois will be educating attendees on the proper way to serve their Belgian beers, led by Belga Café’s chef-owner and Belgian native Bart Vandaele, further illustrating the festival’s theme: Think Global. Taste Local. Finally, a much-anticipated new feature will be a take-home store near the event’s exit, so attendees can purchase wine, beer and spirits that they sampled during the day to enjoy again later.
Details: The Food & Wine Festival at National Harbor will be held June 12 and 13 at National Harbor, on the banks of the Potomac River in Maryland, just across the Woodrow Wilson Bridge from Alexandria, Va. General admission is $69 in advance, ($73 at the gate) for adults 21 years and older on Saturday and $60 ($65 at the gate) on Sunday, $30 for those ages 12 to 20 and $15 for children ages six and older on Saturday and Sunday. Children under 5 are free. For more information: www.foodandwinenh.com.
[googleMap name="National Harbor" width="780" height="250"]National Harbor, MD 20745[/googleMap]
