The 2019 Greenwich Wine + Food Festival
“The Greenwich Wine + Food Festival is one of my favorite events of the year (and I do events for a living as a catering chef)! I love the culinary community that they’ve created and am proud to be an Ambassador Chef. I look forward, every year, to meeting the new class of chefs that join the team and get excited to share my creativity and to be inspired by all of the talent there!”
Robin Selden, Marcia Selden Catering (Ambassador Chef for the event)
The Greenwich Wine + Food Festival presented by PepsiCo is returning for its ninth year, September 20-21, in Greenwich. The annual event includes TheOpening Night Gala presents “The Big Easy,” honoring Martha Stewart, on Friday, September 20 and a full day of food, drinks, music, and fun on Saturday, September 21 on the shore of the Long Island Sound at Roger Sherman Baldwin Park in Greenwich, Connecticut.
The Opening Night Gala presents “The Big Easy” honoring Martha Stewart will showcase the culinary and music scene of New Orleans. The evening, hosted by Gary Dell’Abate (executive producer of The Howard Stern Show, a.k.a. “Baba Booey”) and Rob Burnett (five-time Emmy Award-Winning writer and director), will honor Martha Stewart as well as this year’s class of Serendipity magazine’s Most Innovative Chefs, and feature their cuisine, as well as select Ambassador Chefs.
This year’s Most Innovative Chefs include:
- Pasquale Abbatiello (Southern Table, Pleasantville, NY)
- Matt Aita (Little Beet, Greenwich, CT and New York, NY)
- Aaron Bautista (F.I.S.H Restaurant, Stamford, CT)
- Evans Corrales (Restaurant at Rowayton Seafood, Rowayton, CT)
- David Guimaraes (Milestone Restaurant, Redding, CT)
- Emily Mingrone (Tavern on State, New Haven, CT)
- Brian Sernatinger (Único, Hartsdale, NY)
- Jeff Taibe (Taproot, Bethel, CT)
“In an area filled with some of the very best food and beverage options around the country, I am thrilled to be honoring the leading culinary talents in Connecticut and New York,” said Suni Unger, founder and CEO of Unger Media, the parent company behind Greenwich Wine + Food and Serendipity magazine. “Not only does this talented list of individuals show off the very best of their cooking skills in their restaurants, but they are also active in our communities participating in charitable functions, shopping at local farmers markets and further putting the foodie scene of our area on the map!”
“The addition of Martha Stewart, a name synonymous with cooking, entertaining, and all things lifestyle-related, truly rounds out our list of honorees this year,” added Unger. “We are honored to be able to recognize her contributions to not only the culinary industry, but also her philanthropic work over her career.”
The evening will include performances from GRAMMY award-winning Rebirth Brass Band and Kermit Ruffins & The Barbecue Swingers.
The Culinary Village, the heart of the annual event on September 21, features the Grand Tasting Tent, where guests can enjoy tastings and demonstrations from more than 150 of the area’s finest food, wine, and spirits experts, as well as areas devoted to the best in burgers, BBQ, tacos, and more. The 8th Annual Burger Battle and 6th Annual Top Bartender Showdown will also return, providing friendly competition between area restaurants and bars. Guests will experience sommelier, mixologist, and brew master presentations, celebrity book signings, cooking demos with Special Guest Chefs, a celebrity green room with live interviews, an exclusive Meet the Masters panel discussion, and The Tailgate Party with The Ultimate Taco, Burgers & Beers, and Grill Masters & BBQ. VIP ticket holders will also be treated to a dinner prepared by Festival Ambassador Chefs in a special waterside tented area.
Confirmed celebrity talent includes Emmy Award-winner Valerie Bertinelli (Food Network’s Valerie’s Home Cooking), Geoffrey Zakarian (Chef/Partner The Lambs Club at The Chatwal and Point Royal at The Diplomat Beach Resort, Co-Host of Food Network’s The Kitchen and Judge on Chopped), Margaret Zakarian (President of Zakarian Hospitality), Marc Murphy (Food Network’s Chopped), Jessica Tom (Food Network Star season 14 winner), David Rose (Food Network Star season 13 finalist) and caterer to the stars Mary Giuliani (Mary Giuliani Catering & Events). Michael Franti & Spearhead and Little Big Town will close out the 2019 event with live musical performances on the Pepsi stage.
Ambassador Chefs participating this year include:
- Bailey’s Backyard, Ridgefield, CT (Friday)
- Rui Correia (Douro, Greenwich, CT) (Friday)
- Lisa Maronian (Sweet Lisa’s Exquisite Cakes, Cos Cob, CT) (Friday)
- Nick Martschenko (South End, New Canaan, CT) (Friday)
- Deb Ponzek (Aux Delices, Darien, Greenwich and Riverside, CT) (Friday)
- Robin Selden (Marcia Selden Catering, Stamford, CT) (Friday)
- Matt Storch (Match, Norwalk, CT and Match Burger Lobster, Westport, CT) (Friday)
- Bill Taibe (Jesup Hall, Kawa-Ni and The Whelk, Westport, CT) (Friday)
- Susanne Berne (Bianco Rosso, Trumbull and Wilton, CT) (Saturday)
- Jes Bengtson (Terrain, Westport, CT) (Saturday)
- Arturo Franco-Camacho (Shell & Bones Oyster Bar and Grill, New Haven, CT) (Saturday)
- Julio Genao (Prime, Stamford, CT) (Saturday)
- Gabriele’s, Greenwich, CT (Saturday)
- Stavros Karipides (Famous Greek Kitchen, Greenwich, CT) (Saturday)
- Geoff Lazlo (Geoff Lazlo Food, CT) (Saturday)
- Stephen Lewandowski (Harlan Social, Stamford, CT, Harlan Publick, Norwalk, CT and Harlan Haus, Bridgeport, CT) (Saturday)
- Brian Lewis (OKO, Westport, CT and Rye, NY, The Cottage, Westport, CT) (Saturday)
- Nadia Ramsey (Meli-Melo Catering, Greenwich, CT) (Saturday)
- Armando Sanchez (Washington Prime, Norwalk, CT) (Saturday)
- Brad Stewart (Flinder’s Lane, Stamford, CT) (Saturday)
- Ian Vest (Back 40 Kitchen, Greenwich, CT) (Saturday)
- David White (Bianco Rosso, Trumbull and Wilton, CT) (Saturday)
Giving Back
As always, one aspect that makes this festival unique is that proceeds benefit local and national charities; this year’s beneficiaries include Food Rescue US, a non-profit organization based in Connecticut, that is a leader in reducing both hunger and food waste in America, and the Town of Greenwich Parks & Recreation Foundation.
“Food Rescue US is honored to be the beneficiary of the 2019 Greenwich Wine & Food Festival to further our mission of reducing food waste and hunger," said Carol Shattuck, CEO of Food Rescue US. "There are important synergies between our organizations, and we look forward to working with the GWFF to showcase excellent food prepared by premier chefs while focusing on the importance of sustainability by reducing food waste."
"After the GWFF, our team of volunteer food rescuers will ensure the unconsumed food will be delivered to Fairfield County social service agencies feeding the food insecure throughout the community. Also, we will be on-site during the Festival to share how anyone can easily be part of our smart solution to reducing hunger and food waste using our proprietary app," Shattuck added.
For Chef Jes Bengtson from Terrain in Westport (part of the event’s Ambassador Chef team), this year’s charity recipient makes her involvement extra special. “I am elated and honored to be a part of Greenwich Wine + Food Festival every year since I was first asked to attend as an innovative chef. This year is even more special to me since I’m involved and passionate about the event’s beneficiary, US Food Rescue. It’s a cause that I believe in, so I’m thrilled that they’re receiving much needed recognition and funds to help further their mission. Food waste in the US is something that I hope all members of the food community are aware of and active in changing. Food Rescue not only addresses our food waste issues, they harness food waste to help fight food insecurity, which is one of the many reasons I am a huge proponent of their efforts.”
Attend
For those interested in attending the festival from out of town, Roger Sherman Baldwin Park is located in Downtown Greenwich, walking distance from the town’s main shopping area, Greenwich Avenue, as well as the Metro North train station, and a short 15 miles ride from the Westchester Airport (HPN).
Tickets for the event are available here or by calling 203.588.1363. Ticket options include the All Weekend Pass ($700), Friday’s Opening Night Gala ($275), Saturday All Day Pass ($200), and Saturday VIP Pass ($500). On-Stage and Lawn Dinner Tables are sold out, but to be added to the waitlist, please call 203-588-1363.
The Festival weekend will be held rain or shine, and anyone under 21, including infants or children in strollers, will not be admitted. Pets are also not permitted.
