Focus on Food, Wine & Fashion

A chef lovingly pours delicious concoctions at the 2007 Bon Appétit Grand Tasting.

The Bon Appétit Culinary and Wine Focus returns to Beaver Creek Thursday, Jan. 31 through Saturday, Feb. 2 for more of the finest in food and wine, and this year, fashion. Yes, a new element has been added to Beaver Creek’s annual epicurean celebration, and not surprisingly it is in keeping with the festival’s focus on fine living. The 2008 Bon Appétit Culinary and Wine Focus has partnered with Italy’s Province of Florence consortium to present “Food, Wine & Fashion of Florence”. This new event will celebrate some of Italy’s finest fashion with a sample from the collections of Florence’s top designers, as well as signature food and wines from the region. All proceeds from this unique event will benefit local charity, the Kimberly Lynn McDonald Foundation.

Lest you think this year’s festival is shaping up to be more about textiles than taste, fear not. The 2008 Bon Appétit Culinary and Wine Focus presents one of its most ambitious schedules to date with more than 30 guest and local chefs, including returning culinary masters Cat Cora, Ming Tsai, Laurent Tourondel and Richard Sandoval. Fan favorite events the MasterChef Challenge and the Celebrity Chef Ski Race and Luncheon in addition to new events including the aforementioned Florence fashion show, an Italian Cooking Class and Wine Pairing Luncheon, and the Subaru Snowshoeing Excursion. As always Bon Appétit will end Saturday with perhaps the festival's most popular event, the Grand Tasting, in which attendees can sample the creations of the many local and guest chefs.

For a complete schedule and to purchase tickets, check out www.bonappetitfocus.com.

Plum’s extensive coverage of the 2008 Bon Appétit Culinary and Wine Focus is brought to you by our fine friends, and culinary masters in their own right, at La Bottega. Keep it tuned Channel 16 this weekend or check back in with us here for the best Bon Appétit coverage.

Hungry right now? Take a look at Plum’s coverage of the 2007 Bon Appétit Culinary and Wine Focus including our interview with The Red Cat Head Chef Jim Bradley, the 2007 MasterChef Challenge, the 2007 Celebrity Chef Ski Race and, featured below, the 2007 Bon Appétit Grand Tasting.

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2007 Bon Appétit Culinary & Wine Focus Grand Tasting

Perhaps the most popular event of the 2007 Bon Appetit Culinary & Wine Focus is the grand tasting where amazing chefs from all over the country mingle with guests and offer their gourmet fare.