The 23rd Annual WSRE Wine & Food Classic takes place on Pensacola Beach October 21 and 23. The culinary extravaganza begins with the Grand Tasting at the Holiday Inn Resort from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, featuring PBS Celebrity Chef John Besh. A limited-seating Auction and Signature Dinner will be held at the Hilton Pensacola Beach Gulf Front on Sunday at 5:30 p.m. The popular Wine & Food Grand Tasting traditionally attracts the Pensacola Bay Area's most celebrated chefs and restaurants, and nationally acclaimed wineries. This year, WSRE is also welcoming New Orleans Chef John Besh to kickoff the weekend-long event.
Besh's restaurant August offers contemporary French cuisine. His PBS television show, "John Besh's New Orleans" is based on recipes from his cookbook, "My New Orleans: 200 of My Favorite Recipes and Stories from My Hometown." The show airs on WSRE Saturdays at 11 a.m.
At the Grand Tasting, Besh will present a cooking demonstration and sign copies of his book. Local chefs also to be featured are Dan Dunn, H2O Grill; Nick Farkas, 600 South; Gregg McCarthy, The Grand Marlin; Jerry Mistretta, Jerry's Cajun Café; and David Penniman, Classic City Catering. Those attending Friday's event will sample award-winning wines and culinary offerings, bid on silent auction items and enjoy the music of saxophonist Jim Andrews.
Those attending Sunday's Wine & Food Auction & Signature Dinner, a more intimate affair, will watch as their gourmet meal is prepared by the following local chefs: Dan Dunn, H2O Grill; Irv Miller, Jackson's Steakhouse; Mark Murphy, McGuire's Irish Pub; Jim Shirley, The Fish House; and Gus Silivos, Nancy's Haute Affairs. In keeping with the theme, each culinary course will be paired with a fine wine. Auctioneers Collier and Cate Merrill will lead Sunday's live auction with a unique collection of culinary, destination, art and wine packages up for bid. Jazz artist Al Martin will provide musical entertainment, and special WSRE "mystery guests" are expected to make appearances.
Friday's Grand Tasting tickets are $60 per person. Admission includes a souvenir wine glass and wine and food samplings from all participating chefs and restaurants. Sunday's Auction & Signature Dinner tickets are $125 per person. Seating is limited for this event. The WSRE Wine & Food Classic has served as the public broadcasting station's premier annual fundraiser since 1988. Purchase tickets online at http://www.wsre.org/WineandFood or by calling (850) 484-1054 during normal business hours.
This year's honorary co-chairs are Teri Levin and Julian MacQueen with event co-chairs Michael Johnson and Bill Campion. Committee members include Jacquie and Carl Gray, Ashley and Max Gray, Ed and Trisha Morrison, Candy Carlisle, Bill Bush, JoAnn VanFleteren, Michele Gomez, Curtis Flower, Debbie Sapp, James Stegall, Sammie and Newman Rodgers, Bryan Earnhart, Chuck McCants, Rock and Sue Penfold, Hubie and Pat Williford. Major sponsors are Cox Communications, Gulf Power Co., Hilton Pensacola Beach Gulf Front, Holiday Inn Resort Pensacola Beach, Levin Rinke Resort Realty, Pensacola News Journal, Polanzo Bistro, Renfroe Spinal Center, Republic National Distributing Co., State Farm Insurance – Michael Johnson, Stephen T. Holman P.A. Attorney at Law, Thompson-Walden Insurance and WEAR TV3/WFGX.
