SIXTEENTH ANNUAL NAPA VALLEY
MUSTARD FESTIVAL OFFICIALLY OFF
TO AN INSPIRED START

The Napa Valley Mustard Festival, entering its 16th annual Season of Sensational Events, January 31 through March 28, 2009, provides "good news and vibrant activity" during the winter, a time of year known sixteen years ago as Napa Valley's "slow season." The Festival's line up of stellar events takes place when wild mustard blooms in the vineyards, offering visitors from far and wide immersion in the legendary wine region's "good life."

Unveiling of the Festival's artwork of the year, Magique de la Moutarde by Melissa Baker, at HALL Wines in St. Helena in November, 2008, officially announced the coming of the season.

The 2009 Season is especially important as consumers are continually bombarded with unsettling financial news, according to the Festival's Producer, Pat Summers, President of Summers-McCann Public Relations. "The Napa Valley Mustard Festival's events offer something for nearly everyone, from no cost and reasonably priced day time events, to high end dinners," she points out. "Entertainment along with great food, wine, and art, provides a ray of sunshine during difficult times. It doesn't get much better than Napa Valley during the Mustard Season."

18th ANNUAL NEW ORLEANS
WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL
Give the Gift of Good Taste This Holiday Season.

GET YOUR TICKETS EARLY!
VIP Pre-Sale Starts Monday, December 22, 2008 at 10:00 a.m.
Click here to shop for tickets, and enter the pre-sale code "nowfevip".

The New Orleans Wine and Food Experience is nationally recognized as one the most prestigious festivals of its kind and features over 175 wineries and 1000 wines over the 5-day event, which now continually raises over $125,000 annually for local charities.

Several featured seminars and
events of the 2009 schedule include:

FEASTiVAL (Inaugural Celebrity Chef Gala): NEW this year, NOWFE presents its first ever celebrity chef gala. Don't miss your chance to mix and mingle with some of America's favorite celebrity chefs including Michel Richard, Marc Vetri, Neal Fraser and Paul Kahan as they present signature dishes paired with select wineries in this upscale tasting event. This event takes place on Thursday, May 21 from 7:30pm-10:00pm at Harrah's New Orleans Theatre.

Bubbles & Bites: We'll pop the cork on some fabulous Champagnes, while Ian Schnoeblen, Executive Chef/Co-Owner of Iris, and one of Food and Wine's 10 Best American Chefs for 2007- tempts your taste buds! Moderated by: Ziggy "The Wine Gal" Eschliman

Farm Fresh with Chef John Besh: John will be joined by the Executive Chef of La Provence, Randy Lewis. They will show you how to go green with ingredients that are freshly picked from his sustainable garden, and you will hear from leading experts on the latest in organic winemaking trends.

Eat Like a Pig: Chef Donald Link (Cochon & Herbsaint) serves cochon du lait & other bizarre foods of Louisiana, paired with a selection of outstanding Rhone Valley wines.

Party Like It's 1999: Explore Napa Cabs from the 1999 vintage, paired with epicurean delights from legendary local restaurateur, Dickie Brennan, and the Executive Chef of Dickie Brennan's Steakhouse, Jack Martinez. Moderated by: Ziggy "The Wine Gal" Eschliman.

Pastry & Port Paired to Perfection: Premium Ports will be paired with heavenly creations from celebrated local Pastry Chefs, Kristyne Bouley (Herbsaint & Cochon), and Simone Fleming (Ritz-Carlton New Orleans.)

The New Orleans Wine & Food Experience is a non-profit organization. The Board of the New Orleans Wine & Food Experience has announced that ten local organizations have received donations totaling $125,000 to support their programs and foundations. Proceeds from the 2008 event benefited the Louisiana Restaurant Association’s ProStart Program, The University of New Orleans School of Hotel, Restaurant & Tourism, The Chef John Folse Culinary Institute, Delgado Community College Culinary Arts Program, New Orleans Firefighter House Fund, Sean Payton’s Play It Forward, Girls First, Cancer Crusaders, Animal Rescue New Orleans, and Fore! Kids.

NOWFE 2009 will be held May 19 – 23, 2009.
For additional information please visit our new website www.nowfe.com