27th ANNUAL FOOD & WINE FESTIBAL ON THE BACK LOT OF UNIVERSAL STUDIOS October 2-4, 2009 
AUDI & MASTERCARD® PRESENT
THE 27th AMERICAN WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL BENEFITING LOS ANGELES CHAPTERS OF
MEALS ON WHEELS
Announcing Pre-Sale Tickets and VIP Perks at this Epicurean Event Hosted by the Wolfgang Puck & Barbara Lazaroff Charitable Foundation
For its 27th year, the American Wine & Food Festival, hosted by the Puck-Lazaroff Charitable Foundation, is serving up a world-class culinary celebration benefiting Los Angeles Chapters of Meals On Wheels. With generous contributions from our returning top sponsors Audi and MasterCard®, AWFF is delighted to deliver a weekend of feasting and fundraising. This star-studded food Festival taking place October 2 - 4, 2009, in Los Angeles, features world-renowned chefs, vintners and spirit purveyors at the most anticipated epicurean event of the year. The Festival features a spectacular spread of delectable dishes, superb libations, fantasy auction items and amazing entertainment in three events - each offering a different level of participation for culinary connoisseurs to contribute to the cause.
Friday Evening Kickoff Event
When: Friday, October 2, 2009 - 7 p.m.
Location: TBD
Designed to whet the appetites of Festival first-timers and alums alike, this party offers chic eats and innovative libations in an intimate lounge setting. Mingle with philanthropists and foodies who are newcomers and well-knowns on the Los Angeles scene. Friday Evening Event tickets are available for $150 per person beginning July 1. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.AWFF.org.
Saturday Evening Universal Studios Back Lot Event
When: Saturday, October 3, 2009 - 5-11 p.m.
*5:00 PM Wolfgang Puck VIP Cooking Demo
*VIP entrance available only with tickets purchased through
the MasterCard promo.
6:00 PM Festival Opens
Location: Universal Studios Back Lot
Staged against the backdrop of movie sets, the signature Saturday night event returns, once again, to Universal Studios Back Lot. As dusk falls, a spectacularly lit movie set provides the stage for a culinary scene like none other: An unrivaled epicurean feast prepared by world-renowned chefs, superb libations including fine wines and smooth spirits, and a silent auction filled with luxury items - all set to swinging sounds of live bands. Saturday Evening Event tickets are available for $300 per person beginning July 1. Table reservations are available from $3,500. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.AWFF.org.
Chefs Grand Tasting Dinner
When: Sunday, October 4, 2009 - 6:00 p.m.
Location: Spago Beverly Hills
Wolfgang Puck, Lee Hefter & Barbara Lazaroff with Chef de Cuisine Thomas Boyce & Executive Pastry Chef Sherry Yard welcome several of the world's finest chefs to prepare an elegant six-course dinner at the 10th Annual Chefs Grand Tasting Dinner. This limited-seating event at Spago Beverly Hills is filled with exquisite dishes paired with select wines and a live auction featuring one-of-a-kind items and experiences. Celebrity chefs Thomas Keller of Bouchon; Dean Fearing of Fearing's at The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas; Jereme Leung of Jereme Leung Creative Concepts Pte Ltd; Nobu Matsuhisa of Matsuhisa & Ubon; and Gina DePalma of Ristorante Babbo pair up, each preparing one course, for the grand gala dinner. Reservations for the Chefs Grand Tasting Dinner are available for $750 per person or $7,000 per table. Please contact Tracey Spillane, General Manager Spago, at (310) 385-0880.
For a second year, Audi's charitable support will help set the scene for an unforgettable Festival. In addition, Audi will host a special wine tasting in the month of September featuring distinguished sommelier Christopher Miller of Spago Beverly Hills. Sommelier Miller has been dubbed "2008 Best Young Sommelier in the World," "2007 Best Young Sommelier in the U.S." (both Chaine des Rotisseurs International and National Competitions), and Wine & Spirits magazine's "Best New Sommelier of 2008." Miller's expertly executed, yet approachable, wine tasting is the perfect entrée into wine season. Stay tuned for more details in early August. We are also honored to have MasterCard® return for a third year as the preferred card of the American Wine & Food Festival. In addition to its philanthropic presence making for a memorable weekend, MasterCard® is serving up palate-pleasing perks to its World and World Elite MasterCard® cardholders. Pre-sale tickets are currently available to these cardholders, along with VIP packages customized for the culinary connoisseur - inviting them to experience a new world of personalized value. World and World Elite MasterCard® cardholders can savor the full weekend of festivities with a special package sure to tantalize the taste buds of any gastronome. The exclusive $1,000 weekend package (valued at $1,300) is available by MasterCard® through August 16, 2009, and includes: - 1 Ticket to the Friday Evening Kickoff Event
- 1 VIP Ticket to the Saturday Evening Event on the Back Lot of Universal Studios
Enjoy star treatment with reserved seating at Wolfgang Puck's VIP cooking demonstration one hour prior to the Festival. Watch as Puck and a celebrated culinary co-star perform a playful demonstration to an exclusive group of festival attendees.
Individual tickets purchased through MasterCard® are upgraded to VIP access at no extra charge and include an autographed copy of "New Classic Family Dinners" by Chef Mark Peel. - 1 Ticket to the Sunday Chefs Grand Tasting Dinner at Spago Beverly Hills
- 1 Autographed Copy of the Upcoming Release "New Classic Family Dinners" by Festival Guest Chef Mark Peel of Campanile Restaurant in Los Angeles
World and World Elite MasterCard® cardholders can take advantage of these customized culinary experiences by calling 1-800-964-4742 or emailing offers@octagon.com. Reservations are limited in number and subject to availability, and are only valid if purchased using your World and World Elite MasterCard®.
Saturday Participating Chefs & Restaurants (to date):
Alan Wong of Alan Wong's; Alex Stratta and Jenifer Fournier of ALEX, Wynn Las Vegas; Larry Forgione of An American Place; Gino Angelini of Angelini Osteria; Mark Gaier and Clark Frasier of Arrows Restaurant; Jonathan Waxman of Barbuto; Paul Bartolotta of Bartolotta; Laurent Tourondel of BLT; Thomas Keller of Bouchon; Robert Del Grande of Café Annie; Mark Peel of Campanile; Rene Mata of Chinois on Main; Walter Manzke of Church & State; Mark Miller of Coyote Café; Ken Oringer of Clio; Tom Colicchio of Craftsteak; Ari Rosenson of CUT at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel; Matt Hurley of CUT at The Palazzo Las Vegas; Richard Sandoval of Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita, Mexico; Roger Stettler of Four Seasons Resort Maui, Hawaii; Ilan Hall of Gorbals; Frank Ostini of The Hitching Post; Lydia Shire and Mario Capone of Locke-Ober; Cal Stamenov of Marinus Restaurant at Bernardus Lodge; Nobu Matsuhisa of Matsuhisa & Ubon; John Cuevas of Montage Beverly Hills; Nancy Silverton of Mozza; Octavio Becerra of Palate Food + Wine; Joachim Splichal of Patina; Francois Payard of Payard Patisserie & Bistro; Julian Serrano of Picasso; Jimmy Schmidt of Rattlesnake Club; Richard Reddington of Redd; Sam Choy of Sam Choy's; Charles Phan of Slanted Door; Kerry Heffernan of South Gate; Mark Ferguson of Spago Bachelor Gulch; Wolfgang Puck of Spago Beverly Hills; Sherry Yard of Spago Beverly Hills; Lee Hefter and Thomas Boyce of Spago Beverly Hills; David Robins and Eric Klein of Spago Las Vegas; Cameron Lewark of Spago Maui; Stephan Pyles of Stephan Pyles Restaurant; Lissa Doumani and Hiro Sone of Terra, St. Helena, and AME, San Francisco; David Walzog of SW Steakhouse, Wynn Las Vegas; Traci Des Jardins of Traci Des Jardiniere; Piero Selvaggio, Luciano Pellegrini and Angelo Auriana of Valentino; Yuji Wakiya of Wakiya Ichiemicharo; Marc Djozlija and Aram Mardigiam of Wolfgang Puck Bar and Grill; Mat Bencivenga, Yoshi Kojima & Scott Drewno of Wolfgang Puck Restaurants. Sunday Participating Chefs & Restaurants (to date):
Thomas Keller of Bouchon; Dean Fearing of Fearing's at The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas; Jereme Leung of Jereme Leung Creative Concepts Pte Ltd; Nobu Matsuhisa of Matsuhisa & Ubon; Gina DePalma of Ristorante Babbo. Participating Vintners (to date):
Beckmen Vineyards; Beringer Vineyards; Bernardus Winery; Bonaccorsi Wine Company; Bouchaine Vineyards; Chappellet Winery; Charles Krug Winery; Chateau St. Jean Winery; Cielo Malibu Estate Wineyards; Crimson Wine Group; Domaine Drouhin Oregon; Dreyfus, Ashby & Co.; Duckhorn Wine Company; Ferrari-Carano Vineyards & Winery; Francis Coppola Estate Winery; Frank Family Vineyards; Frog's Leap Winery; Gramercy Cellars; Grgich Hills Estate; Gridley Family Cellars; J Vineyards & Winery; JUSTIN Winery; Laetitia Vineyard & Winery; Lancaster Estate; Loire Valley Wine Bureau; Long Shadows Vintners; Malibu Family Wines; Malibu Vineyards; Melville; Morgan Winery; O'Shaughnessy Winery; Paradigm Winery; Peju Province; Rosenthal-The Malibu Estate/Surfrider; Semler & Saddlerock; Silver Oak Wine Cellars; Tantara Winery; Topanga Vineyards; Waters Winery; Whitcraft Winery. Participating Spirits (to date):
Ultimate Vodka, Patron Tequila, PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur, Ventura Limoncello. Event Sponsors (to date):
Audi, MasterCard, Fiji Water, Campbell Soup, Southern California Gas, Pure Blue Meat Australian, Tillamook Cheese, Solaire Wines by Robert Mondavi, Ultimate Vodka, Patron Tequila, Loire Valley Wine Bureau, Idaho Potato Commission, EvansHardy+Young, Mansour Travel Company, American Airlines, Wynn Encore Las Vegas, PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur, Ventura Limoncello, Wolfgang Puck Bistro, Wolfgang Puck Catering, Wolfgang Puck Coffee, La Brea Bakery, Integrated Transportation Services, Republic Master Chefs, Universal Studios, Acteva, Mighty Leaf Tea, L.A. Specialty Produce, Knork Flatwear, Southern California Wine & Spirits, Tsar Nicoulai Caviar, SYSCO Los Angeles, Miele, Urbani Tartufi, US Foodservice Los Angeles Division, Classic Party Rentals, Clear Channel Outdoor, Jacob Maarse, Renaissance Hotels. About Audi
Audi of America Inc. and its 270 dealers offer a full line of German-engineered luxury vehicles. The Audi lineup is one of the freshest in the industry with 23 models, including 12 models launched during model years 2008 and 2009. Audi is among the most successful luxury automotive brands globally. In selling one million vehicles worldwide in 2008, AUDI AG recorded its 13th consecutive record year for sales growth. Visit www.audiusa.com or www.audiusanews.com for more information regarding Audi vehicle and business issues.
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About the American Wine & Food Festival
Since its inception in 1982, the Puck-Lazaroff Charitable Foundation has supported the American Wine & Food Festival, raising more than $15 million for Los Angeles Chapters of Meals On Wheels. This organization serves thousands of meals each day to Los Angeles' homebound senior and disabled citizens.
As a result of their efforts on behalf of Meals On Wheels, the Austrian-born Puck, renowned for feeding Hollywood glamour at the annual post-Oscar extravaganza, and leading restaurant designer Lazaroff, are also celebrated for their philanthropic spirit.
  After excited attendees in the Northwest enjoyed exceptional chocolate, confection, wine & tea offerings as part of the national Chocolate Stimulus Plan, The Awards for the 2nd Annual SEATTLE CHOCOLATE SALON have been selected by a team of expert panelists, and can be seen on the Salon website.
Sample Chocolate Salon Awards include:
Best Dark Chocolate: Amano Artisan Chocolate Best Truffle: Suess Chocolates Most Artistic Designs: William Dean Chocolates Best Flavored Chocolate: Posh Chocolat Best Flavored Chocolate Bar: Divine Chocolate New Product Award: Amano Artisan Chocolate / Posh Chocolat / Marco Polo Designs' Chocolate Jewelry
79th International White Truffle Fair ALBA -- 08 October 2009 - 11 October 2009 Do not miss our traditional visit to the truffle Fair in Alba. We will again provide an unforgettable day all in the score of the white diamond. Together with our Maître d’hôtel and sommelier Mr. Sergio Bassi you will travel by bus to the Piedmont on Saturday, 10th October 2009. A unique culinary experience including the traditional ramble through the market followed by an excellent truffle menu at the famous restaurant „La Ciau del Tornavento” is waiting for you. The wine tasting on a property at barbaresco is enough to make the heart of any gourmet beat faster.
This exclusive special is available starting at CHF 1'650 / EUR 1'065 per person in a north facing double room, including Resort Dine Around (half board), transfer to Alba, professional guidance by our Maître d’hôtel and sommelier Mr. Sergio Bassi, wine tasting, lunch at the Restaurant „La Ciau del Tornavento“ and a visit to the truffle market. HOTEL EDEN ROC, 6612 Ascona, Switzerland
For August 1st, 2nd, 2009 The 16th Annual Long Beach Crawfish Festival serves mouth-watering Cajun Crawfish dinners, prepared by Bristol Farms. Crawfish feasts include succulent red baby potatoes, buttery corn on the cob and creamy, delectable remoulade dipping sauce. Live entertainment mixes the best Cajun, Brazilian, Zydeco, and New Orleans-style jazz and blues music. www.longbeachcrawfishfestival.com
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