The Ahwahnee, a National Historic Landmark and AAA Four-Diamond hotel, nestled in the heart of scenic Yosemite Valley, announces the lineup for the 29th Annual Chefs' Holidays event series in January 2014. Celebrating the creativity and excellence of these culinary leaders in the breathtaking natural setting of Yosemite National Park, Chefs’ Holidays will be held over a series of eight sessions from January 12 – February 6, 2014. For each session, guests are invited to take part in a “Meet the Chefs” reception, educational cooking demonstrations and tastings, a behind-the-scenes kitchen tour and a five-course Chefs’ Holidays Gala Dinner in The Ahwahnee Dining Room prepared by the headliner chef complete with wine pairings.
“This year's lineup of participating chefs is one of our best yet,” says Chefs’ Holidays program director Kathy Langley. “With an excellent combination of new and traditional talent, there is something for everyone, including ‘Top Chefs,’ ‘Iron Chefs’ and some of the very best culinary talent from California and across the U.S.”
Chefs’ Holidays has become a premier destination for epicures and culinary professionals since its inception as a small gathering of chefs and hotel guests in the winter of 1985. Held every January, Chefs’ Holidays allows the chefs to relax after their busy holiday season and unwind with their culinary colleagues and Yosemite visitors. Each session includes a “Meet the Chefs” reception, three cooking demonstrations in the Great Lounge moderated by food industry experts, a tour of The Ahwahnee’s 8,000 square foot kitchen, and a gala dinner prepared by the session’s headliner chefs in The Ahwahnee Dining Room. While several chefs have participated multiple years, the 2014 season welcomes several exciting newcomers including Michael Rotondo of Parallel 37 at The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco, Sarah & Evan Rich of Rich Table in San Francisco, and Amanda Freitag of Food Network’s “Chopped.”
The 2014 lineup includes:
Session 1: January 12-14 (Sunday-Tuesday)-THEME: “A Taste of Monterey & Carmel”-a Collaborative Dinner*
Moderator: Janice Wald Henderson, food & travel journalist
Headliner: Cal Stamenov, Marinus at Bernardus Lodge, Carmel Valley, California
Headliner: Brandon Miller, Mundaka, Carmel, California
Headliner: Jerry Regester, C Restaurant & Bar, Monterey, California
Session 2: January 15-16 (Wednesday-Thursday)
Moderator: Janice Wald Henderson, food & travel journalist
Headliner: Hosea Rosenberg, Winner “Top Chef” Season 5/Blackbelly Catering, Boulder, Colorado
Culinary Demonstrator: Kim Alter, Plum, Oakland, California
Culinary Demonstrator: Daniel Holzman, The Meatball Shop, New York, New York
Session 3: January 19-21 (Sunday-Tuesday)
Moderator: Carolyn Jung, food journalist
Headliner: Kent Rathbun, Abacus, Dallas, Texas
Culinary Demonstrator: Jesse Cool, Flea Street Café, Menlo Park, California
Culinary Demonstrator: Mark Estee, Campo, Reno, Nevada
Session 4: January 22-23 (Wednesday-Thursday) – THEME: “TV’s Rockin’ Women Chefs”-a Collaborative Dinner*
Moderator: Carolyn Jung, food journalist
Headliner: Elizabeth Falkner, Next Iron Chef
Headliner: Ariane Duarte, “Top Chef”/CulinAriane, Montclair, New Jersey
Headliner: Amanda Freitag, “Chopped,” The Food Network
Session 5: January 26-28 (Sunday-Tuesday)
Moderator: Andrew Friedman, author
Headliner: Michael Rotondo, Parallel 37, San Francisco, California
Culinary Demonstrator: Laurence Jossel, nopa/nopalito, San Francisco, California
Culinary Demonstrator: Jerry Traunfeld, Poppy, Seattle, Washington
Session 6: January 29-30 (Wednesday-Thursday)
Moderator: Andrew Friedman, author
Headliner: Parke Ulriche, Waterbar, San Francisco, California
Culinary Demonstrator: Jimmy Bradley, The Red Cat, The Harrison, New York, New York
Culinary Demonstrator: Harold Dieterle, Perilla, New York, New York
Session 7: February 2-4 (Sunday-Tuesday)
Moderator: Michael Harlan Turkell, radio host for The Food Seen
Headliner: David Bazirgan, The Fifth Floor, San Francisco, California
Culinary Demonstrator: Annie Somerville, Greens, San Francisco, California
Culinary Demonstrator: Peter Chastain, Prima, Walnut Ceek, California
Session 8: February 5-6 (Wednesday-Thursday)
Moderator: Michael Harlan Turkell, radio host for The Food Seen
Headliner: Sarah & Evan Rich, Rich Table, San Francisco, California
Culinary Demonstrators: Melissa Hamilton & Christopher Hirsheimer, Canal House, Lambertville, New Jersey
Culinary Demonstrators: Peggy Smith & Sue Conley, Cowgirl Creamery, Petaluma & San Francisco
