Chef Charlie Palmer Announces 2017 Pigs & Pinot Chef and Winemaker Roster
The 12th annual event features culinary and wine experts from around the world with the goal of surpassing one million dollars raised for Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry Campaign and local Sonoma County charities
From Friday, March 17 to Saturday, March 18, 2017, Chef Charlie Palmer will take over wine country with top food and wine talent by his side for the 12th Annual Pigs & Pinot weekend sponsored in part by Visa Signature® and Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan and DCS Appliances. In 2016, the event raised more than $180,000 for its charity partners and in 2017 the organization aims to surpass one million dollars raised for No Kid Hungry and Sonoma County charities and community organizations.
Held at the award-winning Hotel Healdsburg and its acclaimed restaurant, Dry Creek Kitchen – located in serene Healdsburg where the celebrated appellations of Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley, and Russian River Valley converge – this charitable celebration has become a coveted ticket amongst pork and wine enthusiasts eager to experience the creations of 60+ wineries and more than 20 chefs who showcase their talents each year.
In addition to Chef Charlie Palmer and Dry Creek Kitchen Executive Chef Scott Romano, this year’s participating Gala Chefs are:
- David Burke, Chef/Owner Tavern62 by David Burke
- Nancy Silverton, Chef/Co-Owner Mozza Restaurant Group
- Mike Isabella, Chef/Owner Mike Isabella Concepts
- Bryan Voltaggio, Chef/Owner VOLT, Lunchbox, Family Meal, RANGE and AGGIO
The 2017 Gala Pinot Noir Winemakers are:
- Aubert Lefas, Domaine Lejeune
- Michael Browne, Kosta Browne
- Daniel J. O’Connell, O’Connell Vineyards
- Lynn Penner-Ash, Penner-Ash Wine Cellars
- Ben Cane, Westwood Estate Wines
Partnering with Spoonbar’s Co-Executive Chefs Casey and Patrick Van Voorhis for Saturday Night’s Swine & Wine event are:
- Carrie & Rupert Blease, Lord Stanley
And finally, the weekend wouldn’t be complete without the food-loving, celebrity comedian and emcee:
- Mario Cantone, actor and comedian
The 2017 Pigs & Pinot event presents an incredible line-up of food and wine seminars, tastings and cook-offs, with all net proceeds benefitting No Kid Hungry’s work to end childhood hunger in America, as well as local Sonoma County scholarships and charities. The event is supported by sponsors including Visa Signature® and Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan, DCS Appliances by Fisher & Paykel, Encore Events, Fiji Water and Relish Culinary Adventures, as well as participating wineries and restaurants, which help to make this weekend celebration possible. A complete list of our sponsors can be found by visiting www.pigsandpinot.com.
“Twelve years ago, we set out to create a small wine country event, showcasing two of our region’s prized products,” says Chef Charlie Palmer (Chef / Owner, Dry Creek Kitchen and Partner, Hotel Healdsburg). “I’m still in awe of what the event has become today—an inspired, national celebration of heritage pork and the world’s greatest pinot noirs—thanks in no small part to our sponsors, the Pigs & Pinot and CPG teams, and, of course, the guests that return year after year. We’re aiming to surpass our total charitable funds raised to $1,000,000 this year, which is huge for Pigs & Pinot, No Kid Hungry, and the community and charity organizations of Sonoma County.”
THE 2017 PIGS & PINOT WEEKEND LINE-UP
Friday, March 17, 2017:
Taste of Pigs & Pinot; 6:30-9:00 p.m.
Friday evening’s kickoff event is the lively Taste of Pigs & Pinot where guests sample 60 highly acclaimed Pinot Noir wines competing in the Pinot Cup competition, both from Sonoma County and around the world. Two Rosé wines will be offered in addition to the lineup of Pinot Noirs treating guests to a “white wine” twist on Pinot Noir. Tastings are served alongside a variety of pork dishes, including homemade sausages, charcuterie, grilled pork, pâtés and other special creations from Chef Palmer and Dry Creek Kitchen, visiting celebrity chefs, and local Healdsburg restaurants.
Saturday, March 18, 2017
Tournament of the Pig; 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Pigs & Pinot celebrity guest chefs will be divided into two talent-packed teams. Charlie Palmer and actor/comedian Mario Cantone will host this iron-chef style competition so guests can once again expect some lively commentary! The two teams will be given a whole pig, courtesy of Rancho Llano Seco, which they will use to create two distinct dishes, along with ingredients they can find at Dry Creek Kitchen. A pork-loving panel of judges will determine the winning team. And yes, the audience gets to taste, too!
Ultimate Pinot Smack Down; 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.
Join Master Sommeliers Keith Goldston, Fred Dame, Drew Hendricks, and Michael Jordan for this exciting March Madness-inspired wine seminar. Each Master Sommelier enters the room with his personal selection of four Pinot Noirs from around the world and proceeds to “sell” their favorites in this lively head-to-head pitch contest, which includes blind tastings where the audience chooses the winner.
Pigs & Pinot Gala Dinner; 6:30 p.m.
Saturday evening’s Pigs & Pinot Gala features a sumptuous five-course dinner at Hotel Healdsburg’s Dry Creek Kitchen. As a collaborative offering, each course features a signature creation from Palmer and his guest chefs David Burke, Nancy Silverton, Mike Isabella, and Bryan Voltaggio. Every course will be paired with two limited-production Pinot Noirs from highly acclaimed wineries including Domaine Lejeune, Kosta Browne, O’Connell Vineyards, Penner-Ash Wine Cellars, and Westwood Estate Wines.
Spoonbar’s Swine & Wine Dinner; 7:00 p.m. at h2hotel
Saturday evening’s Swine & Wine dinner will begin with a welcome artisan cocktail from Spoonbar’s bar manager Alec Vlastnik. A multi-course dinner will be prepared by Spoonbar’s Co-Executive Chefs Casey and Patrick Van Voorhis and special guest chefs Carrie and Rupert Blease from San Francisco’s Michelin-starred restaurant Lord Stanley, paired with wines from two of Sonoma County’s premier Pinot Noir producers: Thomas George and MacRostie. Join us for this casual chic dinner in h2hotel’s Green Room.
Pigs & Pinot Late Night is a late evening celebration following the Gala and Spoonbar’s Swine & Wine Dinner with after-dinner drinks and dessert at Hotel Healdsburg’s Spirit Bar and fireside lounge. All Pigs & Pinot celebrants are welcome to attend.
EVENT TICKETS AND HOTEL PACKAGES
Due to the wonderful attention and support from pork and pinot lovers, tickets to this event quickly sell out. Those interested in attending should visit www.pigsandpinot.com regularly for updates and new offerings.
Pigs & Pinot is sponsored in part by Visa Signature® and Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan. Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® cardholders have the opportunity to purchase tickets during the exclusive Alaska Airlines Visa Signature pre-sale period on Wednesday, January 11, 2017, as well as receive 5% off package and à la carte ticket prices. Complete details can be found by visiting www.pigsandpinot.com. Click here for details on the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature card.
Hotel Packages
The Platinum Pigs & Pinot Package includes three nights’ accommodations for four couples in four luxurious Hotel Healdsburg suites (Plaza or Courtyard Suites with sitting rooms and plaza or courtyard views); a personal introduction by Chef Palmer to the featured gala chefs and winemakers; a private table at the gala dinner joined by the featured gala winemaker of their choice; an exclusive take home gift featuring one bottle from each of the featured gala wineries; and VIP check-in to all events for $25,000 plus applicable fees.
The Ultimate Pigs & Pinot Package includes two nights’ accommodations for two in a Hotel Healdsburg Plaza or Courtyard Suite at $3,049.27 plus applicable fees.
The Luxe Pigs & Pinot package includes two nights’ accommodations for two in a Hotel Healdsburg Deluxe Room at $2,593.27 plus applicable fees.
h2hotel, Hotel Healdsburg’s sustainably chic sister property located just down the street, is teaming up with Pigs & Pinot this year to provide additional lodging packages for guests including two nights in a standard room, two tickets to Taste of Pigs & Pinot, two tickets to Spoonbar’s Swine & Wine Dinner and admission to the Pigs & Pinot Saturday Late Night dessert celebration. Package Price: $1,813.67 plus applicable fees.
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature cardholders receive 5% off all hotel packages.
Ticket Sale Schedule
Tickets will be available for purchase at www.pigsandpinot.com, per the schedule below:
Wednesday, January 11, 2017 | Exclusive Pigs & Pinot Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Pre-Sale
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature cardholders will have access to purchase tickets during a 24-hour pre-sale beginning at 10 am PST on Wednesday, January 11, which includes:
Hotel Healdsburg Luxe, Hotel Healdsburg Ultimate and h2hotel Swine & Wine Lodging Packages
À la Carte Taste of Pigs & Pinot, Tournament of the Pig and Ultimate Pinot Smackdown Seminars.
Thursday, January 12, 2017 | General Sale
Hotel Healdsburg Luxe, Hotel Healdsburg Ultimate and h2hotel Swine & Wine Lodging Packages
À la Carte Taste of Pigs & Pinot, Tournament of the Pig and Ultimate Pinot Smackdown Seminars
À La Carte Tickets
Tickets to the individual events can be purchased online at www.pigsandpinot.com. Taste of Pigs & Pinot tickets are $175 and Seminar tickets are $125 each. Pigs & Pinot Late Night is complimentary to all Pigs & Pinot weekend participants.
Feder Limited Edition Pigs & Pinot Chef Knives
To commemorate Charlie Palmer’s 12th annual Pigs & Pinot event artist and knifemaker Geoff Feder is collaborating with Palmer to develop 12 custom-crafted, limited edition chef’s knives. All 12 knives will be available for purchase during the weekend-long event, with a portion of proceeds going back to Pigs & Pinot charities.
Locations
Hotel Healdsburg is located at 25 Matheson Street at the corner of Healdsburg Avenue on the western edge of the historic Healdsburg Town Square (Phone: 707-431-2800 or toll free at 800-889-7188). Dry Creek Kitchen is adjacent to the hotel on the Town Square. h2hotel is located just down the street at 219 Healdsburg Avenue (Phone: 707-922-5251).
More information is available at www.pigsandpinot.com and www.charliepalmer.com. Follow Charlie Palmer on Facebook and on Twitter with the hashtag #pigsandpinot for updates and new offerings.
About Charlie Palmer Group
The Charlie Palmer Group grew out of Aureole, American cuisine pioneer Charlie Palmer’s landmark restaurant, originally located in a historic townhouse on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Today, Palmer’s flagship Aureole is strategically located at the Bank of America Tower at One Bryant Park. Other coast-to-coast locations encompass an expanding collection of award-winning restaurants—many in equally significant historical locations—and luxurious boutique hotels, each designed with distinctive personalities to provide unique experiences. These properties include: Aureole, Charlie Palmer Steak, Upper Story by Charlie Palmer, Charlie Palmer at The Knick, and Crimson & Rye (New York); Aureole at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Charlie Palmer Steak at The Four Seasons Hotel (Las Vegas); Charlie Palmer Steak (Washington, DC); Charlie Palmer Steak (Reno, Nevada); Dry Creek Kitchen at The Hotel Healdsburg & Hotel Healdsburg (Sonoma County, California); Harvest Table and Harvest Inn by Charlie Palmer (St. Helena, CA); Burritt Room, Burritt Tavern and Mystic Hotel (San Francisco, CA). Learn more at www.charliepalmer.com.
About No Kid Hungry
No child should go hungry in America, but 1 in 5 kids will face hunger this year. Using proven, practical solutions, No Kid Hungry is ending childhood hunger today by ensuring that kids start the day with a nutritious breakfast and families learn the skills they need to shop and cook on a budget. When we all work together, we can make sure kids get the healthy food they need. No Kid Hungry is a campaign of national anti-hunger organization Share Our Strength. Join us at NoKidHungry.org.
