Atlantic City Weekly

Share this Story:

Atlantic City will be the center of the culinary world when the Food Network Atlantic City Food and Wine Festival, hosted by Harrah’s Entertainment, begins with the official kick-off party at the Chelsea Hotel Thursday, July 29. Not only is this an amazing event for people who love to eat great food and mingle with culinary superstars, it also raises money for the charity Susan G. Komen for the Cure Central & South Jersey.

The line-up of culinary all-stars participating in the four-day event includes Guy Fieri (Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, Guy’s Big Bite); the queen of Southern cuisine, Paula Deen (Paula’s Home Cooking); Top Chef Masters champion Marcus Samuelsson; Pat & Gina Neely (Down Home with the Neelys); Ted Allen (Chopped); Anne Burrell (Worst Cooks in America); Chef Alex Guarnaschelli (Chopped, Alex’s Day Off); wine expert Michael Green; Sandra Lee (Semi-Homemade Cooking); Sunny Anderson (Cooking For Real) and Georges Perrier (owner of Philly’s Le Bec-Fin, and Mia at Caesars).

Guy Fieri loves to participate in food events in Atlantic City. Talking about this year’s Atlantic City Food and Wine Festival, he explains, “There is so much that is going on. To see the way it has been [expanding since 2007] is outstanding. This is my fourth A.C. event. It is getting to the point where it will start getting recognized as a Top 5 culinary event around the country.

“I’m doing a Big Bite brunch and the Philly Cheesesteak Battle. Every time I show up, I get to be part of a really cool party. You’re blessed if you live in the area. If you are going to the event you are going to have a great time. The people putting on the festival are working really hard to build a great event.” (For more from Fieri, see interview opposite page.)

Both the Food Network and Conde Nast Traveler sponsor this year’s feast for foodies. As Fieri would say, it will be off-the-hook with 40 total events taking place at the four properties that Harrah’s owns in town, plus The Pier Shops at Caesars and the Chelsea Hotel.

The Food Network and Cooking Channel stars will be joined by the top chefs behind the scenes, the culinary staffers from Harrah’s properties across the country, including Harrah’s Resort executive chef Ed Batten and Keith Mitchell, executive chef at Caesars.

Not only will Harrah’s chefs help execute the events featuring the Food Network stars, they will be in charge of the signature event of the festival, the Grand Market on Saturday and Sunday on Bally’s sixth floor. The Grand Market is a tasting village showcasing foods, wines, ales, liquors and more from acclaimed restaurants and brands.

“People will be able to walk around and experience what restaurants in Atlantic City have to offer,” says Ed Batten. “It’s phenomenal. It’s the best restaurants in the city,”

Batten is one of the main architects of the annual festival. He explains that the planning for this year’s event began when last year’s event ended and that the hands-on prep work begins about a month before it starts.

“Much like a Super Bowl game — and that’s how I like to describe it — you know what you’re going to do when you go in. It’s all in the planning. The execution is about 20 percent [of the work] but I don’t want to diminish the execution, because it is a Herculean feat.”

As for how many meals will be served overall, Batten is sure it will be in the thousands.

Asked about which events excited him the most, Batten offers, “the ‘Sommelier Showdown,’ with three sommeliers going head to head; the ‘Jersey Tomato Brunch’ with Claire Robinson — that’s going to be fun, a five-course brunch featuring Jersey tomatoes paired with tomatoes-inspired cocktails. We have an event with Sandra Lee, ‘Sweet & Stylish,’ which is going to blend designer fashions with sensual desserts and cocktails. It’s a nightlife event with Food Network stars Ted Allen, Alex Guarnaschelli, Claire Robinson, Melissa d’Arabian and Anne Burrell. They will be serving favorite desserts as the models walk the catwalk. And in Guy Fieri’s ‘Cheesesteak Battle,’ we have regional chefs going head-to-head with Fieri choosing the winner, and Paula Deen is hosting a ‘Boardwalk Party.’”

The Food and Wine Festival started off in 2007 as an idea to expand Atlantic City’s culinary/non-gaming scene. It began as a two-day food and wine event sponsored by Harrah’s Entertainment called “Toast to the Coast” with 2,600 food fans. In 2009 the festival was redesigned and launched as the Atlantic City Food and Wine Festival benefiting Susan G. Komen for the Cure Central & South Jersey. Last year’s weekend event drew nearly 20,000 guests. See entire festival schedule here.

Food Network Atlantic City Food and Wine Festival
Where: Harrah’s Resort, Caesars, Showboat, Bally’s, Pier Shops at Caesars, Chelsea Hotel
When: Thurs., July 29- Sunday, Aug. 1
How Much: Events range from $30- $125 (one $1,000 event)

Triple D In A.C.

Diners, Drive-ins and Dives fans in South Jersey get ready to have your world rocked. Guy Fieri will be sticking around the region for a few days following his participation in the Atlantic City Food and Wine Festival. “Just so everybody knows, and I’m going to get in trouble for [telling you] this,” Fieri tells Atlantic City Weekly, “this year, as soon as I get done doing the Food and Wine Fest, the entire Triple D film crew will be in Atlantic City. We will be shooting in A.C. and around the area doing Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives that following week. We are bringing Triple D to A.C.” Adds Fieri, “A.C. is absolutely one of my favorite places to go. Put it in capital letters, double underline it. Granted I get an incredible reception from my friends at Harrah’s and Caesars. It has a small-town charm, but with big-city opportunity. You get huge headliners that come to A.C., you have good food, you have good people, and you’ve got the beach. Come on, you can walk right outside of a casino and go to a beach. When I tell my buddies it’s A.C. time you should see them going into this lottery over who gets to go to the A.C. event. When I hit A.C. there will probably be 15 to 20 people in my group flying in from all around the country.” Fieri, who co-owns the Johnny Garlic’s and Tex Wasabi’s restaurants in California also says he would love to have a restaurant in town — area casino executives are you listening? — and that he and his wife Lori are regulars at the White House Sub Shop when they visit. — LH

Ten Festival Event Picks

Here are the 10 events at the Food and Wine Festival that look the most exciting or are the best bargains for the price. They are, in chronological order:

Guy Fieri’s Cheesesteak Battle

Time: Fri. 7-10pm

Price: $75

Location: Palladium Ballroom, Caesars

Regional chefs will vie to have their sandwich named the best by Fieri.

Pink My Ride Rolling Chair Relay

Time: Sat. 8-11:30am

Price: $100 per team of 3

Location: Dennis Courtyard, Bally’s

It’s free if you want to watch rolling chair teams racing on the Boardwalk to benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure, but please make a donation.

The Grand Market

Time: Sat. Session 1 noon-3pm

Session 2: 4-7pm

Sun. noon-3pm

Price: $45

Location: 6th Floor, Bally’s Tasting Village.

Blues, Brews and BBQ

Time: Sat. noon-3pm

With: Pat & Gina Neely, Robert Cray Band

Price: $75

Location: House of Blues, Showboat

You can’t beat great BBQ from the Neelys and great music from the Robert Cray Band.

Conde Nast Traveler’s Taste the World: Grapes & Global Tapas

Time: Sat. 6-9pm

Price: $125

Location: The Pool, Harrah’s Resort

Signature chefs featured on the “2009 Hot List” including Georges Perrier (Le-Bec Fin, Mia) will serve up food and wines from select countries around the world.

Sweet & Stylish Hosted by Sandra Lee

Time: Sat. 9pm-midnight

Price: $75

Location: Palladium Ballroom, Caesars

Models on the catwalk plus desserts and cocktails prepared by Food Network stars.

Jersey Tomato Brunch With Claire Robinson

Time: Sun. 10:30am-12:30pm

Price: $75

Location: The Continental, The Pier Shops at Caesars

Jersey tomatoes are the best and this event proves it.

Paula’s Boardwalk Party

Time: Sun. noon-3pm

Price: $75

Location: Bally’s Dennis Courtyard

Paula Deen is throwing a party, y’all.

Sommelier Showdown: The Ultimate Blind Tasting

Time: Sun. 2-3pm

Price: $50

Location: 3rd Floor Ballrooms, Harrah’s Resort

Three top sommeliers show off their palate with a head-to-head blind tasting.

Super Suds: Tastes and Trends in Artisan Beer

Time: Sun. 4-5pm

Price: $50

Location: Diamond Lounge, Bally’s

Build your “Beer IQ” with Gary Moterosso. — LH