Tastemakers: Epicurean Dinners/ Grand Reception

Sept. 7, 2008

Epicurean Dinners
From its inception, the Epicurean Classic has incorporated “local” into its format. One of the most popular events during the three-day affair is the Friday night “guest chef” dinners at area restaurants. This year, the dinners have been expanded to 10, and pair at least one -- and in some cases two chefs -- with the culinary team at the local restaurant to create a menu based on the guest chefs’ new cookbooks.
In addition to the guest chefs, area restaurants will each host a top wine importer for a special pairing opportunity for the particular menu of the evening.
According to the Epicurean organizers, the Friday night dinners have become one of the fastest-growing events over the weekend.
“It is a great event from all accounts as our area restaurants are showcased and our chefs get a chance to work with other top chefs,” said Mark Dresseler, Epicurean co-founder. “Northern Michigan really has become a ‘foodie community,’ and these dinners really showcase to the locals and visitors alike the quality of our culinary community.”
Speaking of local, the Epicurean again kicks off with a focus on the best of the region with their Thursday night opening reception, Great Lakes Mise en Place. This reception celebrates the “Midwest’s incomparable bounty of fruit, produce, meat and fish with innovative dishes prepared by renowned chefs from around the Great Lakes region and complemented by Michigan’s acclaimed wines, beers, and spirits.”
For additional info on the Friday night Epicurean Dinners or the Thursday Night Opening Reception go to epicureanclassic.com or call 231.933.9688.




Grand Reception
The “Grand Reception” on Saturday night (7 p.m.) to close the Epicurean Classic has taken its place as the “granddaddy” of all culinary events in Northern Michigan. At $85 a person, it is by far the best value anywhere in the country for an event of this nature. In fact unless you are attending an industry trade show, chances are you will not find anything like this event anywhere else in the country.
A couple dozen wine tables featuring prominent wineries and importers including the likes of Terlato, Kobrand, Vin Divino, Penfolds, Chateau Ste. Michelle, Select Fine Wine, Vine Connections, Moet-Hennessy, Trinchero, Wilson-Daniels, Skandis, Peerless Fine Wines, Eagle Eye Imports and Honig, in addition to the best wineries in Northern Michigan make this a must attend event for wine enthusiasts.
Not into wine? then find the craftbrew stations featuring Michigan microbrewers Shorts Brewery, Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales and New Holland Brewery. For the cocktail drinker, look for the cocktail samples, and for the cigar smoker, there will be a separate tent hosted by General Cigar with top of the line cigars from Macanudo, Punch, Cohiba, LaGloria Cubana, Hoyo de Monterrey, Sancho Panza and Don Tomas.
If that is not enough to entice you, the guest chefs will have food stations sprawled throughout, preparing samples from their latest cookbooks.
So how does one make his or her way around an event with close to 500 wines, several beers, cocktails and a couple dozen cigars to choose from? Here is my approach. At each table I ask this question of the expert: My plane is crashing and I have time for one last glass of wine. give me your biggest, boldest red. I then have them pour me an ounce of what they think is the best at their table. I work my way around to each table, posing this question, only changing varietal or beer style at each station.
For additional information on the Grand Reception, Saturday, September 13 or any of the other events at the Epicurean Classic go to epicureanclassic.com or call 231.933.9688.