Tulalip Resort Casino is gearing up for a weekend of revelry to celebrate the fifth anniversary of Taste of Tulalip, its coveted award-winning food and wine aficionado event. We attended this event last year and found its all-under-one-roof convenience, gorgeous food events, and array of wine tastings an excellent draw just south of the border.
Scheduled for November 8 and 9, this year’s line-up of top talent (to be announced within the next month) will include many familiar names as well as a few stars on the rise. Past culinary celeb appearances have included ABC TV’s “The Chew” host Carla Hall, Bravo’s Top Chef Master and author Marcus Samuelsson, wine legend Marc Mondavi, “Thirsty Girl” Leslie Sbrocco and others.
[Leslie Sbrocco, Tommy Thompson, Marcus Samuelsson]
Executive Chef Perry Mascitti and Sommelier Tommy Thompson are putting together a dazzling roster of food, wine, and tradition show-stoppers that have been a year in the planning. Taste 2013 will feature honorary winemaker Bob Betz of Betz Family Winery. Taste of Tulalip tickets have just been released through Ticketmaster, with Friday night Celebration dinner tickets soon to follow.
[Pre-Dinner Reception at Oasis Pool, 2012]
The two-day gathering begins with a Friday night wine and passed hors d’oeuvres reception, followed by the aptly titled Celebration Dinner.
The multi-course repast will focus on Native American-inspired dishes, paired with a global offering of rare top wines. A limited amount of tickets are available at $175; this event is always a sell-out.
On Saturday, All Access pass holders ($295) will enjoy early entrance to the Grand Taste, a VIP seminar featuring a celebrity cooking demo, table talk and Q&A session on the Viking Kitchen Stage, a private Magnum Party where they’ll be treated to a high level wine and indigenous food pairings, and a special bonus this year: two in-depth Reserve Tasting forums.
The weekend’s highlight is the Grand Taste with its lavish food stations and over 100 wines from Washington State, California, and Oregon. There’s also a craft beer area.
[Rock ‘n’ Roll Challenge Tent, 2012]
Priced at $95, the event includes a Rock ‘n’ Roll Cooking Challenge done “Iron Chef” style with celebrity judges and sommelier teams. Special guest Emilio Lopez of El Salvador (a sixth generation specialty coffee producer) will be appearing at the Dillanos Coffee Roasters espresso bar, where guests will be able to sample a special TOT 5th Anniversary Blend.
The weekend’s wine offerings will be available in limited quantities for purchase in the Taste of Tulalip retail wine shop. There will also be book and bottle signings for those looking to personalize their purchases. I’ll add to this post as updates become available.
5th Annual Taste of Tulalip
Dates: November 8 and 9
Venue: Tulalip Resort Casino, Tulalip, Washington
Tickets: Available online via the Taste of Tulalip website and Ticketmaster.com
Award winning Tulalip Resort Casino is the most distinctive gaming, dining, meeting, entertainment and shopping destination in Washington State. The AAA Four Diamond resort’s world class amenities have ensured its place on the Condé Nast Traveler Gold and Traveler Top 100 Resorts lists. Tulalip Resort Casino is also an enterprise of the Tulalip Tribes.