Mega-Event Alert: Pebble Beach Food & Wine

When we first brought you news of the Pebble Beach Food & Wine event that takes place at the end of March, we didn't really grasp what's about to take place up there Monterey Peninsula. Sort it all out, and it's mind-boggling. No, you won't find Bourdain and the Golden Clog Awards, but even he could appreciate the culinary love-fest on tap. The weekend is chock-full of wine tasting sessions, cooking demos (Jacques Pepin, Mark Miller, Thomas Keller, Gary Danko, Charlie Trotter, Tom Colicchio, Ted Alen, Michel Richard), lunches with the chefs (Susan Spicer, Josiah Citrin, Walter Manzke, Todd English, Hubert Keller, Michael Mina and many more), a walk-around tasting event each afternoon, plus some serious dinners and rare wine auctions. At least one must-do is the opening night reception on Thursday, March 27; if we golfed, we'd try to get there for the Celebrity Chef Golf Tourny that morning because we want to see Colicchio putt. And one thing has changed: Some proceeds will go to charity.

The whole shebang runs March 27-30, most events are priced individually ($100-$500; $165 for the walk-around event), some are only available with packages, and some are already sold out (anything Keller, natch). But tickets and plenty of hotel rooms are still available---we checked. Can't choose? Just shut your eyes and point. You can't go wrong. Order online or call 866.907.3663 for more info.
· Pebble Beach Food & Wine: Like Aspen and AWFF All Rolled Into One [~ELA~]