Over 70 events spotlight the local food and beverage culture

A diverse lineup of food and beverage tastings, fine dining lunches and dinners, cooking demonstrations, farm tours, and activities begins today during Traverse City Food & Wine. The five-day celebration includes over 70 events culminating with The Grand Tasting on Saturday at the Traverse City Open Space.

 

Tickets are still available for many of the activities, but over half of the events have sold out. Up-to-date ticket information is available at Traverse City Food and Wine.  

 

“The event is a well-deserved celebration of our region's amazing food and beverage culture,” said Whitney Waara, Chief Operating Officer of Traverse City Tourism. “We’ve attracted an incredible pool of celebrity chefs and experts who are excited to showcase the agricultural bounty and local products of Traverse City and Michigan.”

 

Some of the first-day events include wine cellar tours, a vanilla distilling class, a whiskey blending class, along with food and wine cruises on Grand Traverse Bay. Traverse City Food & Wine includes demonstrations by celebrity chefs, like Food Network star Tyler Florence, who, before his television career, worked in the kitchen at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa.

 

Tickets for The Grand Tasting are still available. The Main Stage at the event will be hosted by movie and TV personalities Amy Smart and Carter Oosterhouse; the stage will include lively discussions with celebrity chefs and cooking demonstrations. Throughout the Grand Tasting, numerous restaurants will feature small bites and guests can sample over 100 local wines, ciders, beer and non-alcoholic options.

 

A few of the other available events include a luncheon featuring Ji Hye Kim (Gee-High-Kim) of Miss Kim's in Ann Arbor, a tour and tasting at the Light of Day Organics tea farm, two National Writers Series discussions with chefs, and the Grand Finale dinner featuring Top Chef winner Mei Lin (May Lin). 

 

Traverse City Food & Wine is organized by Traverse City Tourism. It is presented by 4Front Credit Union.