LONGBOAT KEY, FL, July 27, 2004 - The Colony Beach & Tennis Resort and The Colony Restaurants are pleased to announce that the Fifteenth Annual Stone Crab, Seafood & Wine Festival will take place October 28 – October 31, 2004, said Katie Klauber Moulton, the resort’s President and General Manager.
Noted food and wine authority and writer John Mariani will once again serve as guest moderator for this fine-dining festival. With events featuring Stone Crabs and other fresh Florida seafood, this celebration brings together premier culinary and winemaking professionals each year to mark the start of the Stone Crab season in Florida. “The intimate scale of these events present a rare opportunity for those who attend to meet and socialize with the restaurant and wine industry’s most respected, knowledgeable and creative individuals,” said Moulton.
The list of Stone Crab Festival past participants reads like a “Who’s Who” of the culinary world. Past festival participants have included chefs Jean-Louis Palladin, Bob Kinkead, Vincent Guerithault, David Burke, Michelle Bernstein, Kerry Simon, Larry Forgione and Dickie Brennan. Winemakers from many leading wineries such as Silverado, Swanson, Far Niente, Arrowood, Schramsberg, Clos Pegase, Biondi Santi and Hogue Cellars have been involved.
To celebrate the 15th anniversary of this renowned event, The Colony will welcome an impressive roster of distinguished chefs and vintners from across the nation. Chef Debbie Gold of 40 Sardines in Overland Park, KS, Chef Alice Weingarten of Alice’s Key West in Key West, FL and Chef Pascal Oudin of Pascal’s on Ponce in Coral Gables, FL, will be amongst the culinary participants joined by vintners from Chateau Ste. Michelle, Oakville Ranch Vineyards, Burgess Cellars and Fisher Vineyards.
Guests at The Colony’s Stone Crab Festival enjoy a world-class weekend of culinary demonstrations, wine seminars, and unforgettable dining experiences including a private Welcome Reception on Thursday night and Friday night’s “Festival Tasting on the Beach:” a sand-between-your-toes feast with each chef serving his or her specialty seafood dish, winemakers pouring one or more vintages, live music and a live mermaid swimming in the pool. Saturday evening’s grand finale “Chefs Gala Celebration” is a seven-course meal created by the Guest Chefs in collaboration with The Colony’s Chef
and culinary team.
THE COLONY BEACH & TENNIS RESORT is a relaxed, upscale beachfront destination located on beautiful Longboat Key, Florida. The Colony is recognized by Tennis magazine as the No.1 Tennis Resort in the Nation, “Best for Tennis” in Gourmet magazine’s annual ranking of the world’s top resorts and was named one of “50 American Edens” by Conde Nast Traveler.
The Colony Restaurants have enjoyed more than 30 years of international recognition receiving numerous awards such as the prestigious DiRoNA Award, The Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence, and The American Academy of Hospitality Sciences’ Five Star Diamond Award for outstanding service. They have been named to “America’s Top Restaurants” by Zagat and the “Fine Dining Hall of Fame” by Nation’s Restaurant News and hold a total of eight Golden Spoon Awards from Florida Trend magazine.
For further information on the 15th Annual Stone Crab Seafood & Wine Festival or The Colony Beach & Tennis Resort, please contact Trish Lorino at 941.383.6464 extension 2854. For event reservations, please call 941.383.6464 extension 2187 or visit http://colonybeachresort.com
Chef2Chef News Desk