Chefs from around the country, including several Bay Area notables, are gathering this winter in Yosemite National Park for the 27th annual CHEFS’ HOLIDAYS AT THE AHWAHNEE, a series of eight culinary retreats between January 6th and 31st at the Ahwahnee Hotel. Each session includes a “Meet the Chef” reception, educational cooking demonstrations and tastings, a behind-the-scenes kitchen tour, and a five-course gala dinner in the Ahwahnee Dining Room. The gala dinner, prepared by the chefs, also includes wine pairings. If you haven’t visited Yosemite in awhile, here’s a great excuse to get up there and enjoy the park (and the lovely grounds of the Ahwahnee).
The eight sessions will include Bay Area locals like Mark Sullivan of Spruce, Matt McNamara of Sons & Daughters, Annie Somerville of Greens, and Peggy Smith and Sue Conley of Cowgirl Creamery. Other chef participants include Joey Campanaro of the Little Owl in New York, Nyesha Arrington of the Wilshire in Los Angeles, and Jonathan Waxman of Barbuto in New York. Here’s the schedule:
Session 1: January 6th-8th Moderator: Janice Wald Henderson, food and travel journalist Participating chefs: Douglas Keane (Cyrus, Healdsburg), Victor Scargle (Lucy, Yountville), Peter Armellino (Plumed Horse, Saratoga)
Session 2: January 9th-10th Moderator: Janice Wald Henderson, food and travel journalist Participating chefs: Mark Sullivan (Spruce), Annie Somerville (Greens), Ben “Wyatt” Dufresne (Plumpjack, Squaw Valley)
Session 3: January 13th-15th Moderator: Connie Barney, culinary tour guide Participating chefs: Joey Elenterio (Chez TJ, Mountain View), Jesse Cool (Flea Street Café, Menlo Park), Brian Streeter (Cakebread Cellars, Napa Valley)
Session 4: January 16th-17th Moderator: Connie Barney, culinary tour guide Participating chefs: Mark Estee (Campo, Reno), Peggy Smith and Sue Conley (Cowgirl Creamery), Adam Mali (Brasserie S&P)
Session 5: January 20th-22nd Moderator: Carolyn Jung, food and wine journalist Participating chefs: Matt McNamara (Sons & Daughters), Daniel Holzman (The Meatball Shop, New York), David Lentz (The Hungry Cat, Santa Barbara)
Session 6: January 23rd-24th Moderator: Carolyn Jung, food and wine journalist Participating chefs: Suzanne Goin (Lucques, Los Angeles), Waylynn Lucas (Fonuts, Los Angeles), Nyesha Arrington (Wilshire, Los Angeles)
Session 7: January 27th-29th Moderator: Andrew Friedman, author Participating chefs: David Bazirgan (Fifth Floor), Kim Alter (Haven, Oakland), Laurence Jossel (Nopa, Nopalito)
Session 8: January 30th-31st Moderator: Andrew Friedman, author Participating chefs: Jonathan Waxman (Barbuto, New York), Jimmy Bradley (The Red Cat & The Harrison, New York), Joey Campanaro (The Little Owl, New York)
Two- and three-night packages are available at the Ahwahnee—check here for details. Reservations for the chefs’ events only can also be purchased independently here. Dinner-only tickets are $199 per person, and packages begin at $332 per person.
The Ahwahnee’s pastry chef Paul Padua. Photo from Facebook.
Event Info
Sunday Jan 6, 2013 – Thursday Jan 31, 2013 Dinner-only tickets are $199, hotel packages start at $332 Info The Ahwahnee Hotel 1 Ahwahnee Dr. at Village Dr., Yosemite National Park
