Food Network Atlantic City Food And Wine Festival

Food Network Atlantic City Food And Wine Festival

Ceasar ready with pan and spatula for the festival

This year my husband and I attended eight events at the Food Network Atlantic City Food And Wine Festival from July 30 – August 2, 2010. My hubby has restaurant cooking experience from living in northern California. I have no formal cooking school or restaurant training but like my hubby, I love to cook, bake, and experiment in the kitchen. We are both home cooks/foodies and Food Network fanatics so we planned many months ahead to attend this festival. We are so glad we did. We had a tremendous time. 

One view of Ceasars Temple Lobby

Friday, July 30, 2010
We checked into our mini-suite at Caesars today and I spotted Guy Fieri twice at the Temple lobby surrounded by his entourage so that was a warm welcome for my eyes. Yum! This evening we attended an invite only Harrah’s Dinner and Cooking Demo With Sunny Anderson from 9:00-11:00PM. We did not know which chef would grace the stage until the moment of reveal. It was a pleasant surprise and I was glad it was Sunny Anderson since I watch her show Cooking For Real on Food Network all the time. We heard the dinner before ours was hosted by Sandra Lee who I love as well. Sunny was so much fun and energetic just like she is on her show. Sunny made an appetizer dish Cod Fish Puppies with a Mango Habanero Sauce. The Harrah's chefs made her dish to serve the enormous crowd in the ballroom. It was delicious and I loved the kick from the spicy salsa.


Cod Fish Puppies with a Mango Habanero Sauce



Sunny Anderson

The ballroom was huge with so many tables and people everywhere. There were various screens all over the room so you could see Sunny make her appetizer no matter how close or how far you were seated from the stage. I read on Sunny's blog there were over 700 people in attendance but I thought there were even more people than that. It was a sight to see. Each table seated twelve people so we chatted with our fellow foodie peeps and enjoyed a fabulous three-course meal. There was also an open bar and I enjoyed a glass of rose to compliment my dinner. The table had a very cool flower vase with garlic, lemons, and tri-color pasta. The appetizer was a huge prawn with salad greens. I am not a huge fan so I gave most of mine to hubby and he said it was delish. The dinner plate featured filet mignon, stuffed fish with crab, and thinly sliced veggies decoratively placed over rice pilaf. The filet mignon was my favorite of the three but overall, it was a well-rounded dish and delicious. Dessert was a decadent concoction of mixed berries and angel food cake, with white chocolate. It was so pretty and yummy. This was a lot of fun and we had an excellent time.

Mixed Berries, Angel Food Cake, White Chocolate

Saturday, July 31, 2010
Our first event was at 12:00-2:00PM, Guy's Big Bite Brunch, at Phillips Seafood, The Pier Shops at Caesars. The line was huge. The brunch was so much fun and the food was delicious. Guy was an incredible host and spoke for some time and took questions. He also brought out his buddy Chef Robert Irvine. What a hottie! Have you seen his muscles? Oh man.

Me, Guy, Allen



Guy, Guy's Big Bite Brunch

While we were on line a woman had everyone sign their name on a post-it so when it came time for them to call on our table to go and meet Guy, our name would be posted on the menu you give Guy to autograph. Guy also had his own professional photographer and we got a really nice picture with him. I was given a business card with the web address to look for our pic and it was online just two days after the brunch. I was impressed. I just said hi to Guy when it was our turn to meet him but hubby had no problem chatting it up with him. I was just drooling and my cheeks were rosy from the drinks. We saw Serena, who was recently eliminated from Next Food Network Star there but didn't get to meet her.

Coffee Banana's Foster French Toast With Formica Brioche

Our waiter was great and very attentive to our section. Cocktails were sponsored by Cazadores Reposado. There were three drinks on the menu: "Mai Tai Oh My," "Blue Claw" Margarita and Raspberry Mimosa and the first two were my favorite. The appetizer was so delicious, Garlic Parmesan Crab With King Crab Topped With A Garlic And Lemon Aioli And Panko, Then Broiled. Our first course was Grilled Polenta With Crawfish Etoufee "Guy" Style. This was my first time eating polenta and I am hooked now. I plan to make polenta cakes soon and will report my results. This dish was superb and very filling. I was already getting full and then our second course was served, Tequila Turkey Fettuccini. This was extremely rich and delicious. Very filling and I could not eat it all.

My jaw dropped when dessert was served, Coffee Banana's Foster French Toast With Formica Brioche. It was huge. I only ate one quarter of it but it was divine. I was so full I could barely walk from those devious drinks and the yummy food. It was an awesome brunch. Everyone received a crab mallet and Phillips seafood seasoning wrapped all pretty with a ribbon. This was well worth the cost $100 per person. I would do this again. We are fans of Phillips from eating here during Atlantic City Restaurant Week earlier in the year. 
 

Sophia with autographed menu



Allen and his autographed menu

We had less than an hour before our next event with Guy Fieri. Woo Hoo!!! 3:00–4:00PM, Chefs On Stage: Guy Fieri, at Circus Maximus Theater, Caesars. The line was enormous and the event SOLD OUT. I was so happy hubby got our tickets months ago. We were in the fourth row and it was an incredible hour. Guy of course blasted onstage to pounding loud music like the culinary rock star chef he is. Guy is so captivating, gorgeous, and funny. Guy's voice was a little cracky and he cooked up two dishes that have never been cooked before in front of a live audience for a new cookbook. The food he made smelled so good.


Guy Fieri

Chef Robert Irvine came out and was eating away at Guy's food and even walked off the stage with an enormous bowl. Robert said it was delicious. It looked so yummy. Robert is so buff and looks really great in person as on his show Dinner: Impossible on the Food Network. This show was pure entertainment and a really fabulous time. 

Robert Irvine

Directly following Guy Fieri was our next event at 5:00 – 6:00PM, Chefs On Stage: Melissa d’Arabian, at Circus Maximus Theater, Caesars. Melissa was a lot of fun and made three dishes: Rosemary Chocolate Chip Shortbread, Caprese Tartlets, and Grilled Chicken. My favorite was the Rosemary Chocolate Chip Shortbread which looks so easy to make and I cannot wait to do this recipe. Melissa said the reason she chose to make grilled chicken was to show everyone how to grill chicken correctly so the chicken breasts are cooked evenly, are super juicy and not dry. Melissa offered many food cooking tips in general and grocery shopping sale tips as well. Melissa came onstage with two dollies her daughters gave her to bring on the road. Melissa takes pics with the dollies at her events for her daughters. The room was less than half full but anyone going on after Guy Fieri is going to take a hit. I wish more people would have seen her because she is wonderful. After the show, Melissa graced the side of the stage to do a meet and greet. We got autographed pics for each of us and got a picture with her. Melissa was a real sweetie and very down to earth.

Melissa D'Arabian

Me, Melissa D'Arabian, Allen

We were really late to the next event hubby got us comped tickets for. It was from 5:00-8:00PM, Wine Down Art Show With Ted Allen, One Atlantic, The Pier Shops at Caesars. We got there around 7:00PM and it was truly winding down in attendance and food and wine by the time we arrived. There were three artists painting, wine and hor d'eouvres. We saw Ted Allen but he was surrounded by a large group of people so we didn't talk to him. This location is beautiful. What a tremendous view of the beach and casinos. On our way there hubby saw Pat and Gina Neely walking in the mall and said hello and Gina Neely thanked him. They are adorable. There weren't that many people at this event when we got there but it may have had more people earlier in the evening. I thought it was from 6:00-9:00PM since that was the time the casino host gave hubby and the local paper also listed this time. We took some pics and left before it was over. It was really nice.


Me at Wine Down Art Show With Ted Allen

Sunday, August 1, 2010
The first event of today is a must do for anyone coming to this fest. It was from 12:00–3:00PM, The Grand Market, at Bally’s, 6th Floor (multiple rooms). This event is huge. When we showed them our tickets we got a cool GoGreen baggie for all the goodies we bought. As you walk in, you are given a wine glass. This event was all about food, beer, wine, and alcohol tastings. We bought a lot of stuff, and tasted some delicious food. I saw Melissa D'Arabian and Michael Proietti, contestant on Next Food Network Star season with Melissa. I got a really nice pic of them both. We had so much fun and got to see everything. This was a blast.
 

Sophia with Chef Robert LaBoy of Morton's Steakhouse
  



Harrah's Chefs cooking Lamb Chops

A view of the Grand Market, Bally's



Melissa D'Arabian, Michael V. Proietti   



We love Crazy Steve's Pickles and Salsa, Grand Market

Next up was Chefs On Stage: Pat And Gina Neely, at 3:00–4:00PM, at Circus Maximus Theater, Caesars. Our seats were great not as close as Guy Fieri but hubby got these comped for us. Pat and Gina Neely were identical to the way they act with each other on their Food Network show, Down Home With The Neely's. They were hysterical. Gina made Hurricane's and they fried catfish I think. I can't remember. They are so adorable together and were so much fun and engaging with the audience. Pat and Gina came out dancing when they were first introduced and put on a spectacular show.

Pat and Gina Neely

Pat and Gina Neely having some fun

I attended this last event solo since I bought my ticket for it the day before because I did not want to miss it. 5:00–6:00PM, Chefs On Stage: Paula Deen, Circus Maximus Theater, Caesars. I adore Paula Deen and watch all her shows on the Food Network. Paula came out a half hour late but stayed way over the time limit until they basically kicked her off by dimming the lights. Paula broke all the rules tonight! You go girl! Paula brought out her hubby Michael which she introduced as her boyfriend. I can't remember the dessert made onstage or the main food dish because I was too excited and forgot to write it down. Paula mainly talked to the audience while Michael and Sheila, [$25,000 winner of the Women of Philadelphia (cream cheese) contest] made the food. The dessert was pre-made though they showed the audience how to make it. Paula even fed audience members. It was so hilarious. Paula is THE SOUTHERN COOKING QUEEN and amazing. I just adore her southern accent. It was a spectacular way to end the festival for me. I was very happy to see Mrs. Deen. Hubby Michael was very funny and told all kinds of stuff about Paula. What a great time. 

Paula Deen and her hubby Michael



Paula Deen feeding an audience dude

I fully recommend attending this event in Atlantic City. It is a foodies paradise and so much fun. There were so many events and we attended eight. Next year, I will do even more and make it in time for the opening kick-off party. I am sorry to have missed Sandra Lee, Alex Guarnaschelli, Claire Robinson, and Anne Burrell. I hope next year they add Aaron McCargo who I really wanted to meet and Robert Irvine. I hope Aarti will also be demoing. Please bring Alton Brown, Morimoto, Bobby Flay, Giada DeLaurentis, Ina Garten, Rachael Ray too... Maybe the festival needs to be longer like an entire week so events don't overlap. We had tough choices to make since some events overlapped which is why we missed some of our favorite chefs.

-Sophia & Allen/Two Frys