The fourth annual Gig Harbor Wine and Food Festival brings the culinary arts to life along the historic downtown waterfront. With help from James Beard award-winning celebrity chefs Tom Douglas and Thierry Rautureau, this year’s festival promises to dazzle the senses and be nothing short of spectacular. Foodies will delight at the offerings, which include samples of the greatest local cuisine and a sensational cook-off challenge.
Summer finds many fresh, local foods in abundance. Recipes and cooking demonstrations are sure to feature some of the best ingredients the season has to offer. Chef Rautureau finds inspiration in all things local and believes in creating dishes that speak to our Pacific Northwest lifestyle. When he was growing up in the Muscadet region of France, ingredients came from the garden. “I love fresh tomatoes. They are essential to a great summer dish,” he says. “You cook with what’s around you.”
Chef Douglas shares the same passion for local ingredients, calling salmon one of his favorite summer foods. “Making a salmon roast and pairing it with a great relish is one of my favorite summer dinners,” he says.
Both chefs support local farms, opting for fresh ingredients that they say taste better and last longer than those well-traveled. Douglas, who owns his own farm, is looking forward to meeting local farmers during his visit to the South Sound.
In addition to offerings from over 20 local restaurants and over 30 wineries, attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of cooking classes throughout the day.
The festival is on July 26 and attendees are encouraged to purchase tickets early before they sell out. Reserve your place at the must-see, and taste, event of the summer.
For additional information: harborwineandfoodfest.com
ANDREA LERUM