Menu for Grand Gala unveiled; tickets expected to sell out soon
https://medium.com/relentlessawareness/albany-chefs-food-wine-festival-announces-legacy-award-recipients-a79321880d6c
ALBANY, N.Y. (Jan. 11, 2024) — Albany Wine & Dine for the Arts has revealed new details for the 2024 Albany Chefs’ Food & Wine Festival presented by Bank of America. The three-day festival kicks off Thursday, Jan. 25 with the Mayor’s Opening Reception at Albany City Hall, followed by the Friday Grand Tastings & Seminars, sponsored by the National Bank of Coxsackie. Foodies should then plan for the Slider Slam on Friday night, Jan. 26. The festivities will culminate on Saturday, Jan. 27 with the Saturday Grand Tastings & Seminars, followed by the five-course Grand Gala dinner presented by Total Events. Tickets to all events are available on their website, AlbanyWineFest.com in limited quantities.
Festival tickets are available to purchase for individual events. Grand Tastings & Seminars along with Slider Slam events include an option for VIP ticketing featuring specialty cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and the chance to win one of five exciting travel experiences. Individual Event Prices range from $75 for entry to $90 to access the Deep Eddy Vodka VIP Lounge at the Grand Tastings or the Jack Daniels VIP area for Slider Slam!.
The annual five-course Grand Gala dinner will be celebrated with a Cabaret and Cabernet theme present throughout the night’s entertainment and artistic installations. Gala tickets range from $150 for regular seating and $200 for VIP benefits at the event. The menu, including vegetarian options, has been curated by the 2024 Signature Chefs led by executive chef, Jaime Ortiz. The full list of award-winning chefs is below:
- Jaime Ortiz, 677 Prime | Toro Cantina | Sea Smoke Waterfront Grill
- Paul Dim, Scarlet Knife
- Dan Gordon, Nicole’s Restaurant & Catering
- Mark Graham, Hattie’s
- Ian O’Leary, Day Line | Patrick Henry’s
- Ric Orlando, Ric Orlando
- AJ Richards, Farmacy
- Franco Rua, Café Capriccio
- Elliot Vogel, The Delaware
- Courtney Withey, Schenectady County Community College
- David Zuckerman, Mazzone
“It’s an honor to be able to bring such an immersive experience to food and wine lovers in the city of Albany, while also highlighting the tremendous work that our local arts organizations have been putting into the city for years,” said Marcus Q. Pryor, board president of Albany Chefs’ Food & Wine Festival.
Each year, the festival’s board of directors recognizes individuals committed to supporting the arts in the Capital Region with Legacy Awards presented at the Grand Gala.
This year’s Honorable Gerald D. Jennings Backstage Award for supporting the missions of local arts organizations will go to Yvonne Perry for her vast contributions to the theater community. Perry earned a Daytime Emmy award as Outstanding Female Newcomer for originating the role of “Rosanna” on As The World Turns. Yvonne serves as Chair of the Greater Albany Area Liaison for Actors’ Equity, is an Artistic Associate at Capital Repertory Theatre, and teaches and directs at several upstate colleges. Last year, the award was presented to former WNYT NBC-13 anchor Benita Zahn.
The Spirit of the Industry Award is presented to a person who demonstrates professionalism in the restaurant industry and a commitment to the community. This year’s award will be presented to Tess Collins, a longtime civic leader who grew up around the food industry at her father’s diner, then at Lark Street’s venerable Beverwyck, Justin’s, and Lark Tavern restaurants and she remains the grande dame of downtown at McGeary’s Irish Pub. Last year, this award was presented to Matt Baumgartner, the owner of June Farms and several area restaurants.
The Karen Smith-Sfara Ovation Award, created to honor the memory of founding member Karen Smith-Sfara and given to an individual who has made significant contributions to the arts in Albany, will be posthumously awarded to the late Matthew T. Peter, Albany County Legislator, executive director of the Albany Parking Authority, and former chief of staff for the City of Albany. Peter, a prominent community figure in Albany who passed away last month, is being acknowledged for his continued dedication to uplifting the arts community in Albany, including championing Capital Walls in collaboration with Albany Center Gallery and board service with Playhouse Stage and Feed Albany. Last year, restauranteurs Annette Nanes and Scott Meyer received this award.
“I am so excited to once again attend the Albany Chefs’ Food & Wine Festival Wine and Dine for the Arts, complete with all the signature events that patrons have come to know and love such as the reception and kickoff event that I host, seminars, the Slider Slam! and the Grand Gala Dinner,” said Albany Mayor Kathy M. Sheehan. “This event and the mission to provide sustainable funding for the nonprofit arts community in Albany are very important to me and I am looking forward to celebrating throughout the event.”
Albany Chefs’ Food & Wine Festival has provided nearly $1.5 million in sustainable funding for the support and preservation of the not-for-profit arts community in Albany. The theme for the 2024 three-day festival is Cabaret and Cabernet.
The festival, presented by Bank of America, was established in 2010 by Albany restaurateurs and others in the hospitality region to raise funds for arts organizations that lost money after the Albany City Arts Grants ended for budget regions. The ACFWF’s board selected a total of seven beneficiaries in two award levels, Premier and Spotlight. The 2024 arts beneficiaries include The Black Theatre Troupe of Upstate New York, Capitaland Chorus, Palace Performing Arts, TheREP, Albany Barn, Playhouse Stage Co., and New York Folklore. All net proceeds from the festival will be awarded to the selected beneficiaries.
For more information about the festival and to purchase future tickets, visit albanywinefest.com.
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About Albany Wine and Dine for the Arts: Their mission is to provide sustainable funding for the support and preservation of the not-for-profit arts community in Albany, N.Y., through an annual three-day food and wine themed festival that markets restaurants, chefs, and their innovative cuisine, educates consumers on healthy, sustainable agriculture, and donates the net income directly to deserving nonprofit arts organizations. albanywinefest.com