Travel Around the World and Never Leave Home

More than 1,000 wines from around the world meet a stellar array of Washington chefs and culinary companies to transform the Seattle Center Exhibition Hall into a global (yet local) gateway for the palate on Sunday, February 27, 2011. The diversity of the wines and culinary sampling education represented at the third annual Seattle Food and Wine Experience (#SFWE) mirror the city's metropolitan character, commitment to fresh product, opportunity to educate the consumer and its growing international presence.

In addition to sampling a wide range of wines from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, California, Spain, Italy, France, Germany and Canada, the tasting event features 23 of the finest Seattle-area chefs and restaurateurs along 15 culinary and lifestyle companies.

The #SFWE is not only about cultivating international awareness for wine, but about bringing Seattle's culture, culinary products and formidable talent together. In addition to plenty of outstanding local gourmet bites from Seattle’s best chefs, and a dazzling array of worldwide wine to sip, the “Experience” offers guests an assortment of activities and learning opportunities including:

 Taste of Tulalip Lounge – This lounge features all the chefs from the resort cooking their latest Taste of Tulalip creations with individual styles paired with wines personally selected by Sommelier Tommy Thompson.

 Caffe Vita Coffee Lounge Caffe Vita began with a strong desire to bring great espresso to Seattle and that has been the catalyst to their success. Today they operate five cafes and a roasterie and enjoy growing with the community and honing the craft of coffee quality and service.

 Foster Farms Market Did you know that Foster Farms chicken is raised on 32 independent family-owned farms spread across the Pacific Northwest and delivered to the market in 48 hours or less? Visit with Culinary diva Kathy Casey, taste her chicken creations, pick up a copy of her book (the first 400 copies are given away compliments of Foster Farms.)

 What’s Your Beef Profile This exhibit by the Washington Beef Commission will help you determine your “beef personality.” You can blind taste the same cut of beef from three different sources and learn about different cuts and cooking techniques as you taste four chefs preparations.

 Muir Glen Organics These products are all certified organic and bear the USDA Organic seal. Currently educating chefs and customers across the country with their Reserve Tomato variety, Muir Glen will be serving up bruschetta, an Italian favorite, with their organic tomatoes.

 Chef in the Vineyard This lounge features Culinary Director and cookbook author John Sarich serving a delicious recipe (with local American Lamb) taken from his book Chef in the Vineyard. Wines showcased in the lounge feature Antinori - Italy, Erath Winery - Oregon, Chateau Ste. Michelle, Columbia Crest and Snoqualmie - Washington State.

 Beecher's Cheese They team up with Gooseridge Winery to sample locally made artisan cheese and Washington wine together.

 Tom Douglas Rub with Love They will be serving up samples of their rub on fresh American Lamb. Lola Chef Liam Spencer along with Oregon lamb producer Reed Anderson are the Shepard and Chef team for American Lamb representing the Pacific Northwest.

The wide range of wines being poured at the event include 45 California and International Wineries (Spain, Italy, France, Germany, Canada), 35 Washington Wineries, 10 Oregon Wineries, 10 Idaho , Wineries, 23 Chefs/Restaurateurs and 15 culinary, wine and lifestyle exhibitors

Seattle’s food outstanding scene will be represented by Andaluca Restaurant, Arnies, bin on the lake, Blueacre/Steelhead Diner, BOKA Kitchen + Bar, The Capital Grille, Coho Café, Copperleaf Restaurant at Cedarbrook Lodge, Earth & Ocean, Kathy Casey with Foster Farms, The Georgian, Ivar’s Seafood Restaurants, Purple Café and Wine Bar, Ray’s Boathouse, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Salty’s on Alki, John Sarich – Chateau Ste. Michelle, Taste of Tulalip Chefs, Tom Douglas Rub with Love.

Admission to the experience is a total value at $49 per person and includes access to all areas of the event. No one under 21 will be admitted and ID is required. A portion of proceeds from event ticket sales will benefit the Giving Grapes Foundation, a 501c3 organization that provides financial assistance to service industry professionals who have to take time off work due to injury or illness.