Sugar Land Wine & Food Affair Snags White House Chef

A former White House chef heads the list of award-winning chefs participating in the 12^th Annual Sugar Land Wine & Food Affair. The five-day, fun-filled event kicks off Wednesday, April 8 and runs through Sunday, April 12.

Chef John Moeller will be joined by stellar culinary colleagues, Jeffrey Balfour, Rob Snow, Carlos Crusco, Joe Duarte of Taranta in Boston, Shanna and Brian O'Hea from Maine, Mark De Nittis, Jason Nauert, Kevin Williamson and others.

Sugar Land, a palm tree-lined suburb 20 miles southwest of Houston, is the epicenter for the food and wine event that draws more than 10,000 annually. Food and wine lovers converge on the Town Square from Texas and across the country to indulge in haute cuisine, fine wine, spirits and beer.

Nearly 3,000 bottles of premium wines will be poured, tasted and paired with delicious chef-prepared creations by more than 75 participating celebrity chefs and upscale restaurants. One of the events features more than 100 beers from 25 breweries.

Many Sugar Land Wine & Food Affair attendees see this as a Springtime getaway filled with educational seminars, beer, wine and spirits tastings, an auction featuring spectacular merchandise and a five-course, VIP dinner.

"The Sugar Land Wine & Food Affair has had such a positive impact on the city of Sugar Land since its inception in 2003," said Keri Schmidt, president of the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce and the SLWFA director.

Produced by the FBCC in cooperation with the University of Houston Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management, all proceeds from the event benefit the permanent scholarship endowment for Houston's finest hospitality students. 

All the events will take place at three exciting locations: Sugar Land Town Square, Sugar Land Marriott Town Square, the historic Imperial Sugar Factory, the Char House and the Riverstone Club.

The food and wine affair kicks off at 6 pm Wednesday, April 8, with "La Dolce Vita," a luxurious five-course dinner at the Sugar Land Marriott Town Square.  Luciano Castello, the official ambassador for Castello Banfi and Vinge Regali, will host the exclusive dinner.

Guests will travel vicariously to Italy to indulge on authentic Italian cuisine paired with Banfi wines. Top chefs from Houston's Arcodoro, Coppa Osteria, the Four Season's Quattro, Hotel Sorella's Radio Milano and Hotel Granduca's Ristorante Cavour will do the honors.

New Amsterdam Vodka cocktails will be featured from 6:30 to 9 pm on Thursday, April 9, at the "On the Rocks Bartenders Challenge" at Riverstone Club.  Guests will enjoy specially, hand crafted cocktails prepared by five of Houston's most skilled mixologists.  The bartenders will compete for a grand prize of $1,000 for the best cocktail. The winning cocktail will be served at each event.

On Friday, April 10, the Sugar Land Marriott Town Square will host the "Wine and Whiskey" seminars. Each lively interactive seminar will be hosted by experts representing the world's top brands. Here guest learn why their drink of choice is special.

The "Grand Tasting," a highlight of the annual event, is set for 7 to 9:30 pm Friday evening also at the Sugar Land Town Square Marriott. This exquisite wine tasting and food sampling is held in one of the Marriott's most elegant ballrooms.

While attendees dine on chef-prepared Hors d' oeuvres and sip wine, spirits and beer, the "Grand Auction" takes place all around them. The mega auction benefits the University of Houston's Conrad N. Hilton CHRM previously mentioned.

Friday, April 11, the fun continues from 1 to 4 pm with a "Sip and Stroll" event at the historic Imperial Sugar factory.  Guests will enjoy live music while sipping beverages of their choice, paired with delectable chef creations. Beer lovers of all stripes won't want to miss the extended "Bier Garten" at this indoor and outdoor event. This is where they get to sample beer and ale from 25 different breweries.

The 12^th Annual Sugar Land Wine & Food Affair culminates with an international "Bistro Brunch" from 11 am to 2 pm on Sunday, April 12. The venue is once again Sugar Land Town Square, but this event has a definite international flair. Attendees will enjoy live music, cultural dance performances, food from around the world, wine, spirits and beer.

"The event continues to rise in prestige, attracting renowned chefs from Texas and around the country. It's become a "must-do" in the culinary world-allowing chefs and attendees to see what this city has to offer," Schmidt added.