Celebrity Chef Emeril Lagasse Kicks Off Eighth Annual Lehigh Valley Food & Wine Festival In Pennsylvania

In a small pan, chef Emeril Lagasse toasted grouper bones that would later provide flavor for a chowder.

As a silent crowd of about 125 people listened, Lagasse explained that building flavors, such as first browning the bones, was a lot like building a house.

"Without layers, you don't have a strong house," he said.

One of the country's most recognizable chefs, Lagasse wowed the nearly sold-out crowd gathered for his cooking demo Friday, which kicked off the eighth annual Lehigh Valley Food & Wine Festival at the Sands Bethlehem Event Center in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

The festival — which showcased cuisine from the region's top restaurants and wine from around the world — ran through Sunday.

Read more on how the James Beard Award-winner wowed the crowd at the festival on The Morning Call.