The Big Sur Food & Wine Festival celebrates its sixth year November 6-9, 2014.
Possibly the “longest” food and wine festival in the country, this small but unique festival has recently been recognized by Trip Advisor as “One of the Top Ten Food and Wine Festivals in the U.S.” states founder and president, Toby Rowland Jones. “And longest, we mean in distance…from the Carmel Highlands to almost the county border some 60 miles away at TreeBones Resort, we cover a lot of ground!”
The Big Sur Food and Wine Festival promises an impressive line-up of chefs and wineries for an event that is again committed to donate a portion of its revenue for local Big Sur nonprofits. To date, the Festival has brought international recognition to Big Sur as a culinary destination, and raised over $100,000 for the community in the areas of Health, Safety, Education, and the Arts.
Thursday’s opening night “Gateway to Big Sur”, held at the iconic Hyatt Carmel Highlands, promises delectable preparations from 20+ chefs along with great selections from 40 top-flight wineries. Friday through Sunday events held in the “heart” of Big Sur, include Wine and Swine, Hiking with Stemware™, Magical Mystery Tours, and wine maker dinners at local eateries, and that’s not the half of it! Saturday’s Auction Lunch pairs chefs from Cachagua General Store, Hyatt Carmel Highlands, and Dosa, (to name a few) with wines from Louis Roederer, Gonet-Medeville, Copain, Crocker and Starr, and Chateau Les Justices. This is always a fun-filled event offering exquisite and sometimes rare, auction items. Sunday’s Grand Public Tasting, always an epic close to the festival, will be held at the tree- lined, Pfeiffer State Park under the Big Tent.
“Be sure to check our website for the entire schedule of events, as you will want to enjoy most with your closest friends!” encourages Rowland-Jones.
Joining the committee this year as General Event Coordinator “The Alchemist” Kelli Foy of Foy Events who has helped put together a schedule of events that will compliment everyone’s palette.
Aengus Wagner, Vice President of the Festival, along with Matt Peterson, Wine Coordinator, have been busy inviting select chefs and wineries for this special weekend: “As has been our tradition, we always invite our chef friends and winemakers we know, appreciate and love, and we promise to have another great list this year.” On the culinary roster this year are the likes of Jerry Regester of the Preserve in Carmel Valley, Brian Overhauser of Cuvaison, David Lawrence of 1300 on Fillmore and Dyon Foster of Hahn Estate Winery and the list goes on! Each participating chef will be highlighted on the Festival’s Facebook page. 
Rowland Jones comments on the local and international draw of the Festival: “Big Sur has really become a culinary destination for food and wine aficionados. Last year we sold out in record time. Our guests become our friends and plan their visits to the majestic Big Sur coast to come to play with us again each year. We are always delighted to meet new international guests, who may have never visited California but plan their trip her just to attend the BSF&W Festival.”