Top Chefs Share Cooking Tips & Secrets at Westchester Magazine’s Wine & Food Weekend

Rolling Program of Live Cooking Demos, Top Chef Cook-Off and Chef & Food Critic Face-Off Among Special Programming

A cook-off, a face-off and some of the top dishes in Westchester will be among the highlights at presentations during the Grand Tastings at Westchester Magazine’s Wine & Food Weekend.

Grand Tasting attendees will have the opportunity to see four of Westchester’s most celebrated chefs host live cooking demonstrations, two former Top Chef contestants go head-to-head in a live cook-off, and expert chefs and food critics face-off to discuss food and the restaurant industry in a lively panel discussion.

These events will take place, May 19-20, in the Westchester Room at in White Plains.

During the live cooking demonstrations, some of Westchester’s most talented chefs will share their secrets as they cook their signature dishes in front of a live audience.

This rare opportunity will allow guests to learn cooking tips directly from the chefs, sample freshly cooked dishes and ask their favorite chefs their most burning culinary questions.

The schedule of cooking demonstrations is as follows:

Saturday, May 19, 12:30pm, Peter X. Kelly, X2O Xaviars on the Hudson

Chef Kelly is an experienced, talented and successful entrepreneur who has set the standard for dining in New York State.

All four of Kelly’s acclaimed restaurants, X2O Xaviars on the Hudson, Xaviars at Piermont, Restaurant X and The Freelance Café & Wine Bar have received popular praise and the industry’s most coveted awards.

During his demonstration he will be preparing one of his signature recipes – a lobster crepe with mascarpone and chives.

Saturday, May 19, 1:30pm, Anthony Goncalves, 42 the Restaurant

Chef Goncalves has earned a reputation as one of the country’s most sought-after chefs with his unique culinary creations at his spectacular rooftop restaurant, 42 the Restaurant.

He will be holding an “Introduction to Tapas” demonstration and will show the audience what makes his Bellota tapas bar, located in 42, so unique.

Saturday, May 19, 2:30pm, Chef & Food Critics “Face Off”

Six well-known restaurant chefs and food critics will take part in a thought-provoking panel discussion, focusing on food, the restaurant industry, and the impact a review can have on a restaurant.

Participating panelists include Peter X. Kelly of X2O Xaviars on the Hudson, Bob Lape of WCBS880’s Dining Diary, former New York Times food critic Bryan Miller and Westchester Magazine’s food critic Julia Sexton.

The audience will gain insight into the industry from a critic’s and restaurateur’s perspective and can participate in a 15 minute Q & A after the discussion. Questions can also be tweeted to @WMWineandFood before the event.

Sunday, May 20, 1:00pm, Eric Gabrynowicz & Stephen Paul Mancini, Restaurant North

Chef Gabrynowicz was named a 2011 James Beard Award Foundation semifinalist for “Rising Star Chef of the Year”. North’s Wine Director Stephen Paul Mancini has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Wine & Spirits Magazine among others for his expert picks. 

During their demonstration they will show the audience how to bridge the ingredient between cocktails and food.

Sunday, May 20, 2:00pm, Andy Nusser, Tarry Lodge

Chef Nusser has worked alongside Mario Batali since 1995 and has opened six restaurants in partnership with Batali, Joe Bastianich and Nancy Seltzer.

His recipes have been featured in Food & Wine, New York Magazine and 1080 Recetas de Cocina by Phaidon Press. During his demonstration he will be preparing a delicious Insalata di Frutti di Mare.

Sunday, May 20, 3:00pm, Top Chef Cook-Off

Two former Top Chef contestants, Ty-Lör Boring of Season 9 and Ashley Merriman of Season 7, will go head-to-head in a race against one another and the clock. The two contestants will try to please the palates of a panel of judges with only 30 minutes of cooking time.

The only requirement is that the chefs must incorporate local farm products chosen by voters on Facebook to complete their dishes. The chefs will be bringing the heat and their talent as a live audience eagerly awaits the winner.

“We have an exciting program of chef demos and presentations this year,” said Ralph Martinelli, Publisher of Westchester Magazine. “We’re bringing together the best chefs in Westchester, two amazing Top Chef contestants and some provocative discussion about the industry. It will be a rare opportunity to learn from and interact with experts during the Wine & Food Weekend.”

The chef demonstrations and presentations are free with the purchase of a ticket to the Grand Tasting. Tickets and additional details for the event are available online atwww.westchestermagazine.com/wineweekend.

For more information about Westchester Magazine’s Wine & Food Weekend please call (914) 345-0601, ext. 146, or emailpr@westchestermagazine.com.

Westchester Magazine’s Second Annual Wine & Food Weekend comprises eighteen events in White Plains, primarily at The Ritz-Carlton, Westchester, May 17-20, 2012.

The event will bring together 100 top restaurants and 200 world class wines -- the largest gathering of restaurants and vintages in Westchester’s history – at a Burger, BBQ & Beer Bash, Grand Tastings, a gala dinner, wine seminars, cooking demonstrations and other events.

A portion of ticket sales will be donated to ArtsWestchester and The Westchester Coalition for the Hungry and Homeless.

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