Memphis’ premier food and wine celebration, The Memphis Food & Wine Festival, pledges to be “bigger and better than ever” when it returns for its fifth event. This year, it will be held at the Radians Amphitheater at Memphis Botanic Garden on Saturday, October 16, 2021.
The Memphis Food & Wine Festival offers patrons a luxurious evening under the stars– interacting face-to-face with leading chefs and vintners from across the nation, tasting food designed to dazzle for this specific event, sampling more than 200 wines, and enjoying the best of Memphis music.
The event will feature dozens of the best vineyards and winemakers from around the world, as well as more than 35 chefs ranging from the local and familiar to the internationally renowned.
Pricing is $200 for a single general admission ticket, $250 for a single table seat, or $2,000 for a table of eight. Tickets are on sale starting today at www.memphisfoodwinefestival.org or at Ticketmaster.com
Confirmed vintners include Cornerstone Cellars, Frederick Wildman Imports, and Heitz Cellar. The culinary side will be anchored by Nicolas Costagliola, executive chef, Restaurant Guy Savoy in Las Vegas. Other notable chef participants (at press time) include: Gerard Bertholon, Cuisine Solutions, a recognized authority on the sous vide technique; Michael Smith of Farina and Extra Virgin in Kansas City and the 1998 James Beard Best Chef Midwest Award Winner; and José Salazar of Salazar, Mita’s, and Goose & Elder (in Cincinnati) who is a Rising Star and James Beard Great Lakes semi-finalist for the past five years. Local favorites include (at press time): Patrick Reilly (Majestic Grille), Ben Smith (Tsunami), and Ryan Trimm (Sweet Grass).
Memphians Wally Joe of Acre Restaurant and Jose Gutierrez of River Oaks, chef co-chairs of the festival, said they have been terrifically encouraged by the enthusiasm their chef friends around the country are bringing to the project.
“These chefs and owners took it on the chin last year,” said Joe,”but we are seeing real excitement to come to Memphis and celebrate our craft.”
Since its inaugural event in 2016, the Memphis Food & Wine Festival has donated more than $325,000 to FedExFamilyHouse at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, a home-away-from-home for families traveling long distances to Le Bonheur for treatment for their child.
“We remain committed to the cause and the community, and we love the relationship we have with FedExFamilyHouse,” stated Memphis Food & Wine Festival Board Chairman Al Larocca. “This year’s festival looks to be bigger and better than ever.”
“Le Bonheur is honored that FedExFamilyHouse continues to be the beneficiary of the Memphis Food and Wine Festival,” said Michael Wiggins, president and CEO of Le Bonheur. “This is a wonderful event that allows our community to celebrate the great chefs that Memphis has to offer while helping families traveling to Memphis for their child’s treatment at Le Bonheur.”
Sponsors (at press time) include: FedEx, Marine Sales Group, Sedgwick, Horseshoe Casino, Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits of Tennessee, Mid South Jets, and Ellichman Vein and Vascular Centers.
About Memphis Food & Wine Festival (www.memphisfoodwinefestival.org) The Memphis Food & Wine Festival is a 501(c)(3) organization founded to showcase Memphis’ culinary talent while raising funds for a selected non-profit, traditionally FedExFamilyHouse.
