The festivities launch Thursday evening, poolside at Harrah’s Resort. From 8 to 11 pm ($55) you can hang with celebrity chefs, enjoy cooking demos, and sample varied food and drink.
The festival, sponsored by Caesar’s Entertainment in partnership with the Food Network, will benefit the Community Food Bank of New Jersey,
The Grand Market and Italian Village, held in Harrah’s Grand Ballroom, anchors the event. You can graze at more than 100 stations, showcasing food, wines, ales, spirits and professional cooking tools, as well as celebrity demonstrations. Admittance to the four market sessions, Friday 6-10 pm, Saturday 12-4 and 6-10, and Sunday 12-4 is $55 per session.
Throughout the weekend, there will be wine, beer, scotch, whiskey and cigar tastings, including a sampling from New Jersey’s own craft brewers on the Spa Deck, Friday from 10 pm to midnight. ($55). The participating breweries are:
Turtle Stone, Flying Fish, River Horse, Tuckahoe, East Coast Beer, Boaks and New Jersey Beer Co.
Cooking classes (limited to 32 people per class) at Harrah’s own Viking Cooking School will feature Tyler Florence, Buddy Valastro, Diane Hendriks of Good Morning America and Nadia G., host of the Cooking Channel’s Nadia G.’s Bitchin’ Kitchen. ($65-$149) Many of the personalities will also host book signing events.
Now, how do you feel about meatloaf?
I mean the musical, not the munching kind. For a little diversion, you can catch rock star Meat Loaf at the Music Hall at The House of Blues Friday night ($44.50-$69.50). The Music Hall will also put on a rockin’ Sunday morning Gospel Brunch ($60) hosted by southern chef Paula Deen.
Continuing the food-music connection, Twisted Sister front man Dee Snider will host a cheesesteak tasting party ($65) in the Main Lot at Showboat from 8 to 11 pm Friday,
Want a full weekend of feasting? You can purchase packages that include two nights accommodations at Caesars, Bally’s, Harrah’s Resort or Showboat, along with two tickets to various eat-and-greet events throughout the festival of food and fun ($960-$1006).
SUZANNE ZIMMER LOWERY is a food writer, pastry chef and culinary instructor at a number of New Jersey cooking schools. Find out more about her at suzannelowery.com.