It’s officially Food & Wine Classic time in Aspen. The tents are up. The planes are landing. The bottles are opening.
The Little Nell is sort of unofficial ground zero for the event, outside the tents of course. Stick around in the lobby, and you will see celebrity chefs and an entire “Who’s Who” of the food and wine world, but what you’ll really see is people enjoying themselves. We have a few tricks up our sleeves this year to make the party even more fun…
Just a few of the Master Somms (all grads of The Little Nell) at the 2012 Food and Wine Classic.
Sommelier Smackdown #sommsmackdown
This new event will pit past and present Little Nell sommeliers against each other as they battle to sell the most wine.
Thursday, catch Richard Betts (Sombra), Bobby Stuckey (Frasca Food & Wine) and Mike Madrigale (Bar Boulud and Boulud Sud).
Friday, it’s Jordon Salcito (Momufuku Restaurants) and Brett Zimmerman (Boulder Wine Merchants) and Vilma Mazaite (laV).
Saturday, don’t miss Shayn Bjornholm (exam director for the Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas), Dustin Wilson (Eleven Madison Park) and Eric Railsback (Caveu Wine Bar and Vallin Wines).
Champagne Cart
Look for The Little Nell champagne cart roaming around the patio and Living Room each night starting at 9 p.m. Featuring seven different cuvees, big bottles will abound.
The Happiest Hour
From 12-1 a.m., it’s half off items from the champagne cart!
Oysters, Caviar, Bubbles and Bitters
If you are lucky enough to have a ticket to this Aspen Soiree in the Terrace Bar on Thursday night, try to behave yourself. From 11 p.m. until the wee hours of the morning, this is a bash thrown by Food & Beverage Director (and Master Sommelier) Sabato Sagaria, and he knows how to party.
Patio Pounders #PatioPounders
From the dictionary: “An immensely quaffable, light and refreshing wine best enjoyed chilled in the company of friends while dining on the patio at element 47. These wines provide immediate gratification and have been known to go down with dangerous ease…”
Various parties
We’re catering various invite-only parties during the weekend with some of our favorite partners, including the Publisher’s Party atop Aspen Mountain (the hottest ticket in town). Gonna be a busy/great weekend!
