Connecticut’s largest food and wine show is the annual Sun Winefest. The 2010 edition was held January 30th and 31st in Mohegan Sun’s convention center.
To get there, my wife and I parked and ambled through the Casino of the Sky. On our way, we passed the geyser-like Dale Chihuly glass sculpture and the tumbling waterfall that frames Todd English’s Tuscany.
The corridor outside the Uncas Ballroom bustled with activity throughout the day.
People were constantly coming and going.
Signs of festivity were everywhere,
including rows upon rows of wine glasses for Sun Winefest attendees.
Several other news media were represented in the corridor, including Hartford Magazine,
CPTV/WNPR and narrowly focused WineTwits.
The Manhattan Club, which bills itself as New York’s first and only timeshare resort, was also present.
There were also a number of food and drink purveyors, including Vermont Cabot cheese,
Brioni’s Ultra Premium Coffee,
these blue-haired gals from Liquid Ice,
and a long line for Hotel California Tequila,
where I bumped into ubiquitous chef Billy Grant flanked by Ryan and Kelleanne Jones, the owners of The Mill at 2t, one of Connecticut’s most exciting new restaurants located in the Tariffville section of Simsbury.
Ann and I were among the press and trade group admitted an hour ahead of the general public, which gave me an opportunity to scope the scene out thoroughly before the inevitable crush of eager visitors descended upon the Uncas Ballroom. First, we headed to the RestaurantsCT.com booth, where we said hello to the rest of the gang. In the center are co-owners Bob DeZinno and Isabel Tartaglia, both serious restaurant veterans, while flanking them left and right are Sharon Sudusky and Nancy Stokes, two of the nicest ladies one could ever ask to meet.
And here are my colleagues schmoozing and assisting the public.
I wandered around the ballroom while participants were still setting up.
The stage was empty,
the bookstore deserted,
the book signing schedule a mere glimpse into the future.
And yet, by a quarter past twelve, all of the seats were occupied or marked
in anticipation of Betty Fraser of the Hollywood, California restaurant Grub (center of photo).
And by the time Bobby Flay appeared on stage, there was almost as many people standing as sitting, forcing me to hold my camera high above my head to get this photo.
Of course, my primary area of interest was the food booths, which I visited both before and after the general public was admitted. I was pleased to see Toshi Japanese Restaurant of Avon represented, because I consider it one of the top sushi joints in Connecticut. Nothing my wife and I tasted changed that opinion.
I found good buddies Noel Jones of Polytechnic ON20 in Hartford and Billy Grant of Bricco and Grants in West Hartford hanging out together.
At the Grants booth, guests got to experience this delicious meat
in this satisfying sandwich,
while at the Polytechnic ON20 booth,
they got to enjoy this fanciful creation.
Naturally, Mohegan Sun restaurants were well-represented at this event hosted by the casino. Jasper White’s Summer Shack had a great raw bar going.
I assume Jasper White’s was also responsible for this lobster wandering around.
Sol Toro Tequila Grill featured these treats,
and Michael Jordan’s Steakhouse featured these.
I believe even these luscious lava cakes were produced by the casino.
West Hartford, one of Connecticut’s top food destinations, was well-represented, too. You already saw Grants’ food—now let’s see the food served by Fleming’s Steakhouse.
This meat could hardly have been tastier.
Newcomer Cuvée (a food, wine and Champagne room)
was stirring up a storm
of good food,
these lobster rolls being especially popular.
Other restaurants represented included Vivo Seasonal Trattoria located in the Hartford Marriott,
Bosc Kitchen & Wine Bar in Avon,
La Vita Gustosa in East Haddam,
and even 84 High Street Café in Westerly, Rhode Island.
Other food purveyors included Elements Fine Catering & Events of Middlebury,
a couple of cheese sellers,
an orchard,
an olive oil seller,
and perhaps most tempting, a chocolatier.
My wife, who grew up in the tropics and happens to know a whole lot about making chocolate, had plenty of questions.
Sun Winefest visitors tried out all of the foods and wines with gusto. They perched anywhere they could.
The event was an unparalleled opportunity for food, wine and other purveyors to reach out to the public,
an opportunity not lost on professionals like Carlos Mouta of Iberia Wines.
Most of all, the Sun Winefest was just a great deal of fun.
It was an excuse to dress up, and there were glamorous gals aplenty.
The Sun Winefest was also an opportunity to make new friends. Here’s my wife, Ann, with Marikit, a Filipina who also hails from the northern coast of Mindanao.
And here’s Ann with my boss, Bob DeZinno.
