Ramiro Rafaël, Director of Catering & Meeting Services, introduced the many exciting components of the upcoming festival unfolding between Thursday, June 3 and Saturday, June 5, 2010, at The Westin Resort, Aruba, including live musical entertainment, art exhibitions, exceptionally elegant cuisine offered by renowned chefs, local and international liquor purveyors and wineries, represented by six different countries.
The festival’s first evening on Thursday, June 3, features a Best Chef Competition.
The special dinner, served at the Pago Pago Restaurant by Aruba’s top chefs, will present signature courses, combined with special wine selections. The chefs featured include Robert Wlodyka & Steven Marra, of the Marriott, working with Gerard Coste & Hector Espinoza, of the Radisson; Erwin Husken, of Screaming Eagle, collaborating with Dennis van Daatselaar, of Marandi, and M.A.J van Dorst, of Tierra del Sol, joining Ludwing Samson of Pam Pam.
An award will be given at the end of the evening to the chefs presenting the “People Choice” dish. Tickets are available at The Westin Aruba Resort concierge desk during the week for $85 per person.
The festival’s second evening on Friday, June 4, features a Wine & Food Tasting & Art Exhibition, for an all-you-care-to-drink-and-eat event hosted by Executive Chef Matt Boland and the students of EPI which will be competing for the best dish judged by the chefs of the previous day event. Aruba’s artist community will present the sixth annual exhibition, curated by Jan van Straaten of the Westin Aruba Art Gallery. Guests are encouraged to sample more than 60 varieties of wine by the glass from the USA, Italy, France, Australia, Chile and Argentina, in collaboration with the island’s liquor purveyors. There will be live entertainment by DJ Metropolis throughout the event.
General admission tickets are sold for $30 per person at the door.
The festival’s final night on Saturday, June 5, will present an elegant gala evening titled, Capturing the Champagne Sparkle. The gala offers guests an exquisite five-course menu created by invited celebrity chef, Nelson Mendez of Venezuela, which will be paired with Moët & Chandon and Dom Pérignon champagnes. Tickets are available at The Westin Aruba Resort concierge desk during the week for $140 per person.
Immediately after the gala, the doors of the ballroom will open to introduce The Sleepwalker Concert, from 11:00 p.m. to 1 a.m. The Sleepwalker Concert features famed local guitarist Ernesto Ferro with legendary American composer, guitarist Johnny Farina, with Durban Laverde former Led Zeppelin guitar player on bass and Aruba’s very own Hildward Croes on keyboard, with Jeremy Bonarriba on percussion.
General admission tickets are sold at the door at $35 per person.
Aruba’s Fine Wine Purveyors who lent their support to the festival are Romar Trading, The Aruba Trading Company, Pepia Est, Arion Wine Company and Playa Liquor.
Pictured here, the press conference with Executive chef Matt Boland, Director of Catering & Meeting Services, Ramiro Rafaël, Director of Sales & Marketing Pat Donovan, Musician Ernesto Ferro, and press members.
