Westchester Magazine’s Wine & Food Festival

Westchester Magazine’s Wine & Food Festival

Westchester Magazine’s Wine & Food Festival returns in June with four great events including Wine Experience with Kevin Zraly, Party on the Pier at Playland and the local favorites Burger and Beer Blast and the Grand Tasting Village both at Kensico Dam Plaza.

This four day festival kicks off on Tuesday, June 7 at Gigante Restaurant in Eastchester, with an evening of wine tasting and seminars from wine expert and author of the Windows on the World Complete Wine Course and Red Wine: A Comprehensive Guide to the 50 Essential Varieties and Styles. Stay after the event for a special dinner offered by Gigante Restaurant & Bar.

On Wednesday, June 8, the action moves over to the Playland boardwalk overlooking the Long Island Sound for the Party on the Pier event. This tasting evening features samples of summer favorites from local restaurants and food trucks plus beer, wine, cocktails and music. Plus Westchester Magazines’ 4th Annual Bartender Shake-Off, featuring Westchester’s top bartenders competing for Best Bartender honors.Two Armonk fave raves, Casa Tequila Cocina and Bar and Fortina will be serving up party bites. As will Greca Mediterranean Kitchen and Bar from White Plains, Tarrytown’s RiverMarket Bar & Kitchen, New Rochell’s Smokehouse Tailgate Grill, Mamaroneck’s Duck Donuts and Penny Lick Ice Cream from Hastings on Hudson.

On Thursday, June 9, 30 local eateries will serve up their signature burger in this competition event for the title of Westchester’s Best Burger at the Kensico Burger and Beer Blast. Including, Captain Lawrence Brewing Company, The Bus at Salinger’s Orchard in North Sale (which is actually a bus) from famed chef Dave DiBari of The Cookery in Dobbs Ferry (pictured left), Pleasantville’s Southern Table, Pelham’s Prime 16, Brewster’s Clocktower Grill, The Rye Roadhouse as seen on The Cooking Channel’s Road Trip with G. Garvin’s Best of New York, and from Manhattan’s Ninth Avenue the famed Piccinini Brothers butcher, supplier of ground beef to the Gramercy Tavern, and many of the restaurants who will be competing at the Burger Blast.

Finally, Westchester Magazine’s signature event, The Grand Tasting Village will be held on Saturday, June 11 at the Kensico Dam Plaza. The Grand Tasting Village offers live Chef demos, and tastings from 4-+ restaurants and more than 2– wines and spirits. For the VIP treatment check out the Party Line Connoisseurs Tent.  This private area features an exclusive lounge with the event’s highest quality wines along with dishes from the area’s top restaurants. Wine expert, author and educator Kevin Zraly will be leading Wine Seminars throughout the day focusing on the vintages being served in the Connoisseurs Tent.

Armonk Greek food fave Meraki Teverna, Fortina and Le Fontane will represent the three towns at the Grand Tasting Village. Which will also feature Benjamin Steakhouse, Ossining’s Peruvian hot spot Aji Limo, Ardsley’s famed Italian L’Inizio, Scarsdale’s (Did you say tacos?) El Barrio, and Irvington’s classic elevated Italian Mima Vinoteca (see feature article on top of page).