Posted on Jun 30, 2019 in
NEWSWORTHY
Returns October 24th-27th –
As the saying goes, “It’s always bigger and better in Texas,” and the 16th annual Sugar Land Wine & Food Affair has taken that motto to heart. Celebrating the region’s rich diversity of food, drink and culture, this year’s event promises new and exciting attractions and is delighted to be moving to the fall. The very popular culinary bacchanal will take place at multiple venues in Sugar Land over four-days – October 24-27, 2019. Taking the spotlight will be mixologists, world-class wine tasting, and top culinary talents from Sugar Land and Houston, Texas and beyond. The event, founded by the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce, benefits a permanent scholarship endowment created at the University of Houston Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management.
With all events taking place in Fort Bend County, the most ethnically diverse county in America, the Sugar Land Wine & Food Affair focuses on the many stories and recipes of the region’s melting pot of Asian, African, Latino, European and Southwestern flavors. This year the event will continue to partner with leading culinary talent that reflects the diversity of the locale and will showcase the area’s reputation for pushing the envelope on regional cuisine influenced by global tastes, ingredients and traditions.
Moving the event from spring to fall allows attendees to take advantage of the season’s cool, crisp days and nights. The opening night’s event, Bartenders Challenge, will take place within Sugar Land Town Square, and that same vibrant urban backdrop will also serve as the location for Sunday’s final event, the family-friendly Bistro Brunch.
A highlight of the four-day event will be Friday night’s Masquerade which promises an evening of pre-Halloween jubilation and merriment. Masked event-goers will stroll the Brazos River Park grounds under the crescent moon. Wine and spirit producers, top chefs and DJs will make the decadent party atmosphere simmer. A perennial favorite, Saturday’s Sip & Stroll is back and will feature a deliciously curated schedule of wine seminars, daytime cocktails and indulgent bites.
This year’s event will also feature a number of 2018 International Wine & Spirit Competition winners. Setting the international benchmark for quality, the International Wine & Spirit Competition has been judging wines and spirits and awarding medals to the world’s best products since 1969. Now in its fiftieth year, and with more than 400 global experts judging the awards for seven months of the year, the competition remains as relevant today as when chemist Anton Massel created the idea of a wine and spirit competition based both on organoleptic judgment and chemical analysis.
To kickoff this year’s Sugar Land Wine & Food Affair festivities, there will be a cocktail reception and a seated fourcourse dinner with wine pairings. The event, hosted by Rebecca Masson of Fluff Bake Bar and Charlie Berg, Sommelier at The Inn at Dos Brisas, will take place on Thursday, June 27th at a private Sugar Land residence. Other chefs participating in the dinner include Ryan Lachaine of Riel, Terry Wong, Robin Wong and Quy Hoang of Blood Bros. BBQ and, lastly, Ming Pu of 502 Bistro & Bar in Louisville, KY. For tickets to the 2019 kickoff event, visit bigtickets.com/e/slwfa/sugar-land-wine–food-affair-2019-kick-off-event/.
