As one of the largest domestic violence programs in the country, WAA serves more than 10,000 individuals each year through emergency housing, legal services, hotline counseling, education and advocacy. WAA operates the only comprehensive program in Philadelphia whose sole purpose is to assist victims of domestic violence and their children.

Purple will be the fashionable color of the evening for both participants and patrons, but most importantly, the dishes that the contending chefs will prepare and plate! Expect purple potatoes, purple rice, purple cauliflower, and purple sauces, and of course purple drinks. It will be a fun even and I am excited to be a part of it once again. In past years I have covered it from a Press standpoint, but this year I will actually be judging along with 3 other professional palates: Drew Lazor Food Editor at Citypaper, Colin Flatt of Eater.com, and Chef Marcie Turney who was last years Purple Dish Award Winner!

The event starts tonight at 5:30pm Tickets are available AT THE DOOR so come out and join me! Expect top chef plates, crazy cocktails and live entertainment. NBC’s Bill Henley will Host and Announce the winner of this years PURPLE DISH AWARD by 8pm!

This year’s event has even expanded to include a fashionable aspect, with Jay McCarroll, fashion designer and winner of the inaugural season of Project Runway providing live coverage from the “purple carpet”. Expect Jay to be wearing his new purple shoes as he seeks out the best showcase of purple-wear for the Purple Style Contest.

Lastly, sweets will have their chance to shine as the three talented bakers compete for the Purple Cupcake Award. I’m expecting berry frosting for sure.

I’ll be judging according to taste, presentation and of course the creative use of the color purple! I hope I will see you there….in purple.

CHECK OUT THE HOT LINE UP OF TONIGHT’S TOP CHEFTESTANTS!

Ann Jamavan, Jasmine Rice

Effie Bouikidis, Effie’s Greek Restaurant

Angela Iovino, Michele Iovino and chef Rosalba Morici, Girasole

Francesca Kauffman and chef Franca DiRenzo, Tre Scalini

Victoria Tyson, Victoria’s Kitchen

Susan Schlisman, Devil’s Alley / Smokin’ Betty’s

Ali Waks, AHW Consulting

Chef at Delicatessen

Rachel Klein, Miss Rachel’s Pantry

Brooke Higgins, Sweet Lucy’s Smokehouse

Bridget Foy, Bridget Foys

Meet the cupcake competitors

Kylie Tsai, Cups & Chairs Tea Cafe

Kristen Piano, Social Sweets

Cinda Blake, Lil Miss Cupkakes

Look for the 2010 Award Winning Vintage

An International panel of wine judges ranging from Brazil to Hong Kong, recently met in Santiago, Chile to swirl, sniff and sip the regions best wines. Both white and red, as well as rosé wines, were entered in different categories of the competition known as The 9th Annual Wines of Chile Awards.

Top of the crop?? Syrah. The grape seems to perform extremely well in the country’s Mediterranean climate. This is the third consecutive year that a Syrah varietal wine has taken top honors. The Best in Show distinction award proudly honored the Tamaya Winery located in Limarí Valley for their high performing Winemaker’s Selection 2010 Syrah. Which other types of wines got the judges attention? Riesling was a standout among the white category and Carmenere, Cabernet Sauvignon, and even Carignan were among the noteworthy reds. Overall though, the Syrahs were the standouts! Here is a list of the winning wines (thanks to The Wine Hub) should you choose to seek out a bottle for your collection or consumption:

The Best in Category winners of this year’s Annual Wines of Chile Awards

Sparkling: Miguel Torres Santa Digna Estelado 2010

Sauvignon Blanc: Viña San Pedro Castillo de Molina Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2011, Elquí Valley

Chardonnay: Tamaya Reserva Chardonnay 2010, Limarí Valley

Other Whites (1): Casa Marin Miramar Vineyard Riesling 2009, San Antonio Valley
Other Whites (2): Concha y Toro Terrunyo Riesling 2011, Casablanca Valley

Rosé: Viña Leyda Loica Vineyard Pinot Noir Rosé 2010, San Antonio Valley

Pinot Noir: Undurraga Terroir Hunter Leyda Pinot Noir 2010, San Antonio Valley

Syrah (1): Cono Sur 20 Barrels Limited Edition Syrah 2009, Limarí Valley
Syrah (2): Mayu Reserva Syrah 2009, Elquí Valley
Syrah (3): Tamaya Winemaker’s Selection Syrah 2010, Limarí Valley

Carmenere: Casa Silva Doña Dominga Gran Reserva Andes Vineyard Carmenere 2010, Colchagua Valley

Cabernet Sauvignon: Hacienda Araucano Gran Araucano Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, Colchagua Valley

Red Blend: Tamaya MCS Reserva 2010, Limarí Valley

Other Reds (1): Gillmore Hacedor de Mundos Cabernet Franc 2008, Maule Valley
Other Reds (2): Santa Ema Amplus Carignan 2009, Cachapoal Valley

Late Harveset: Cono Sur Cosecha Noble 2010, Bío Bío Valley

Best in Show: Tamaya Winemaker’s Selection Syrah 2010, Limarí Valley
Best Value White: Viña San Pedro Castillo de Molina Sauvignon Blanc 2011, Elquí Valley
Best Value Red: Porta Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2010, Aconcagua Valley

The Wine Room Cellar. Picture from The Wine Room Web Siteg

wine is probably passable…maybe even decent, but if you really want to get the ‘hands-on’ winemaker feel, using top-notch equipment in a true winemaking environment, then I suggest you check out the one of the Open House/Racking Events at The  Wine Room of Cherry Hill.

Here in a large open “cellar”, you have a chance to work with actual grapes, use professional winemaking equipment, and learn all the steps to create your own personalized wine. You can make a varietal wine, i.e. Sangiovese, the same grape used to make the famous Italian wine Chianti, or you could choose to try your hand at the art of blending and create a big, full-bodied, Cabernet/Merlot/Syrah blend. You’re the winemaker, so you get to decided.

Grapes are brought in from California in September/October, and from Chile in May.  Right now, the 2011 California Winemakers, having already crushed, pressed and barreled their wine, are moving on to the next step: Racking (the removal of sediment from the barrel).

This is also happens to be one of the “Wine Club” winemaking sessions, and you are invited! Racking events lend an opportunity to observe the actual racking process and of course visit (and taste) some wine. The Wine Room staff will be racking barrels continuously during the Open House/Racking Event.  Just pop-in during the listed time slots on any of the three dates listed below and check out whats brewing–er fermenting!

All wine lovers are welcome!  If you like what you see and want to get involved, grab a couple of friends and go in on a Chilean Winemaking Package: the 2012 Chilean Winemaking Season begins early May!

Reservations are not required to attend the end of January events, so stop in to see (and taste) what all the buzz is about! And as is the case for all open houses, an anti pasta table with bread, cheese and such, and of course many wines to sample will be stationed around the cellar! Sounds like a grape party to me!

1/26 Thursday – between 5 & 8pm
1/28 Saturday – between 4 & 7pm
1/29 Sunday – between 3 & 6pm

For more information about attending the Open Houses and/or Racking Events, visit www.TheWineRoom.com or call owners Kathy and Kenton at 856.424.9463 for any questions you may have. Cheers!

The Wine Room of Cherry Hill
1 Esterbrook Lane  Cherry Hill, NJ 08003-4001

Thank you, and as always, please contact us with questions by responding to this email, or calling us at 856.424.9463.

We hope to see you at one of the Open House / Racking Events.

Cheers!

Let me know if you have heard of the series, and give me your thoughts and feedback.

Cuisine Culture

By Maria Valetta

Tis the holiday season; a time for giving, a time for cheer;

a time for celebrations to bring in the New Year.

A dress for your daughter, new shoes for your son,

my goodness the shopping has only begun.

Now what to get Mom? And what to get Dad?

a gift card for dinner would make them glad!

The city is full of great food to explore;

it’s the perfect gift for family and more.

But don’t forget to be good to yourself,

don’t overdo it like a Santa’s elf.

Take an evening to enjoy and indulge,

in the events and festivities the city beholds.

Click HERE to see the list of exciting events happening in and around flavorful Philadelphia!

Marisa McClellan with peaches

“What are you going to do with all of those tomatoes?” I asked as I stepped into Marisa McClellan’s small Center City high-rise apartment. There in the living room sat three stacked boxes full of tomatoes–90 pounds of tomatoes to be exact.

The Canning Queen of Philadelphia is known best for her work/hobby of teaching the process of preserving goods in cans through DIY classes at various locations around the city and her written contributions to well-known online sites such as The Food Network’s blog and Serious Eats. This all arose from a blog she started in 2009 called……READ MORE HERE.

(It’s like watching a Philly Only, Top Chef episode–LIVE!)

The purpose of this high-profile Culinary Arts Event is to raise funds for the annual Philadelphia Live Arts Festival and Philly Fringe.

FEASTIVAL will be held Tonight, Wednesday September 14, 2011 at Pier 9, (121 North Columbus Boulevard). The culinary carnival will commence at 6pm and wrap up around 9pm. Just in time to hit-up Valanni for their Fashion event at 10pm!

At tonight’s Feastival, expect a magical mash-up between edibles and performance extravaganzas. Innovative choreographer, Brian Sanders, will be performing live. You will also be able to watch on the spot, painting “performances” by the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program AND,  check-put an actual circus routine by Montreal’s 7 Fingers (now nationally touring their show Traces) They chose Philadelphia as their premiere kick-off location. You can also catch them in action, showcasing traces of their talent, throughout the Live Arts Festival (running the rest of this week/weekend September 15-18).

Now take these live festival activities and add some culinary flare and what you get is a FEASTIVAL 2011 and this year it’s on! On fire in the kitchen that is!  The “tastemakers” of Philadelphia have collaborated to supply this Fest with plenty of Feasts. It will be a true feast for all of your senses. So get your tickets, and get all decked-out for this night of delicious decadence.

Once again, FEASTIVAL will be co-hosted by three of Philadelphia’s most revered culinary luminaries: Stephen Starr, Michael Solomonov and Audrey Claire Taichman. They put together a phenomenal event last year, but with over 700 expected attendees and more art and culinary culture happening this year, you can expect this encore to be better than before!

Formal honor will be given to Former Governor and Mayor Edward G. Rendell for his pivotal role in stirring-up Philadelphia’s cultural community during his tenure in office, as well as for his significant city and statewide contributions.

Also, special thanks to event co-chairs: our Arts and Cultural Advisor, Martha McGeary Snider, and Real Estate Attorney, Tony Forte, of Saul Ewing LLP. for their efforts in pulling all the strings to make it an annual event. Expect this to be the cultural event of the year.

Now Rendell might not chow down on the featured restaurant’s top dishes tonight with his new diet in place, but you can bet I sure will be! So who will be there representing Philly’s fabulous food scene and feeding us full with fancy flavors? Let’s put it this way; who’s NOT going to be there, is more like it.

But if you really want to know…..

On Monday September 19th, come to Pinot Boutique (227 Market Street, Old City, Philadelphia, PA) for a special evening of wine tasting! Washington State has developed a reputation for outstanding reds and whites, and one of the best vineyard areas is Walla Walla. Take a transportive tasting trip to one of the finest wineries in Washington with a private tour by the winemaker himself–all without leaving Philadelphia!

Get to know Eric Dunham personally, as he presents his wines and gives the insider’s scoop on what makes Walla Walla one of the finest winemaking regions in the country. Sample from among Dunham Cellar’s award winning wines, including a stunning Cabernet Sauvignon, sexy Merlot, bright Riesling and crisp Chardonnay.

From the Dunham Cellars website:

When Eric’s first vintage, a 1995 Cabernet Sauvignon was released, it was deemed one of the finest wines made in Washington by Wine Enthusiast Magazine. Subsequent vintages and varietals have also earned high marks with both wine writers and consumers. Eric shows his artistic side by creating original artworks for all of Dunham Cellars vineyard designated and special bottlings. Come enjoy one of Eric’s special bottles with him at Pinot! SIGN UP HERE!

The Best of Walla Walla Wines – w/ Winemaker Eric

Dunham of Dunham Cellars @6:30pm- $19