What do you get when you mix Alton Brown, Bob Kinkead, the McLean Community Center (MCC) and 4,000 oenophiles?
Give up? It’s the McLean Uncorked International Food & Wine Festival.
On Saturday, October 15, the MCC is hosting its first annual festival of the grape with wines from France, Spain, Argentina, Germany and the United States. This all-day event will have tasting stations, food and wine vendors, seminars, celebrity presentations by the Food Network’s Alton Brown and acclaimed D.C. restaurateur Chef Bob Kinkead, and will culminate with a Wine-and-Dine-Around, featuring gastronomic delights in some of McLean’s favorite eateries.
“The wine and food festival came about over a year and a half ago as the Special Events staff was trying to create something new for tax district residents, especially for the adults,” said MCC Special Events Director Sam A. Roberts, III.
The staff collaborated with local retailers to think of some idea to “kick off with a bang,” said Roberts.”With the help of Chain Bridge Cellars, we focused on international wines to make it unique, as most local festivals feature mostly Virginia wines. We are very thankful to all those who contributed.”
Roberts knew that Brown would be a big draw due to his success as a producer and star of Food Network’s “Good Eats,” “Iron Chef America” and “Feasting on Asphalt.”
Fortuitously, a MCC staff member is friends with Kinkead and asked him to present. A James Beard Award recipient, Kinkead is chef and owner of the popular D.C. restaurant Kinkead’s, An American Brasserie.
The festival begins at 10 AM with food and wine vendors offering tastings throughout the MCC building. During the day, there will be seminars on wine-related subjects such as wine and cheese pairings and great inexpensive wines.
The celebrity presentations of Alton and Kinkead will be held in the Alden Theatre. All seminars and presentations require advance registration and purchase.
The current list of vendors and tasting booths are as follows:
Vendors:
Balduccis
Dogma Dog Bakery and Boutique
Curiosities
Pecan Yummies
Alexandria Glass Artists
Tasting Booths:
Chain Bridge Cellars
Barrel Oak Winery
Jefferson Vineyards
Montdumaine
For those who wish to continue their reveling into the evening, the MCC is offering a Wine-and-Dine-Around. The evening commences at the McLean Project for the Arts Emerson Gallery with a private tour of their latest exhibit “Seth Rosenberg: The Cleveland Years” accompanied by hors d’oeuvres from Balducci’s and champagne.”Following the reception, a trolley will whisk patrons off to a delectable, progressive dinner at three of the area’s popular restaurants:” Evo Bistro, Café Oggi and Assaggi Osteria.
MCC Executive Director George Sachs said, “The Center is excited to be able to offer our residents a new event this year. We are always seeking ways to better serve our residents. We think the festival is a perfect fit for our area and the enthusiastic response we have received thus far has confirmed it.”
What: McLean Uncorked International Food and Wine Festival
When Saturday, October 15, 10 AM – 5 PM
Where: The McLean Community Center, 1234 Ingleside Avenue
Price: $40 per person/$30 tax district residents for Wine Taster’s Wristbands
Wine seminars and presentations are priced separately and advance registration is required.
What: Wine-And-Dine-Around
When: October 15, 5PM – 10PM
Price: $85 per person/$75 tax district residents; advance registration is required
Registrants must be 21 years or older.
More information: http://www.mcleancenter.org/special-events/mcleanuncorked.asp
