Welcome to the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen

The ski lodges of are getting a little more delicious this week as the city gears up to welcome the star-studded (and mouthwatering) Food & Wine Classic. Celebs, chefs, foodies, gourmands (and probably a few ski bums) are heading up into the gorgeous Rockies to mingle with, cook with, learn from, and chow down with some of the best and most sought after chefs, sommeliers, and culinary personalities and we can’t wait to join them!

With two days of seminars, classes, demos, and tastings, every minute in Aspen promises to be a gourmet one. We’ll be covering as much ground as possible (and sampling every dish) during the day, hitting up talks and lectures by some of our faves as well as heading into the Grand Tasting Pavilion to load up our plates. At night, we’ll be checking out events sponsored by our favorite chefs. Though the schedule is packed and our plates are full (yes, already…), here’s a roundup of events we’ve got on our radar.

Keep an eye out on our Out in the World blog and Facebook and Twitter pages for the most up-to-the second delicious coverage. And if you see our editors Marie Elena Martinez (@mariesworlds) or Dan Koday (@dankoday), say hi!

Buen provecho and happy festivaling.                                  

Friday

Next Superstar Value Wine, June 14, 10 am

Mark Oldman goes through the wine bins, explaining how to find the best bottles for the best bang for your buck.

Patrón Presents: Tequila – From Agave Fields to Cocktail Glass, June 14, 2 pm

The ultimate spirits produce, Patrón, walks festival goers through the tequila process, from out in the fields to the distillery and finally into your cocktail class. 

Mountain Spice, June 14, 2:30 pm

We’re kicking up the flavor with Food Network and Utilisima star, Susie Jiminez (you might remember her as “Susie Spice It Up”). Jimenez will be serving up Latin bites with an Indian twist, a preview to her new restaurant, Trenza. She’ll also be serving up apps that showcase the awesome produce of Fire Mountain Fruit. And for VIPs: specialty margaritas with Herradura tequila. 

Argentina’s Top Malbecs, June 14, 3:45 pm

Mark Oldman guides guests through some of Argentina’s best Malbecs and helps them choose their favorites. 

Pairing the World’s Most Difficult Foods, June 14, 3:45

Marnie Old explores the science behind sensory killing foods that destroy wine pairings – and teaches festival goers how to avoid disastrous pairings.  

Rioja, Old and New, June 14, 3:45

A look into Spain’s most iconic wine making region. 

Taste of Peru, June 14, 6:00

Hello pisco! We’re joining the Trade Commission of Peru and super star chef Ricardo Zarate (of Mo-chica, Picca, and Paiche) for Peruvian-inspired bites and plenty of pisco cocktails in this celebration of all things Peru.

Next up, our picks for Saturday and Sunday…

Saturday

Unknown Wines from Spain’s Iconic Regions, June 15, 10 am

Marnie Old takes festival goers off the beaten paths to explore delicious wines from Spain’s lesser known regions. 

Oysters: 10 Ways, June 15, 2 pm

José Andrés demos his “mostly cooked” oyster dishes and makes his case for why oysters are the quintessential American food. 

Pourtastic Pours, June 15, 2 pm

Josh Wesson picks out his perfect pairings for pork. 

Tac au Vin: Best Wines for Tacos, June 15, 3:45

Danny Meyer and Josh Ragan tackle the best wines for tacos from Floyd Cardoz’s tacos from West End Grill. 

Sunday

The Grand Cochon, June 16, 5 pm

We’re stickng to around to watch the final showdown on the Cochon 555 10-city culinary tour. Ten star finalists are competing to serve the best “snout to tail” menu and win the crown (and a four-day mezcal-themed trip). Delicious bites await!