The premier weekend for foodies and wine enthusiasts alike on Boca Grande is drawing close enough to nearly taste it.
The Gasparilla Inn & Club's sixth annual Food and Wine Weekend Jan. 13-15 will feature the expertise of Executive Chef Peter Timmins and friends such as Chef John Folse from John Folse & Co. and Certified Master Chef John Johnstone of Augusta National returning for the event.
"The Food and Wine Weekend is an extraordinary opportunity for people to learn the cooking techniques of world-class chefs and enjoy an unforgettable dining experience," said Timmins, one of just 60 chefs worldwide to earn the coveted title of Certified Master Chef. "Our guests gain new appreciation for the culinary arts and wine making."
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Chef Peter Timmins
The Food and Wine Weekend begins Friday with a welcome reception celebrating delectable cuisine. Dishes will be paired with wines from the world's most famous regions. As guests sample the wines and experience the cuisine, they will have the opportunity to meet Timmins and all participating vintners.
Guests may attend culinary happenings throughout Saturday, including a wine tasting and a cooking demonstration with Folse, a renowned Cajun chef and restaurateur from Louisiana.
The Master Chef's Dinner draws attendees from around the world with each course prepared by a different chef and paired with wine from Pine Ridge Winery in Napa Valley and Archery Summit in Oregon.
Fact Box
To Go
What: The Gasparilla Inn & Club's sixth annual Food and Wine Weekend
When: Jan. 13-15
Where: The Gasparilla Inn & Club
Why: Deluxe accommodations for two, special welcome reception and dinner, culinary demonstrations and wine tastings, two breakfasts, a special turndown amenity, final night reception and the Master Chef's Dinner.
Cost: Rates start at $540 per room per night based on double occupancy.
Contact: For reservations, call (800) 996-1913 or (941) 964-4500 or go to gasparillainn.com.
Timmins, Folse and Johnstone will each prepare a course along with Robert Plesh, executive chef /manager of The Pink Elephant, and Pastry Chef Peter Wimmler from The Gasparilla Inn & Club.
Reservations for the weekend are highly recommended. A specially priced package is available for overnight guests Jan. 13-15, which includes: deluxe accommodations for two, welcome reception and dinner, culinary demonstrations and wine tastings, two breakfasts, final night reception and the Master Chef's Dinner.
Rates start at $540 per room, per night based on double occupancy. A two-night minimum stay is required to attend the Master Chef's Dinner. For reservations, call (800) 996-1913 or (941) 964-4500 or go to gasparillainn.com.
Founded in 1913, The Gasparilla Inn & Club also offers golf on the Pete Dye-designed 18-hole championship course, sport fishing in Gasparilla Island's surrounding waters, a large family pool next to the Gulf and croquet on a U.S. Croquet Association-certified lawn.
A member of Historic Hotels of America and listed on The National Register of Historic Places, the resort owned by the William Farish family offers 137 accommodations in the heart of Boca Grande on Gasparilla Island.
