Gourmet On Gore brings palate pleasers to Vail Village this weekend
Daily Correspondent
Special to the Daily |
Summer’s show isn’t over yet, and Labor Day weekend is a great time for foodies to celebrate the fruits of the season. In its 7th year, Gourmet on Gore is coming this weekend to Vail Village. The outdoor culinary and beverage festival will run from Friday through Monday on Vail’s Gore Creek Drive and Bridge Street, showcasing the valley’s premier restaurants and live music, along with wines, spirits and beers from Colorado and around the world.
“Combining delicious food and superb drinks, Gourmet on Gore has become an annual Labor Day tradition in the Vail Valley,” said James Deighan, of Highline Sports and Entertainment, the production company putting on the event. “The main event is the open-air food and wine tasting, which includes live demonstrations from the valley’s top chefs, sommeliers and mixologists.”
Local resident Rachel Nelson attended Gourmet on Gore two years ago, and she said the annual festival is perfect for highlighting this community’s love of culinary creativity.
“It’s a great atmosphere with amazing food and drinks,” Nelson said. “What I love is how all the vendors are so excited to showcase all the new gourmet things they have come up with — everyone seems really passionate (about) what they do and the product they are sharing.”
“Combining delicious food and superb drinks, Gourmet on Gore has become an annual Labor Day tradition in the Vail Valley,” said James Deighan, of Highline Sports and Entertainment, the production company putting on the event. “The main event is the open-air food and wine tasting, which includes live demonstrations from the valley’s top chefs, sommeliers and mixologists.”
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Give your taste buds a tour
The festival offers free admission and a variety of additional pairing events, as well as a Gourmet on Gore Tasting Tour to start the festival on Friday from 6 to 9 p.m.
Tickets for the Tasting Tour are available for purchase at http://www.gourmetongore.com. The event includes stops at some of Vail’s finest restaurants. Each location will include a signature beverage and an appetizers selection. One taste on the tour stop is Sweet Basil, which will serve summer truffle and chicken (nuggets) with a mustard seed truffle aioli.
“Gourmet on Gore is a great event for Vail at a great time of the year,” said Sam Ferraro, dining room manager for Sweet Basil. “It gives our guests yet another reason to enjoy a wonderful weekend here, and it’s a program that Sweet Basil, as well as our sister restaurant, Mountain Standard, are proud to be a part of.”
Other stops along the Friday evening Tasting Tour include: Carrie Fell Gallery, CineBistro, Flame at the Four Seasons Resort of Vail, Icebreaker, Masters Gallery and Perch. Proceeds from the tour benefit Habitat for Humanity of Eagle and Lake Counties.
Saturday and Sunday, stroll through Vail Village as you enjoy culinary mastery, sip libations and enjoy live jazz at the Open-Air Tasting from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Kids will find fun at the Toyota Kid’s Craft Corner from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday and the Kid’s Culinary Corner from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
The food
Jordan Harill, manager at Matsuhisa Vail, said the restaurant will serve tuna poke at the Open-Air Tasting, as well as scallop dry miso with heirloom cauliflower puree.
“We are thrilled to be a part of Gourmet on Gore for our second time,” Harill said. “This is really one of our favorite events of the year.”
Mountain Standard will highlight a pastrami cured pork shoulder Reuben for the festival, and Up The Creek Bar & Grill will serve its short ribs with Gouda mac and cheese, along with the restaurant’s signature smoked elk carpaccio on a crostini.
Up the Creek manager and co-owner Patrick Stadler said the restaurant has participated in Gourmet on Gore every year, and he said the establishment always looks forward to sharing its fare.
Close out the holiday weekend on Monday with the Bridge Street finale event from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Again, it’s free to get in, and then pay as you go for a first or second round of palate pleasers and seasonal drinks.
Participating Gourmet on Gore restaurants and catering companies include: Batter Cupcakes, Big Bear Bistro, Campo de Fiori Vail, CineBistro, Elway’s Vail, Flame Restaurant, Larkburger, Larkspur Restaurant, La Tour Vail, Matsuhisa Vail, Mountain Cupcakes, Mountain Standard, Pepi’s Restaurant, Up the Creek Bar & Grill, Restaurant Kelly Liken Restaurant, Sweet Basil, Swiss Chalet, Vail Marriott Mountain Resort, TASTE 5 Catering and The 10th.
For full event details, visit http://www.gourmetongore.com.
