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    Recapping the Lehigh Valley Food & Wine Festival

    by theelvee_w2oe3m July 5, 2011

    The event unfolded similar to last year’s:  thousands of foodies, wine lovers, and valley elite converging on the Sands to sample bites from the top restaurants in the area.  For me, this year seemed to have either less attendees or it was housed in a bigger tent.  Either way, the crowd dispersion was quite welcome.  They were a little more diligent about punching tickets this year (to the point of being rude, as exhibited by Southern Wine & Spirits consultant Terry Balent).  The food, in general, was about on par with last year.  The wine selection was a bit more diverse, even going as far as to include Port this year. 

    There were a few dishes that really stuck out above the crowd this year.  It should be no surprise that one of those was Bolete, with their chilled split pea soup and ricotta, topped off by a dollop of meyer lemon vinaigrette.  I’m not usually a fan of cold veggie soups but there’s few things that team touches that don’t turn to gold.  Emeril’s Italian Table was slicing up huge pieces of tuna and serving olive oil-poached tuna with cannellini beans.  I think this may have been the stand-out dish for me, with Melt’s cured salmon “pastrami” on cucumber with lemon mascapone and radish sprouts coming in for a close second place.  It was easily the most inventive and tasty thing I’ve had from Melt.

    I was glad to see some new venues this year and some returning ones stepping it up a notch (see: Shula’s Steakhouse actually serving steak this year).  The tickets were the same price ($75) and, I believe, while being one of the most expensive festivals in the area, is also one of the greatest value.  With the circus that was the Sands in the week leading up to the festival with Emeril Lagasse being there, the media day and opening of Emeril’s Italian Table, and special dinners, everything went off pretty well.  The new layout this year with the band on one end and not blisteringly loud was also welcome.  Hats off to the Sands for another great festival and we look forward to covering it again next year.  Check below for photos and a full run-down of food and wine served.

    Octopus hanging out at the Sette Luna setup

    The complimentary wine glass with entry

    Pork and quinoa salad with blood orange vinaigrette in a crispy wonton from Tapas on Main

    Ale-braised boneless beef short ribs with cracked wheat salad and green apple slaw from Savory Grille

    Golden beet soup shooters from Hampton Winds

    Salmon pastrami on cucumber with lemon marscapone and radish sprouts from Melt

    Villa Enterprises cooking up some Italian dishes

    Heirloom tomato and goat cheese salad with vinegar and sweet corn syrup from Tribeca Grille

    Homemade tiramisu from Bravo

    Tuna tartare and olives on rice crackers from Cosmopolitan

    Lox from the Carnegie Deli

    Burgers and More served up a mini slider with aged cheddar, creole mustard, lettuce, tomato, and slaw

    Delicious steak

    The Craig Thatcher band serenaded increasingly stuffed and intoxicated crowds

    Load 'er up

    Burgers and More: Mini slider, aged cheddar, creole mustard, lettuce, tomato, slaw; Mini chicken sliders, muenster, lettuce, tomato, and slaw
    Blue:  Hawaiian Kalua Pork and Cabbage Crostini
    Bolete:  chilled split pea soup with ricotta and meyer lemon vinagirette
    Bravo!: Lobster ravioli alla vodka; house Tiramisu
    Carnegie Deli:  warm sliced Pastrami, rye bread, cole slaw, mustard; Nova Lox on a warn Carnegie potato pancake with sourcream and peppercress
    Cosmopolitan:  Honey bourbon pork BBQ sliders with fresh slaw; tuna tartar with rice crackers and olives
    Edge: Brie, green onion mousse on sourdough baguette; shrimp and bay scallop escabeche
    Emeril’s Chop House:  Dry aged PA NY strip loin, truffle scented roasted onion relish, heirloom tomatoes with mozzarella, 18 yr balsamic, EVOO
    Emeril’s Italian Table:  Olive oil poached tuna with cannellini beans, lemon; Porcini ravioli with arugala, lemon, ricotta salata
    Glasbern: grass-fed pasture-raised beef sliders
    Hampton Winds:  Braised beef crostini; chilled golden beet soup shooters; cookies
    Looper’s:  Lemon rosemary EVOO cake with limoncello glaze & fruit on top
    Melt:  Salmon pastrami on cucumber with lemon marscapone and radish sprouts
    Ocean:  chilled corn soup with a crab salad; watermelon and tomato salad
    Tapas On Main: Pork and quinoa salad with blood orange vinaigrette in a crispy wonton
    Peeps:  Peeps kabobs with chocolate fountain and toppings
    River Grille:  Berry BBQ pork flatiron
    Savory Grile:  Ale braised boneless beef short ribs with cracked wheat salad and green apple slaw
    Sette Luna:  Insalata con pulpo
    Shula’s:  Blackened tenderloin tips
    Sodexo:  ribeye steak salad with crumbled blue cheese, micro greens, bloog orange vinaigrette; honeydew and almond chilled hazpacho soup; fruited custard flambe
    St James Gate:  ale poached chicken and morel mushroom meatloaf, fig and cippolini marmalade, mustard sherry vinaigrette; petite corned beef reuben on marble rye with sauerkraut and swiss cheese
    The Cafe:  various cookies/cakes
    Tribeca Grill:  Heirloom tomato and goat cheese salad with vinegar and sweet corn syrup
    Villa Enterprise:  Penne and gettucine pasta with white vodka or marinara topped with chicken, sausage, or veggies
    Wegmans:  Mini mousse cups
    White Orchid:  Chicken Satay with peanut sauce and red curry

    Argentina:
    Trapiche Malbec “Oak Cask”
    Trapiche Broquel Bonarda
    Trapiche Broquel Torrontes
    Trapiche Brut

    Australia:
    Barossa Valley “E Minor” Shiraz
    Leasingham Bin 61 Shiraz
    Leasingham Magnus Riesling

    California:
    Simi Cabernet Sauvignon
    Simi Chardonnay
    Franciscan Cabernet Sauvignon
    Ravenswood Belloni Vineyard Zinfandel

    Chile:
    Calina Merlot
    Haras De Pirque Carmenere
    Veramonte Primus

    France:
    Hugel Riesling
    Latour Duet
    Chateau D’Esclans Whispering Angel Rose
    Pascal Jolivet Sancerre
    Charles De Fere Jean Louis Brut

    Germany:
    Chateau Ste. Michelle “Ste. M” Riesling
    Dr. Loosen Villa Wolf Gewurtztraminer
    Carl Reh Riesling Spatlese

    Italy:
    Ruffino Chianti Superiore
    Ruffino Lodola Nuova
    Ruffino Prosecco
    Borgo Conventi Sauvignon Blanc
    Ruffino Lumina Pinot Grigio

    New Zealand:
    Brancott Sauvignon Blanc
    Brancott Pinot Noir
    Brancott “B” Sauvignon Blanc

    Spain & Portugal:
    Campo Viejo Brut
    Campo Viejo Reserva Rioja
    Sandeman Founder’s Reserve
    Sandeman 10 Year Tawny

    Washington & Oregon:
    Erath Pinot Noir
    Erath Pinot Gris
    Chateau Ste. Michelle Indian Wells Merlot
    Chateau Ste. Michelle Gewurtztraminer

    PA:
    Chaddsford Spring White
    Chaddsford Sunset Blush
    Chaddsford Pinot Noir
    Blue Mountain Pinot Grigio VI
    Blue Mountain Bri’s Blush
    Blue Mountain Riesling
    Blue Mountain Meritage 2005

    July 5, 2011
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