Taste of DerbyI was so excited to be asked by Stacie Connerty of Divine Lifestyle to represent her at the 142nd Kentucky Derby – a once in a lifetime experience for sure and was definitely on my bucket list.
The weekend started out with The Taste of Derby, A Celebration of Cuisine and the Road to the Kentucky Derby, which took place at the KFC Yum! Center. Over 2,000 horse racing enthusiasts, local celebrities, and foodies attended the event.
A host of top and up-and- coming chefs prepared sumptuous appetizers showcasing their talents. Here are a few highlights from the evening:
Chef Tiffani Faison, her fifth year representing Top Chef at Taste of Derby, was first runner up on the first season of “Top Chef,” fan favorite, “Top Chef All-Stars” and finalist of “Top Chef Duels.” Chef Faison prepared caviar topped Maine Lobster over Salt Baked Dutch Yellow Potatoes. This amazing dish was paired with 14 Hands Chardonnay.
Chef Jeremy Ford, of the Matador Room at the Edition Hotel in Miami, FL, is the 2016 Winner Top Chef Season 13. Chef Ford prepared a mouth watering Hamachi Sashimi with crushed Olives and Lemon Snow. The dish was paired with 14 Hands Riesling.
Chef Michael Gulotta, 2016 Best New Chefs Food & Wine, dazzled the crowd with his Nuoc Mam glazed Manchester Farms Quail with Cucumber, Mint, and White Barbecue Sauce. While it was a little difficult to maneuver eating the quail leg while standing, it was nevertheless delicious. Paired with 14 Hands Hot to Trot White Blend.
The Chef with the most personality for sure is Pastry Chef Johnny Iuzzini of Sugar Fueled Inc. in NY. Chef Iuzzini, was a Judge for ABC’s Great Holiday Baking Show and was a 2014 Nominee for America’s Best New Restaurant, Bon Appétit. He also has two popular cookbooks: Sugar Rush and Dessert Fourplay. Chef Iuzzini, dressed in what appeared to be a fabulous American flag designed Elvis cloak, as he prepared Cordillera Los Andes Chocolate Sorbet with Espresso & Hazelnut. Paired with 14 Hands Muscato.
Chef Sean Thompson of Chops Lobster Bar, Boca Raton, FL, prepared a very flavorful Prime Beef Carpaccio with Smoked Vidalia Onion Aioli – – a very popular dish at the event. Paired with 14 Hands Cabernet Sauvignon.
My most favorite dish of the evening (and believe me with all of the wonderful dishes it was a difficult choice) was prepared by Chef Cory Bahr of Restaurant Cotton, Monroe, LA and 2015. Chef Bahr was the Spokesman for the Louisiana Tourism Culinary campaign and 2014 and 2015 People’s Best New Chef Food & Wine. The Jurgielewicz & Sons Duck Wrap with Bacon, Creole Cream Cheese & LA Honey appetizer was a flavorful combination of sweet and succulent and was perfectly paired with 14 Hands Merlot.
Through the Churchill Downs Incorporated Foundation, a portion of the event’s proceeds benefited Louisville’s Dare to Care Food Bank and the Sullivan University Hospitality Studies Taste of Derby Scholarship Fund.
outdoor seating areas for the pleasure of its guests and is also home to a lovely tasting bar as well as a unique barrel room. 14 Hands new facility also proudly showcases an expanded collection of 14 hands.
Get social with 14 Hands WineryTo learn more about 14 Hands you can visit them on Facebook | Twitter | Youtube so you never miss the latest updates.
14 Hands Winery graciously hosted us as their guest at the 2016 Kentucky Derby. This once in a lifetime experience was absolutely amazing! We are so thankful.
Autumn Murray
Autumn Murray is the Lead Travel Writer for Divine Lifestyle and the Founder of Simply Amazing Living Online Lifestyle Magazine.
Click here for more of her articles: Simply Amazing Living
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What a fantastic opportunity! I LOVE Chef Tiffani! I am a huge foodie, so I would have had a blast at this event!
That sounds like a lot of fun. What a great opportunity that is! I would have had a ton of fun there. I would have loved to meet any chefs.
What a fun event. I am always in awe of all of the fabulous chefs in the world. Wish I could cook half as good as they can!
This would be a great event to go to. I love to dry different foods. You must have been stuffed by the end.
I love that some of the event’s proceeds helped the Louisville’s Dare to Care Food Bank and the Sullivan University Hospitality Studies Taste of Derby Scholarship Fund. Looks like it was a ton of fun.
You are so fortunate to have experienced this, going to the Kentucky Derby is definitely on my bucket list. It’s such a privilege to have the opportunity to work with Stacie who is among the most-admired bloggers I’ve learned so much from.
Thank you Janis. I completely agree – Stacie is wonderful and a wealth of information.
Wow this looks like a great experience! Sounds like a lot of fun!… I love these types of events where you can go taste a few things! Oh how I love me some food!
Wow, what an amazing event with amazing chefs. I would love to go one day!
Sounds like an awesome event. How fun to try all that delicious food and sample all those wines.
What an awesome experience! Attending the Kentucky Derby is totally on my bucket list, and please tell me you wore a fancy hat.
All of the meals the chefs prepared sounded amazing. This event must have been such a blast.
What a great opportunity! I would have loved to meet all of the chefs!
What an awesome opportunity to have – love this!
What an amazing sounding experience and I bet it was wonderful to meet such an great chef! x
How fun! I have a friend who has gone to the Kentucky Derby every year for at least 15 or so years now. I looks like a fun event.
This sounds amazing. The food looks so delicious. I would love to try it all.
My husband remembers going to the races as a young man with his step-dad. He said it was such an exciting time and you never knew what the outcome was going to be. What a great experience.
Wow… what a guest opp! I would have loved to see AND EAT all of those things.
With so many great chefs and great food floating around, I don’t know how you found time to watch the races. You couldn’t have dragged me away from the food!
What a great collection of chefs! I’ve loved your coverage of the Detby. I did not realize there are so many aspects to it.
This looks like it was a fun event with so much good food! I would love to attend something like this.
Fun and food is my favorite combination. I would have to make several loops around to be able to try every dish at least once. The duck wrap does sound incredible.
Looks like a delicious day. I would have a hard time picking a favorite if it were me.
Your write-up is so awesome! What an amazing opportunity to take part in such a great event!
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