Nov 18 & 19, 2022
Exclusive Tour & Taste Pairings
Reserve Your Seat for the Exclusive Tour & Taste Pairing Dinners!
New this year!
Come enjoy an exclusive preview Tour and Taste of the Festival before it opens to the public. Each Tour & Taste will be over 2 hours and feature several one-of-a-kind opportunities to sample beverages, taste delicious food, and cheers to great taste! Chefs, sommeliers, brewers, mixologists, and food and beverage industry leaders, will prepare, present and entertain guests with a unique and special opportunity to educate, discuss, and sample throughout each part of the tour.
*Tickets must be purchased in advance online and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Each Tour & Taste is limited to 20 seats.
SOLD OUT
Available Tours:
Beer City Tour & Taste
Hosted by John “Gonzo” Gonzalez of Behind the Mitten and The Great American Brew Trail
TIME:
5:00 PM Thursday, November 17th, 2022
PRICE:
SOLD OUT
Wahlburgers, the subject of an A&E reality show which wrapped 10 successful seasons just last year, offers a fun, casual music-filled atmosphere where guests, like family, share great food, a few laughs and lots of love. While its interior decor is filled with photos and memories celebrating the Wahlberg brothers’ life journeys from Dorchester neighborhood kids to rising Chef and international superstars, Wahlburgers makes food the real star. Wahlburgers currently has 49 locations throughout North America and Europe.
MENU: Prepared by Chef Paul Wahlberg
Buffalo Chicken Tots
Chili Glazed Tenders
Southwest Salad
Truffle Burger
Each course paired with an on tap beer or cider from Wahlburgers
Additional Features
Taste & Tour sampling of 5 Festival beverages hand picked by John “Gonzo” Gonzalez from Beer City Station
Non-Alcoholic Taste Test Blind Tasting Session presented by Sebastian Roman of West Side Beer Distributing
Sweet Ending Dessert Pairing of Carrot Cake from One.Twenty.Three. Tavern with an IPA hand picked by John “Gonzo” Gonzalez
Festival Goodie Bag
Parking at the DeVos Place garage for the event
Return Admission for one day of the Festival
The Vineyard Tour & Taste
Hosted by Joe Borrello, Wine Sommelier and former President of Taster’s Guild International
TIME:
5:30 PM Thursday, November 17th, 2022
PRICE:
SOLD OUT
Solace, Comfort 365 is Chef Trimell Hawkins’ restaurant, opening in 2023! In this restaurant, Chef’s background in southern and soulfood is elevated by his French culinary school training resulting in flavorful French creole cuisine. That style and the foundation of that allows Chef to use great technique while still staying true to himself and providing comfort in his cooking. Solace will be a service focused and driven restaurant that is sure to provided an elevated tasting experience with some approachable familiarity to it.
PAIRING MENU: Prepared by Chef Trimell Hawkins
Chicken and Waffle Macaron
Vegan Option: Smoked Maple and Sea Salt Macaron
Southern Curried Yam Bisque (V)
Sweet Cornbread Panisse with Remoulade and Chow Chow (V)
Smoked Chicken Cassoulet or
Vegan Option: Wild Mushroom Cassoulet
Beignet with Moscato Poached Pear
Each course paired with wines hand selected by Dennis Moosebrugger
Additional Features
Taste & Tour sampling of 5 hand picked vintages from around the world chose by Joe Borrello
Sparkling “Cheers to Great Taste” with Sparkling Rose Toast
Special Dessert Pairing in the MDRD dining room overlooking the lights of the city
Festival Goodie Bag
Parking at the DeVos Place garage for the event
Return Admission for one day of the Festival
Spirited Tour & Taste
Hosted by “Twins with Taste” Monica Sparks and Jessica Ann Tyson
TIME:
6:00 PM Thursday, November 17th, 2022
PRICE:
SOLD OUT
Solace, Comfort 365 is Chef Trimell Hawkins’ restaurant, opening in 2023! In this restaurant, Chef’s background in southern and soulfood is elevated by his French culinary school training resulting in flavorful French creole cuisine. That style and the foundation of that allows Chef to use great technique while still staying true to himself and providing comfort in his cooking. Solace will be a service focused and driven restaurant that is sure to provided an elevated tasting experience with some approachable familiarity to it.
PAIRING MENU: Prepared by Chef Trimell Hawkins
Chicken and Waffle Macaron
Vegan Option: Smoked Maple and Sea Salt Macaron
Southern Curried Yam Bisque (V)
Sweet Cornbread Panisse with Remoulade and Chow Chow (V)
Smoked Chicken Cassoulet or
Vegan Option: Wild Mushroom Cassoulet
Beignet with Moscato Poached Pear
Each course paired with mocktails created by Nate Blury, Drink GR
Additional Features
Taste & Tour of new specialty and gourmet food products from the Meijer Marketplace
Spirited Salad for Adults presentation with Monica and Jessica Ann, including samples (a spirit, wine, and cider) of the products used in the recipe
A Michigander’s Guide to Bourbon tasting presentation by Nate Blury, Drink GR
Sweet Ending Dessert Pairing featuring Le Macaron and Round Barn Crèmes
Festival Goodie Bag
Parking at the DeVos Place garage for the event
Return Admission for one day of the Festival