WooHoo! It is finally Friday!!! It is going to be a day from hell but atleast i have a lot to look forward to with the Winefest dinner tonight and the grand tasting tomorrow. Here is some details on the Grand tasting! Lucky me!


Whole lotta tasting going on at fest
Saturday's Midwest Winefest Grand Tasting will offer samples of great food and wine.
BY DENISE NEIL
The Wichita Eagle

You shouldn't drink on an empty stomach.

And if you attend this Saturday's Midwest Winefest Grand Tasting, it's unlikely you'd even be tempted.

Twelve of Wichita's favorite restaurants, including Abuelo's, P.F. Chang's, Redrock Canyon Grill and Olive Tree Bistro, will feed the crowds gathered to sample (and sample and sample and sample) at least 300 varieties of wines.

This year's Winefest, a fundraiser for the Guadalupe Health Foundation, is the 11th annual. To date, Winefest has raised almost $1.5 million for the foundation, which serves people who can't afford health insurance.

The event, which includes several sold-out wine dinners tonight, will conclude Saturday with the main event -- the Grand Tasting from 2 to 5 p.m. at Century II's Exhibition Hall.

There, attendees will receive 20 tasting tickets, good for one-ounce pours of wines from all over the world. That's the equivalent of about three glasses of wine.

But the point of the Winefest is education and enjoyment -- not imbibing.

"Its focus is for the public to enjoy good food and experience wine," said Michelle Lefler, festival director. "Our mission has always been to make a variety of wines available to those who may not know a lot about wine so they can get their feet wet."

The grand tasting also will feature live and silent auctions offering everything from a trip to Cabo San Lucas to a private wine dinner at Chester's Chophouse to a yellow labrador puppy.

Food at the Winefest

Following is a list of restaurants and what they will be serving at Saturday's Midwest Winefest Grand Tasting.

Abuelo's, 1413 N. Waterfront Parkway

• Grilled bacon-wrapped shrimp

• Tenderloin medallions

• Chile con queso

• Chips and salsa

Garozzo's, 2121 N. Webb Road

• Mini chicken spiedini

• Mostaccioli Victoria

Hyatt Regency, 400 W. Waterman

• Crisp greens with Maytag blue cheese, peppered bacon, charred plum tomato, spring chives and cilantro lime vinaigrette

• Pulled ostrich filet on sourdough focaccia with caramelized sweet onions, roasted peppers and grated fresh mozzarella

Hilton, 2098 Airport Road

• Chocolate dipped strawberries

• Assorted cheeses

Larkspur, 904 E. Douglas

• Spinach artichoke dip topped with parmesan

• Grilled chicken skewers

Marriott, 9100 Corporate Hills Drive

• Sliced pork tenderloin served over spring greens with balsamic vinaigrette

• Hummus with pita chips

Olive Tree Bistro, 2949 N. Rock Road

• Pita Beurek

P.F. Chang's China Bistro, 1401 N. Waterfront Parkway

• Chicken and lettuce wraps

• Almond and cashew chicken

Romano's Macaroni Grill, 1920 N. Rock Road

• Pasta Milano

• Penne rustica

Redrock Canyon Grill, 1844 N. Rock Road

• Salmon dip

Sweet Basil, 2424 N. Woodlawn

• Fudge brownie with red wine strawberry daiquiri topping

Yia Yia's Eurobistro, , 8115 E. 21st St.

• Duck rillette with apricot glaze and chive

• Salmon rillette with sweet onion and creme fraiche

• Wild mushroom garlic tapenade on crostini