The Jetport Food & Wine Party has lost something: the jetport. The annual event, which was fast becoming one of the must-go food and wine events for fans of celebrity chefs, was held in previous years at the Kissimmee Airport in and around an airplane hangar converted to a nightclub for the evening. There were luxury cars and private planes on display, and with an airstrip nearby, flyovers by vintage planes and fighter jets.
But this year the event is moving to the Portofino Bay hotel at Universal and will be held around the resorts “harbor.” It’s a big space, but I don’t think there will be any flyovers. So without a jetport it seems silly to keep the name. So welcome to Food & Wine at Portofino. It will be held Saturday, April 14, from 7 to 11 p.m. The food and wine festival is still part of the Celebration Exotic Car Festival.
Something else is different, though. In years past, festival organizers partnered with Bocuse d’Or, the culinary “Olympics” founded by Paul Bocuse and administrated by his son, Jerome, and the staff of Les Chefs de France at Epcot. With their connections the Jetport parties featured such headliners as Thomas Keller and Daniel Boulud as participants.
Those two luminaries won’t be attending the Portofino party. But organizers have lined up several top chefs, including participants of the “Top Chef” television show. Guest chefs include Michael Voltaggio, ink, Los Angeles, winner of season six; Kevin Sbraga, winner season seven; Kenny Gilbert, season seven’s “most popular”; and chefs from Loews, Universal Studios and other local hotels.
Tickets are $125 for regular registration through tomorrow and $150 thereafter. VIP tickets are $200 now and $250 after tomorrow. Click this link to go to the celebrationexoticcars.com website for more information and to purchase tickets.
On Monday, April 2, I will have a drawing for two VIP tickets to Food & Wine at Portofino. So that’s a $500 value. The tickets are provided by CECF Wish Foundation and by their promotional partner, Pearleen Buchala of megaYUMMO.com. The winner will be selected by random drawing from among the recipients of my newsletter. If you are already receiving the newsletter, you’re already entered in this and all other drawings. If you are not yet on the list, you may sign up at this link to Scott’s newsletter.
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