SUMMIT, NJ - Hundreds of business leaders, public officials, and citizens from throughout New Jersey and the country packed the Grand Summit Hotel ballroom last night for the opening reception marking the beginning of the Summit Wine & Food Festival. Chief organizer of the event, Ivan Ruiz, owner of the Wine List of Summit, was on hand greeting guests who entered the ballroom filled with dozens of tables features some of the world’s finest chefs and sommeliers. A portion of the proceeds from the Festival will be donated to local area charities and non-profits.
Attendees enjoyed small plates at each of the chef’s tables, and sampled wines from all over the world. From crab chowder with jumbo shrimp at the table of Jaime Laird of Serenade in Chatham to a crab sushi-style roll accompanied by a shot of gazpacho from the chefs from the Drake Hotel, attendees enjoyed foods to delight the palate, accompanied by a selection of top wines.
Marshall Weinerman, owner of the Grand Summit Hotel, and Mark Giangiulio, General Manager, were pleased with the Festival and the large turnout. Giangiulio said, "This is a great thing for the community and promotes food and wine in Summit."
Internationally recognized celebrity chefs David Burke and Ingrid Hoffman mingled with attendees. Mr. Burke and Ms. Hoffman will be holding cooking demonstrations today as part of the Festival’s activities.
Top national chefs were also on hand to delight guests with their food creations. Paula DaSilva, runner-up from season 5 of Hell’s Kitchen, is now the Chef de Cuisine at 3030 Ocean in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She said, "I’m excited to be here. It’s my first time in the area. There are a lot of great chefs here." As for her former boss on Hell’s Kitchen, famed chef Gordon Ramsey, she said he is "a pretty decent guy."
Chef Jaime Laird of Serenade in Chatham said that the Festival "has a great caliber of chefs and winemakers. The guests will have the event of their life [tonight]. I hope they raise a lot of money for charity."
Dr. Maricel Presilla of Zafra in Hoboken said, "This is a great event. It is also in New Jersey and we’re here tonight helping New Jersey create a festival with world renowned chefs right here in New Jersey. This event is also a tribute to the good work of Ivan [Ruiz] who’s a good friend. This is like a class reunion!" She added, "this Festival shows people that you don’t need to cross the river every time you want to experience something fantastic."
"I love coming to New Jersey. I like to see how everyone here has a great awareness of food and wine. It’s a pleasure to be here," commented Aaron Sanchez of Centrico restaurant in New York City.
Michael Weisshaupt, Executive Chef at Restaurant Latour at the Crystal Springs Resort in Hamburg, New Jersey, said he was proud to be part of the event and excited to be participating. His feelings were echoed by Guillermo Pernot, Concept Chef at Cuba Libre. He said, "this is a good opportunity to make new friends and see old friends. And it’s all for a great cause."
The wineries and sommeliers present were similarly effusive about the Festival. Jorge Liloy, Brand & Supplier Relations Manager for Winebow Emerald Wines said that the Festival was a reunion for him, as well, but in a slightly different way. He actually had his first job working at the Grand Summit Hotel and was enjoying seeing people he worked with twenty-five years ago.
David Servello, Artisan Wines Importer and Distributor for David Vincent selection told The Alternative Press, "This is the right event for our company. There is great food - - quality food, quality wine, not just average wine tastings. This Festival is geared to food and wine and pairing them together and you don’t see that often."
Fosco Amoroso and Frederico Dall’Olma of Tricana Imports said, "This is a great event and it’s the first one. Many years from now, we’ll be able to say we were there at the first one. There are a lot of great chefs and sommeliers here serving excellent food and wines."
Festival attendees were raving about the food and wine. Said Ellen Schwartz of the Summit Medical Group, "this is a new experience for me. I hadn’t heard the expression ‘foodie’ until a month ago. This Festival is the pinnacle of culinary excellence and adventurous wines."
Giangiulio of the Summit Hotel concluded, "This Festival will encourage more businesses and people to come to Summit. It shows people what Summit has to offer."
The Summit Wine and Food Festival continues through Sunday. For more information and last minute tickets, please click here.