Nowfe and others

SIP & SAVOR IN A SUPER SOUTHERN CITY
Three culinary festivals sure to satisfy
every taste bud in summer 2010


As New Orleans continues to celebrate its newfound superstar status as Super Bowl Champions there are three more reasons to visit one of Travel + Leisure’s "America's Favorite Cities" this summer. The 19th annual New Orleans Wine & Food Experience (NOWFE) kicks off summer with its five-day extravaganza May 25–29, 2010. Long sultry days are welcomed with an abundance of fresh Louisiana seafood at the 3rd annual Louisiana Seafood Festival June 11–13, 2010. And the 8th anniversary event of Tales of the Cocktail is sure to raise the spirits of any summer-loving, food and spirit connoisseur July 21–25, 2010.


The New Orleans Wine & Food Experience is nationally recognized as one of the most prestigious festivals of its kind and features over 175 wineries, 1000 wines, dozens of international wine and food experts, and now continually raises over $125,000 annually for local charities. The event is packed with extraordinary wine and food seminars, wine dinners at some of the cities most celebrated restaurants, one-of-a-kind wine tasting events, and two Grand Tastings on the floor of the famed Louisiana Superdome. The popularity of NOWFE has grown so much over the past 19 years that many events sell-out. Event tickets and special hotel packages can now be reserved at www.nowfe.com.

Louisiana leads the nation in production of both hard and soft-shell crabs, more than 90% of the nation’s crawfish come from Louisiana, 70% of the oysters harvested in the US are from Gulf waters, and 69% of the domestic, US shrimp are harvested from Gulf waters. Therefore, the Louisiana Seafood Promotion & Marketing Boardknew there was no better place than New Orleans to enjoy a seafood festival when they created the Louisiana Seafood Festival three years ago. The annual event takes place in the heart of New Orleans and celebrates the abundance of seafood that plays a tremendous part in the heritage and culture of the city. Festival attendees can feast on a variety of Louisiana seafood from alligator to oysters and everything in between. From the traditional Louisiana shrimp po’boy on fresh baked French bread to classic New Orleans favorites like crawfish étouffée. The event will feature local restaurants and local music within the atmosphere of the historic French Quarter. www.louisianaseafoodfestival.com

Tales of the Cocktail, an event produced by the New Orleans Culinary and Cultural Preservation Society, is an internationally acclaimed festival of cocktails, cuisine and culture held annually in New Orleans. The event brings together the best and brightest of the cocktail community—award-winning mixologists, authors, bartenders, chefs and designers—for a five-day celebration of the history and artistry of making drinks. Each year offers a Spirited Dinner® series, demos, tastings, competitions, seminars, book signings, tours and parties all perfectly paired with some of the best cocktails ever made. Special ticket packages are available now for a limited time only at www.TalesoftheCocktail.com.



The New Orleans Wine & Food Experience is a non-profit organization. Over it's 19-year history, the Board of the New Orleans Wine & Food Experience has dispersed over a million dollars in donations to support various local programs and foundations. Proceeds from the 2010 event will benefit the Louisiana Restaurant Association's ProStart School-to-Career Program; The University of New Orleans School of Hotel, Restaurant & Tourism; The John Folse Culinary Institute; Delgado Community College School of Culinary Arts; Cancer Crusaders; Girls First; Animal Rescue of New Orleans; Coach Sean Payton's Play It Forward Foundation; Fore!Kids Foundation and New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts Culinary School. The New Orleans Wine & Food Experience 2010 will be held May 25-29, 2010. For additional press information, including downloadable images, contact Liz Bodet 504.583.5550, egoliwas@bellsouth.net or visit the media center at www.nowfe.com.

The Louisiana Seafood Promotion & Marketing Board was created in 1984 by the state of Louisiana to support their vast historical commercial fisheries industry. The Board is composed of 15 members and each member represents a sector of the industry: harvesters, processors, wholesalers, restaurateurs/retailers, fisheries resource managers, public health officers and marketing specialists. The Board's operating budget is derived from license sales to Louisiana commercial fishermen and seafood wholesalers/retailers as well as state and federal grants. The Board represents over 12,000 fishermen while promoting and marketing $2.6 billion of retail seafood sales annually to the consumer.

The New Orleans Culinary and Cultural Preservation Society is a non-profit organization committed to preserving the unique culture of dining and drinking in New Orleans and the storied bars and restaurants that have contributed to the city's world-wide culinary acclaim. This organization supports members of the hospitality industry through education and the production of events like Tales of the Cocktail and, most recently, Trails of the Cocktail, a scholarship program for emerging talent in the New Orleans cocktail industry.

From Liz Goliwas Bodet