The Ahwahnee Announces 2011 Season Chefs' Holidays Lineup With 29 World-class Chefs From Across America

The Ahwahnee, a full-service, AAA Four-Diamond hotel located in Yosemite National Park, Calif., today announces its 2011 season lineup for the 26th annual Chefs' Holidays event series. Celebrating the range of styles, personalities and trends that characterize the American culinary scene in the beautiful natural setting in Yosemite National Park, Chefs' Holidays brings together 29 prominent American chefs and culinary professionals from Boston to Los Angeles in a wintertime celebration that includes a series of eight sessions from January 9 to February 4, 2011. For each session of Chefs' Holidays guests are invited to take part in a "Meet the Chefs" reception, educational cooking demonstrations and tastings, a behind-the-scenes kitchen tour and a five-course Chefs' Holidays Gala Dinner prepared by the guest chefs and paired with four wines, served by candlelight in The Ahwahnee Dining Room.

"Chefs' Holidays is a much-anticipated event each year at The Ahwahnee," said Chance Jorgensen, general manager of The Ahwahnee. "Guests enjoy the magic and comfort of being surrounded by a breathtaking winter wonderland setting and interacting with the country's best culinary professionals."

"We work hard to bring the best of the best to Chefs' Holidays each year," said Program Director and Chief Concierge Kathy Langley. "Many of our participating chefs are nationally-known for their talent and have been recognized with James Beard Awards. Others you may recognize by their participation in such shows as 'Iron Chef' or 'Top Chef' and others continually 'wow' guests nightly at their restaurants. This is a chance for people to get up close and personal with some of their favorite chefs in the industry."

Since its inception as a small gathering of top chefs and hotel guests in the winter of 1985, Chefs' Holidays has become a premier and much-sought-after destination for epicures and culinary professionals alike.

"I look forward to Chefs' Holidays year after year," said Chef Jesse Ziff Cool of Flea St Caf?, who has been part of the event since 1989. "There's a genuine camaraderie among the guest chefs and the staff in The Ahwahnee kitchen. The positive energy spills over to everyone involved. It's truly rewarding to give participants a behind-the-scenes glimpse of what really happens in the professional culinary world. For all of us it is a magical opportunity and pleasure to step out of our restaurants for a few days and into one of the most beautiful natural wonders in the world. We all feel honored to take part in this extraordinary culinary celebration."


The 2011 lineup is as follows:

Session 1: January 9-11 (Sunday - Tuesday) ~ "Chefs of Pat Kuleto Restaurants"
Moderator: Pamela Wischkaemper, Culinary Consultant
A collaborative dinner featuring one course from each chef:
Host Chef: Percy Whatley-The Ahwahnee
Guest Chef: Mark Franz & Emily Luchetti (pastry)-Farallon, San Francisco, CA
Guest Chef: Parke Ulriche-Waterbar, San Francisco, CA
Guest Chef: Adam Mali*-Nick's Cove, Point Reyes, CA

Session 2: January 13-14 (Wednesday - Thursday)
Moderator: Pamela Wischkaemper, Culinary Consultant
Headliner: Michael Tusk*-Quince, San Francisco, CA
Demonstrator: Colin Ambrose-Estia's Little Kitchen, Sag Harbor, NY
Demonstrator: Jesse Ziff Cool-Flea Street Caf?, Menlo Park, CA

Session 3: January 16-18 (Sunday - Tuesday)
Moderator: Izabela Wojcik, Director of House Programming, James Beard Foundation
Headliner: Michael Cimarusti*-Providence, Los Angeles, CA
Demonstrator: Ariane Duarte-CulinAriane, Montclair, NJ
Demonstrator: Scott Youkilis-Maverick/Hog & Rocks, San Francisco, CA

Session 4: January 19-20 (Wednesday - Friday) ~ "Culinarians from the San Fran