Houston Areas First Wine & Food Festival Slated For April 28 - May 2, 2004

The Houston area is a metropolis replete with diverse cultures, a fact reflected in its abundance of restaurants, cafis, bistros and bars. In this area exists an abundance of the countrys greatest cuisine and regional wines, and diners find everything from the eclectic to the exotic. Now an event worthy of the city is taking shape and when it is held, April 28-May 2, 2004, the Fort Bend Wine & Food Affair will lure some of Americas greatest chefs and winemakers for an exquisite culinary convergence.

During the four-day festival  a first for the Houston area  guests will sample wines from renowned vintners, taste creative cuisine from many regions of the U.S. and enjoy a dizzying array of activities seasoned with entertainment and information for the gourmand and neophyte alike. From winemaker dinners in charming Southern mansions to road trips and tours of boutique Texas wineries, visitors will savor memorable experiences for the palate, one after another.

Guests also can enjoy scheduled culinary demonstrations, wine seminars and cookbook signings while sampling the hottest foods and products at a gourmet farmers market. On Friday, April 30th the Grand Tasting will feature premium vintages from over 20 wineries and spectacular samplings from a host of culinary stars. Also during this event, to be held at the Sugar Land Marriott Town Square, there will be celebrity chef book sales and signings and a silent auction offering rare wines, fabulous wine trips and more.

Then on Saturday, May 1st Sienna Plantation in Missouri City will transform into a sensory summit for the Sip & Stroll. Visitors will be tantalized by wine from over 40 wineries and culinary delights from 40 of Texas top restaurants, against the backdrop of Waters Lake where live music and entertainment will enhance the sensory experience. Cowboy chef Grady Spears, who puts his Texas heart and soul into creating authentic recipes, will reveal the secrets of a three of his signature dishes from Fort Worths The Chisholm Club. Monica Pope, celebrated Houston chef and founder of the citys wildly popular Gourmet Farmers Market, will preside over a delectable array of foods and products including artisanal cheeses, sweet confections, homemade relishes, olives oils and sauces.

Also on tap is Food, Wine & Fun with Texas culinary legend Johnny Carrabba and Susan Combs, a fourth-generation Texas rancher sworn into office in 1999 as the states 10th commissioner of agriculture. The Carrabbas restaurant impresario will enthrall guests as they feast on his perfect blend of Sicilian-inspired fare and fine wine.

Other notable events include a primer by famed crystal expert Maximillian Riedel on the importance of proper glassware in the appreciation of wine and a Sterling on Sterling dinner, as Sterling McCall Lexus presents Rob Hunter, Sterling Vineyards director of winemaking in Napa Valley. The Richmond House, a charming Southern mansion built in 1887, is the ideal setting for this tasteful experience.

Chefs and celebrities scheduled to appear during the Food & Wine Affair include:

David Bull, The Driskill Grill, Austin, Texas
One of Food & Wine magazines 2003 Best American Chefs, Bull is a James Beard Foundation Award winner. The Driskill Grill was named Austins top restaurant in 2003 by the Austin American-Statesman.

Mark Cox, Marks American Cuisine, Houston, Texas
With his restaurant named one of Esquire magazines best new restaurants nationwide, Cox received a 2002 International Wine Award of Excellence and is a 2001-2003 DiRoNa (Distinguished Restaurants of North America) recipient.

Eric DiStefano, GERONIMO, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Bon Appetit magazines Hometown Hero, DiStefano has made GERONIMO one of the top eight restaurants of the decade for its substantial contribution to the Southwest.

Gale Gand, Tru, Chicago, Illinois
Host of Food Networks Sweet Dreams, Gand is t