Chef Berkeley Dodge of Bosk, a local restaurant that recently received a Michelin star, talks with patrons at the Grand Tasting of the 41st Food & Wine Classic, Saturday, June 15, 2024, in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
Often referred to as the unofficial kickoff of summer, the Aspen Food & Wine Classic has been bringing the world's finest wines and cuisine to the Roaring Fork Valley for 41 years, and this year it featured more local vendors than ever before, along with world-renowned chefs, sommeliers and food vendors.
The Local Food Showcase program, which features local restaurants, chefs and other vendors, has grown significantly in popularity and attendance over the past 15 years, from just two tables in the Grand Tasting Tent to 10 tables featuring local vendors from within the valley and beyond.
“Over the last 15 years or so, our local restaurant program has really grown, now extending as far as Denver,” Food & Wine special projects producer Devin Padgett said in an email. “We started small, with two positions the first year, and this year we've completely sold out to over 10 positions, which translates to over 50 different local food experiences across five grand tastings.”
Five grand tastings were held throughout the weekend, giving up to 50 local vendors the opportunity to showcase their wares at Food & Wine.
This year, local industry partners came out in force to take part in Aspen’s unofficial kickoff to summer: from Michelin-starred restaurants like Bosc to family favorites like Sunday, 20 of the valley’s best-known establishments took part in the traditional event this weekend, representing local food and wine.
Other local food showcase participants included Pollinator Chocolates, Madame Ushi, JUS and Gravity House. Carbondale-based organic meal delivery service Tuesday Foods participated in the inaugural Food & Wine Classic along with Boulder-based Masi Masa Spice Without Borders.
People visit the Masimasa and Tuesday Foods booths during the Grand Tasting of the 41st Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, Saturday, June 15, 2024. Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
Lisa Cohen and Kelly Hollins founded Tuesday Foods in 2019 to bring clean food to the Valley. Their goal is to make plant-based eating easy and delicious.
They deliver throughout the valley as well as the Denver, Boulder and Vail corridor areas. In their first year as food and wine vendors, Cohen and Hollins were excited to represent local businesses and bring their health and wellness brand to the event.
“Food & Wine is a beloved event, and we're so honored to be a part of it and to bring our health and wellness brand to the indulgence weekend in Aspen,” Cohen said, “so for us, it's really fun to add a healthy twist.”
Tuesday Foods has a commercial kitchen in Carbondale, and five in-house chefs spent a week preparing dishes for Food & Wine — including tikka masala, Thai green curry, golden goddess soup and chickpea salad — which were shown at grand tastings on Friday and Saturday.
“We feel like this is an event that celebrates our business, gives back to the local community and literally gives people a taste of what we offer every week,” she said.
The grand tasting tent featured Tuesday Foods as well as other local vendors including Aspen Meadows Resort, The Little Nell, the St. Regis Aspen, Wise Bar, Afternoon Delites, Pine Melon, Mrs. Barrs, Party Trick, Domingo Sausage, Air Culinaire and Aspen Culinary Solutions.
Besides the Grand Tasting's local food showcase, local vendors were prominent: Entourage Wine, Snow Tequila, Hickory House and MOLLIE Aspen exhibited over the weekend.
Hickory House of Aspen displays its pigs during the Grand Tasting of the 41st Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, Saturday, June 15, 2024. Austin Colbert / The Aspen Times
Several local brands also contributed behind the scenes, providing catering services, staff, resources and local talent to assist exhibitors during the grand tasting experience: Conundrum Catering, Fusion Catering, Mawas Kitchen, Aspen Chef, Catering By Design, Caribou Club, Aspen Elevated Catering, Backdoor Catering, European Catering and Liquid Productions contributed to the 41st Food & Wine Classic.
Every June, guests from around the world flock to Aspen to raise a glass of wine, pop champagne and savor cuisine prepared by the best in the industry. Putting local vendors in front of a global audience, the festival shines a new spotlight on them and the Roaring Fork Valley's culinary scene.
“The (Food & Wine) Classic audience is the one our restaurant and hospitality partners want to get in front of,” Padgett added. “This is a total win-win for everyone.”
