Wharf Uncorked Food & Wine Fest Sept. 15-17

Wharf Uncorked Food & Wine Fest Sept. 15-17
The third annual Wharf Uncorked Food & Wine Festival returns to Main Street at the Orange Beach shoppoing & dining complex Sept. 15-17 with a robust roster of talent. The three-day culinary event will feature more than 20 of the Gulf Coast’s most beloved chefs and restaurants.
On Thursday, Sept. 15, the event will kick off with a VIP experience at The Palms from 6:30-8:30 p.m. with a cutthroat competition between Chris Sherrill (Flora-Bama Yacht Club) and Brody Olive (Perdido Beach Resort) will race against the clock as they encounter culinary challenges to create the best dish made with Alabama Gulf Seafood. Tickets are $35. James Briscione and Brooke Parkhurst, authors of The Couples Kitchen, will team up to emcee the event.
Participating restaurants will host wine dinners on Sept. 16. For instance, Olive will prepare a five course meal to accompany a variety of selections from Grassroots Wine for $75 per person at Perdido Beach Resort.
The grand tasting on Sept. 17 from 4-8 p.m. will feature vendors serving fine wines and small bites. Participating restaurants include Fisher’s at Orange Beach Marina, Master Joe’s, Shipp’s Harbor Grill, Driftwood Bar & Grille, Ronin Sushi Bar, Ginny Lane Bar and Grill, Villaggio Grille, Flora Bama Yacht Club, Voyagers, Coast and Cowgirls.
This year, The Wharf Uncorked champion will be an automatic Elite Qualifier for the World Food Championships in November back at The Wharf.
Guests can visit the Culinary Experience Tent for demonstrations from top chefs like two-time ‘Chopped’ champion and cookbook author Briscione; Peter D’Andrea with Wind Creek who has cooked for kings, presidents and renowned chef Julia Childs; and ‘Food Network Star’ runner-up and writer/blogger, Jay Ducote. Grand Tasting are $70 at the gate.
In addition, there will be a luxury yacht walk, book signings, both live and silent auctions benefitting Make-A-Wish® Alabama and a high-end tasting tent. Tickets: Ticketmaster.com, or at The Wharf box office. Info: TheWharfUncorked.com.