Sept. 15-17 Wharf Uncorked to showcase 20 restaurants

Sept. 15-17 Wharf Uncorked to showcase 20 restaurants

The third annual Wharf Uncorked Food & Wine Festival, scheduled Sept. 15-17 along the Orange Beach Shopping Center’s Main Street, 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), Brody Olive (Perdido Beach Resort) and Chris Kelly (Driftwood Bar & Grille, Ronin Sushi Bar). The chefs will race against the clock as they encounter culinary challenges to create the best dish made with Alabama Gulf Seafood.
James Briscione and Brooke Parkhurst, authors of The Couples Kitchen, will team up to emcee the Chef Showdown. There will be select vendor wine tasting, an auction preview, an open bar and giveaways. Individual tickets for the kick-off event are $25. Combo tickets for the Chef Showdown and Grand Tasting are $60. Last minute pricing is $35 and $90, respectively.
The Wharf’s 10 unique restaurants and other participating venues along the Gulf Coast will have individual wine dinners with specials and pairings on Friday, Sept 16.
For Saturday’s (Sept. 17) Grand Tasting, The Wharf Entertainment District will be lined with vendors serving more than 150 labels of wines and small bites for the culinary competition from participating restaurants that 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, also at The Wharf.
During Saturday’s Grand Tasting , 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. Currently, grand tasting tickets are at $60 . The price rises to $70 on Sept. 1.
In addition, there will be a luxury yacht walk, book signings, live and silent auctions benefitting Make-A-Wish and a high-end tasting tent.
Tickets are available through Ticketmaster.com, or at The Wharf box office. For more info, visit TheWharfUn corked.com.