Epicurean Classic 2009 St. Joseph, Michigan
by Kathy Sullivan
We traveled to St. Joseph, Michigan after spending a few days in Detroit. Arriving in St. Joseph on an unseasonably cool August day about 11:00 am, we parked near two buses in a large parking lot that was almost deserted. It turned out that we were in the correct parking lot for bus transportation that went directly to the Epicurean Classic site. Parking and bus transportation were free.
The Epicurean Classic for 2009 was located in the hometown of Kitchen Aid, which is largely responsible for the Epicurean Classic events throughout the country. Located almost on the shore of Lake Michigan, one can catch glimpses of a sandy beach and of one of the Great Lakes.
The first stop was to pick up a brochure that listed the presentations and demonstrations during the event. Attending the “Resourceful Methods to Cook Seasonally in the Great Lakes,” Eve Aronoff was delightful. Plenty of seats were available. The demonstration made use of overhead mirrors so attendees could see the actual process. Loud speakers amplified the speaker. Kitchen Aid products were in use throughout the demonstration.
There were six demonstration tents available and presentations took place during most of the event. A few of the demonstrations included “Preparing the Perfect Brunch,” “Tea for Today,” “Little Bites from the Portuguese Table,” and “All About Tapas: The Simpler the Better.” In addition, there were several presentations on wine.
The largest tent had numerous tables, many of which were set up for wine, beer and gourmet food tastings. These tables were set up along the sides of the tent. In the center of the tent were many small tables suitable for stopping and write notes or enjoy a tasting without rushing. For this year, the wine tastings far outnumbered the food tastings.
At the far back of the tent, Kitchen Aid appliances were set up for visitors to browse. Kitchen Aid selects to use many colors and they have included a light pink for numerous items and use this color to support the “Cook for the cure.”
We look forward to hearing more about the 2010 Epicurean Classic in St. Joseph, Michigan.
