For more information and high resolution photography, contact:

Scott Andrews
West of Western Culinary Festival
Tel: 602.327.3786
Email: info@westofwestern.com
Web: www.westofwestern.com

For Immediate Release
Wednesday, December 13, 2006

A Who's Who in Arizona Food Serves Up Tantalizing Tastes at West of Western Culinary Festival 2007 in Phoenix.

Phoenix, AZ, December 13, 2006 -- Westerners are famous for being closed-mouthed and taciturn... unless they're bragging, of course. In Arizona, local chefs have bragging rights to being among the best in the nation, and they prove it by dishing it out in March at the third annual celebration of the West of Western Culinary Festival. The two-day food and wine extravaganza, held in the heart of the burgeoning downtown Phoenix arts and cultural scene, features over fifty chefs who are collectively redefining the image of the West.

Named "a who's who in Arizona food" (Karen Fernau, The Arizona Republic, March 16, 2005), this young festival has presented many acclaimed talents, such as James Beard Foundation Best Chef award winners Bradford Thompson of Mary Elaine's, Melissa Kelly of Primo and Tucson's Janos Wilder, joined by rising talents Kevin Binkley, Zinc Bistro's Matt Carter, Nobuo Fukuda of Sea Saw (picked one of Best 10 New Chefs in America by Food & Wine), and many, many others at The Grand Tasting, where top chefs working alongside their staffs in a flurry of non-stop food preparation and delivery display their technique al fresco.

The party also includes The Wine Table, with experts pouring over fifty wineries from worldwide vineyards. Admission to the Grand Tasting and The Wine Table is inclusive with the Festival Food & Wine Pass admission.

New programming this year includes: a different list of chefs presenting Saturday and Sunday; a Trade Tasting 11:00am to 12:00pm, Saturday, March 24; wine and food talks by local restaurant critics and cookbook authors; inter-active demonstrations for adults and children; and a new festival design.

A big-top tent and additional canopies will provide respite from the Arizona sun and weather, creating a relaxing outdoor experience.

Take a break from sampling the dozens of dishes and wines to stroll over to A Desert Diversity Expo, featuring fresh boutique and heirloom produce by local growers and food producers, all for sale with Arizona-made prepared food items. Live acoustic jazz will play under the trees, completing the Garden Party atmosphere.

For the list of last year's Festival Chefs, go to http://westofwestern.com/chefs2006.html. The 2007 Chefs Lists will be published in late January.

The Festival is produced by Cakewalk Projects in partnership with Food & Life Arizona, KTAR 92.3 FM & 620 AM, Slow Food Phoenix, Community Food Connections, and National Public Radio affiliate stations KJZZ and KBAQ.

West of Western Culinary Festival will take place Saturday, March 24 and Sunday, March 25, 2007 from 12 - 5pm at Arizona Center, 455 N 3rd Street, Phoenix, AZ 85004. Tickets may be purchased in advance at a reduced rate, or at the gate. Single day passes start at $57; two-day passes start at $105. West of Western Culinary Festival is a prix-fixe event- there are no extra charges for food samples or wine tastings. Youth Passes are available; children 8 and under admitted free. Ample parking available at covered garage at the Festival site.

For more information or to purchase tickets, contact West of Western Culinary Festival at http://westofwestern.com or (602) 262-5652.

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