Eureka Springs, Arkansas is known for its unique dining experiences but this fall, aside from their award-winning usual dishes, area restaurants will showcase special menus and wine pairings for the annual Eureka Springs Food & Wine Festival that takes place on Wednesday, November 7th through Sunday, November 11th, 2012.
Events kick off on Wednesday, November 7th, with the “First Sip” Raimondo Wine Release Party at DeVito’s of Eureka Springs at 5 Center Street from 5p.m. to 7p.m. Raimondo Winery is a family-owned winery located on Lake Norfork that specializes in hand-crafted Italian and Iberian wines. Guests can try vintner Margie Roeland’s new Red Blend and appetizers will be served. The fee is $7 per person.
The Writers’ Colony at Dairy Hollow located at 515 Spring Street will feature a “California Uncorked” event on Thursday, November 8th from 4:30p.m. -6:30p.m. A collection of red and white California wines will be sampled and paired with delicious food tastings prepared by their celebrity chef. Wines will also be available for sale. All proceeds will benefit The Writers’ Colony at Dairy Hollow, a 501(c)3 nonprofit residency retreat for writers of all genres—including culinary. Donation cost for the event is $15 per person. Reservations are encouraged by calling 479-253-7444.DeVito’s will also be hosting a Raimondo Wine Dinner on Sunday, November 11th starting at 6p.m.
Each course will be paired with a Raimondo wine and Raimondo Extra Virgin Olive Oils & Infused Balsamic Vinegars will be used in the food preparation. The menu will include spiced pumpkin soup, a cranberry apple salad, crab stuffed shrimp, wild mushroom ravioli with alfredo sauce and green beans with lemon and pine nuts. Dessert is individual chocolate molten cakes. Also on Thursday through Sunday, DeVito’s will be offering Raimondo Wine Flights. Reservations are suggested and can be made by calling 479-253-6807.
“The Stonehouse Cabernet-Off” will be nightly on Thursday through Saturday at The Stonehouse on 89 S. Main Street. From 1p.m. to 10p.m. each day there will be a variety of cabernets offered along with cheese to compliment them.
Ermilio’s Restaurant at 26 White Street will offer a special menu on Thursday and Friday nights. The first course of stuffed mushrooms will be followed by a slow braised pork osso bucco with a wild mushroom rosemary demi-glaze on roasted garlic mashed potatoes. The osso bucco will be paired with Antinori Villa Tuscana LGT wine. For dessert they will offer cannoli with fresh strawberries along with prosecco and Campari bellini.
The Grand Taverne, inside the Grand Central Hotel at 37 N. Main Street, will be offering food and wine pairings each night of the festival. Local, regional, national, and international wines will be presented along with creative dishes.
Linda Hager, owner and chef of the Cottage Inn Restaurant located at 450 W. Van Buren, will host California Wine Dinners Thursday through Sunday night from 5pm-8pm. Each evening a different four-course meal will be paired with a selection of California wines. Reservations can be made by calling 479-253-5282.
Patrice Gros, co-founder of the Eureka Springs Farmers Market, will be giving a special tour of his USDA certified organic farm on November 9th, from 1p.m. to 2p.m. Foundation Farm grows over 30 different vegetables and herbs over 4 seasons and uses the latest technology in hoop-housing. Foundation Farm is located at 327 CR 244, 11 miles north of Eureka Springs on Highway 23. For additional information please call 479-253 7461.
There will be a Barrel/Tank Tasting and Amateur Wine Competition at Keels Creek Winery at 3185 E Van Buren on Saturday November 10th from 3p.m. -5p.m. A number of barreled wines will be compared with each other and with the 2012 crop currently in the final stages of production. The staff will offer various cheese selections to pair with each of the wines. Cost for the tasting is $30 per person and space is limited.
The 1886 Crescent Hotel at 75 Prospect will host a special event in the Conservatory on Friday from 4p.m. to 6p.m. Moon Distributors will be pouring Spanish wines and serving tapas. Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the door. Sunday brunch will also be offered featuring a champagne tasting of 5 different champagnes. Brunch will include a carving station, 3 entrees, 2 vegetables, a salad station, chocolate fountain, breakfast items and omelets cooked to order. For information call 479-253-9766.
Local chef and culinary instructor Karen Gros will be offering two special Cuisine Karen cooking classes featuring locally grown ingredients and French-inspired menus. On Friday the class is demonstration only, from 10a.m. to 1p.m. and costs $30. Saturday’s class is hands-on and will be from 10am-2pm and costs $40. The menu for both classes is a velvety chile-lavender potato soup with homemade crème fraiche and a classic Parisian apple tarte-tatin (upside down caramelized apple tart). The classes are held in Gros’s home at 10 Woolridge in Eureka Springs.
From noon until 3p.m. on Sunday, Caribe Restaurant will have special food and beverages at the event prepared by owner and chef, KJ Zumwalt. During this time the restaurant, located at 309 W. Van Buren, will be hosting a Veteran’s Day Art Show as well.
Cravings by Rochelle Bakery at 2043 E Van Buren, in the Gaskins Switch shopping center, will offer a Sunday brunch with quiche, mimosa cupcakes, fruit and a variety of pastries, meats and cheeses with fresh baked goods. Brunch is from 10a.m. until 1p.m. followed by a cupcake decorating class. For more information, call 479-363-6576.
Several retail establishments are celebrating Food & Wine as well. Vintage Cargo at 41 Kingshighway will be hosting Alessandro Taddei, maestro painter for Italian pottery company Vietri on November 10th from 11a.m. until 4p.m. Taddei is the designer of Vietri’s most popular holiday collection, Old St. Nick, and will demonstrate painting techniques and sign purchased pieces. Vintage Cargo was chosen by Vietri as the only store in Arkansas to host this event.
At Eureka Thyme at 19 Spring Street, two local artists will be featured for the monthly gallery stroll celebrating the Food & Wine Festival on Saturday at 1p.m. to 4p.m. and again at 6p.m. to 9p.m. Mark Rademacher is well-known for his Leaf Reflections Raku pottery as well as a master woodworker. Les Brandt creates wood turnings using only local wood which has been brought down by storms or utility companies.
The Jewel Box at 40 Spring Street will celebrate food & wine with a sale. All products relating to food & wine will be 20% off on November 8th through the 11th. On Saturday the 10th, store hours will be extended and wine and refreshments will be served from 6p.m. to 9p.m.
For more information, visit www.eurekaspringsfoodandwine.