Slideshow

A Look Back at the 2011 ‘Food & Wine’ Classic in Aspen

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Many of the most respected chefs in the country came together for the 2011 Food & Wine Classic in Aspen over the weekend, including Mario Batali, Marcus Samuelsson, and Jonathan Waxman. The festival also functioned as a showcase for the magazine’s “Best New Chefs” issue, and all ten of the chefs were definitely on hand to celebrate. That said, everyone knows that the real pleasure comes from the other, unexpected sightings. You know, like watching Thomas Keller goof around with José Andrés, wondering whether Chris Cosentino is actually Ruth Bourdain, and admiring how Jacques Pépin can pop a Champagne cork like he just won the World Series.

Though the events were loaded with star power, none were exactly dripping with drama; from what we can tell, the festivities went on without a hitch. The big exception was the “Classic Quickfire” on Sunday, where Kevin Sbraga pulled off a surprising win against other Top Chef winners Richard Blais and Hosea Rosenberg.

You can check it all out for yourself by following along with our slideshow recap of the whole weekend.

Jacques Pépin, Gail Simmons, and Ming Tsai pop the top off Food & Wine’s 30th Anniversary Celebration. 
The acclaimed chef goofed around with José Andrés during a photo shoot.  
All the chefs lined up with editor-in-chief Dana Cowin and publisher Christina Grdovic Baltz. 
The James Beard Award–winning chef of Julian in Kansas City was on hand. 
The Spanish chef teaches Pépin how to prepare Spanish green onions.
Okay, probably not … Photo: Huge Galdones
The Iron Chef teamed up with the Top Chef for the “Salty & Sweet” seminar. 
Chef Tsai preps food with a Food & Wine team for his seminar.  Photo: Huge Galdones
The Hong Kong Tourism Board and Langham Hospitality Group flew in executive chef Siu Hin Chi, T’ang Court, and executive sous-chef Wong Chi Fai and fryer Raymond Wong, Ming Court, to provide their two-Michelin star cuisine.
The Top Chef finalist prepared this dish with snapper and lamb. 
With help of Chef Lee-Anne Wong, Sbraga defeated Richard Blais and Hosea Rosenberg during the Food & Wine “Classic Quickfire” on Sunday morning. Photo: Huge Galdones
The chef of the recently opened Red Rooster teamed up with Stella Artois for the “Belgian Beers and Seaside Classics Lunch.” 
The two chatted during the Publisher’s Party atop Aspen Mountain.
A Look Back at the 2011 ‘Food & Wine’ Classic in Aspen