Recap: Good Times at Mohegan Sun Wine & Food Fest 2020

Where can you mingle with celebrities, taste delicious wine, sample craft beer, get free swag, feast on tasty food, try your luck at slot machines, and dance to hits from a DJ?  This ISN’T a trick question and there IS an answer.  And that answer is the Mohegan Sun Wine & Food Fest.

On January 25 and 26, I had the pleasure of attending the weekend long festival on behalf of CTBites.  2020 marked the seventeenth year of the Mohegan Sun Wine & Food Fest and seven years since I first attended in 2013.  A great deal has changed since its inception.  This year commanded a plethora of A-list chefs and had an array of events to supplement Saturday’s Grand Tasting. 

The weekend kicked off on Friday January 25 with a Bourbon Tasting, which started at 6pm.  Guests had the opportunity to sample spirits from Basil Hayden, Jim Beam, Knob Creek, Maker’s Mark, and Toki Japanese Whiskey.  Those looking for an alternative to bourbon could partake in El Tesoro Anejo Tequila and Courvoisier VS Cognac.  Everything was paired with mouth-watering fare from Bear’s Smokehouse BBQ, like Smoked Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya, Jalapeno Cheddar Cornbread, Brisket, and Burnt Ends.  Sweet tooths got their fix from Pecan Pie and Apple Crisp in the center of the room.  All attendees left with a cigar from Boutique Cigar in Cromwell, CT that they could pair with their newfound favorite bourbon.

From there, we made our way to the Grand Tasting Preview.  The newly built Earth Expo & Convention Center served as the backdrop for this as well as Saturday’s main event.  In addition to scoping out the food, wine, and beer vendors, celebrity chefs like Food Network’s Michele Ragussis and Below Deck’s Ben Robinson got us excited for the weekend with cooking demonstrations coupled with audience interaction.  Chef Ben showed us how to make flavorful homemade pasta (which he “makes faster than you can make it from a box”) and revealed behind the scenes secrets in an audience Q & A (both Hannah and Kate are equally as difficult to work with).

On Saturday January 26, we returned to the Earth Expo & Convention Center for the Grand Tasting itself.  VIP ticket holders could enter as early as 11am while the doors opened to the public at noon.  This year boasted two stages with chef demos.  Chef Todd English, who also operates esteemed restaurant Tuscany in Mohegan Sun, started off the exhibitions on the main stage.  He made a persuasive case for using Wagyu beef while expertly preparing it in front of our eyes with truffle, Woodland mushrooms, Hen of the Woods Mushrooms, potatoes, and lots of butter.  Spectators had the chance to sample his food and ask him questions about his restaurants, techniques, and history in culinary world.

Chef Maneet Chuahan followed with a beautiful presentation of her take on Seafood Cioppino.  She selected two members from the audience to help her create a dish with shrimp, clam, and lobster rife with flavors inspired by India and her restaurant in Nashville.  Top Chef Alum, Food Network personality, and restauranteur Richard Blais took the stage after her.  One part stand-up comedy routine, one part science experiment, and one part cooking demo, he wowed the audience with his use of liquid nitrogen and his own homemade flame thrower.  The day continued with even more chef headliners, like Aaron Sanchez.

Wine enthusiasts (like me!) had several interesting bottles to choose from.  Fine Terroir presented some of the more eclectic selections of the day: Wines from Illyria.  The bottles heralded from Bosnia and Herzegovina and embraced indigenous varietals.  Emporia Blatina (BLAH-tee-nah) proved to be one of my favorites from the line-up.  From Herzegovina, it had up front fruit flavors with tertiary notes of leather and rose.  The sip concluded with a beautiful burst of spice on the backend of my palate.  Wine drinkers could also head into the adjacent ballroom for a Vintage Grand Cru Tasting, an additional ticketed event that was part of the festival.  Here, they could sample premium pours like wines from Antinori, Michael Keenan, and Chacewater while interacting with winemakers and representatives from the vineyards.

Breweries were there in droves, with places like Two Roads, Wormtown, Outer Light, New Belgium, Epicure Brewing, and more pouring craft ales for the crowd.  Larger brands were also on hand to introduce new products.  Corona debuted Corona Refresca, a slightly sparkling canned drink perfect for summer.  I particularly enjoyed the Guava iteration.  Bud Light showed off its answer to spiked seltzer giants like White Claw and Truly: Bud Light Seltzer.  Despite the name, the beverage contains no Bud Light.  It is gluten free, low-cal, and canned for convenience.

The true highlight of the weekend- the Celebrity Chef Dine Around- unfolded in the Uncas Ballroom from 8pm-10:30pm.  Imagine your culinary idols in one room personally serving you their dishes, explaining their techniques, engaging in casual conversation, and posing for pictures.  It may seem far-fetched, but the 2020 Mohegan Sun Wine & Food Fest offered this opportunity.  With over 20 celebrity chefs, this edition of the Celebrity Chef Dine Around was bigger than ever and boasted powerhouses like Rocco Dispirito, Amanda Frietag, Betty Fraser, Chef Plum, and Govind Armstrong in addition to those that had already presented earlier in the weekend.  All of their dishes were paired with full pours of premium wines carefully selected to complement the food.

While I expected long lines, the dine-around proceeded quite seamlessly.  We had more than enough time to sample all of the dishes, interact with the chefs, and party with the DJ.  Despite the sea of people in the ballroom, there were plenty of surfaces where we could stand and sit to enjoy our plates.

My favorite dish of the evening belonged to Chef Ben Robinson of Below Deck fame.  He proved himself to be more than a reality TV Chef and prepared Shrimp with Thai Papaya Salad and Stuffed Daikon with Peanut Sauce.  It was truly the most delicious Peanut Sauce I’ve encountered in my life.  Layered with flavor and accompanied with actual peanuts for a hint of crunch, I could have eaten it by the spoonful.

The sweet tooth in me loved Chef Manouschka Guerrier’s lavender and CBD infused donuts.  The chef-to-the stars created perfectly sized confections that could be eaten in two delightful bites.  The dough was fluffy but structured and topped with icing to impart balanced sweetness.  Chef Todd English also experimented with CBD, offering guests Wagyu & CBD with Black Truffle Pesto, Paradise OG Whipped Potatoes, Crispy Cauliflower, Wagyu Slider, Frisee Salad, and Aioli.  While several chefs plated mashed potatoes, I found his some of the tastiest of the evening.  Other standouts included Govind Armstrong’s Seared Duck , Aaron Sanchez’s Tacos de Carne Asada, and Richard Blais’s lamb chop.

As far as wines went, I enjoyed the Tri-Appellation Boen Pinot Noir.  5th generation Napa Valley winemaker Joseph Wagner is perhaps best known for his work on Belle Glos.  Boen is one of the new labels that he launched under Copper Cane.  What stood out to me about this Pinot Noir was its depth of flavor and body.  While Pinot Noir is known for its lighter characteristics, this one was rich and ripe.  It could stand up to meat dishes like Richard’s Blais’s lamb chop or Maneet Chuahan’s shortrib.  At the same time, it did not overwhelm more delicate dishes.

And if celebrity chef appearances weren’t enough, Bravo TV fans had the thrill of spotting Real Housewives of Atlanta’s Cynthia Bailey partaking in the feast alongside her new fiancé, Mike Hill.  Even more stunning (and tall!) in person, she took time to greet and pose for pictures with fans while perusing the chef’s tables.  Mike Hill is just as nice- and just as tall.

“Me being tall was a requirement for her marrying me,” he joked.

They returned the next morning to participate in the Champagne Brunch presented by Truly Hard Seltzer, where they were joined by Vanderpump Rule’s Tom & Tom.  Everyone involved in the Wine & Food Fest also headed to Saturday Night’s After Party at novella, located within the casino.

Seventeen years after its debut, Mohegan Sun’s Wine & Food Fest is still going strong.  Each year gets bigger, better, and more exciting than the year before.  Keep checking https://mohegansun.com/sun-wine-and-food-fest.html for updates about 2021 so that you can join in all the fun!