Portugal’s sixth annual International Gourmet Festival will be held from January 13 through 22, 2012 at the Vila Joya in Albufeira-Guia (Algarve).
The festival is considered one of the best and biggest gastronomical events in the world and only features Michelin-starred chefs. This year’s festival will include over 20 of the world’s most celebrated chefs from France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Finland, Sweden, Canada, and Portugal. New York City chefs, Laurent Gras, April Bloomfield and Shaun Hergatt, will represent the United States. The festival honors the best of international cuisine, as well as promoting the local artists, designers, vineyards and various businesses in Portugal.
Dieter Koschina, Vila Joya’s Chef, will welcome the internationally renowned chefs as they each present a tasting menu combined with several wine pairings. For the first time at the festival, a luncheon will also be prepared on the Malhadinha Nova Vineyard, where a chef will serve food that is raised or grown on the property. Other festivities will include: golf tournaments, wine and spirits tastings, workshops on Pata Negra and chocolate making, and a Go-Kart Race between the chefs.
There are three travel packages that guests can choose from when attending the International Gourmet Festival. The silver package includes three days of dinners and events, plus a roundtrip economy class airline ticket. The gold package includes five days of events and dinners and the platinum package includes 10 days. Both gold and platinum packages also include business class tickets, transportation to and from the property and spa treatments. Guests can choose between staying at the Vila Joya or other hotels, including CS Sao Rafael Hotel.
Visit www.internationalgourmetfestival.com