MASTERS
OF FOOD AND WINE
Buenos Aires, Argentina
by Dan Perlman
It shouldn't surprise anyone to find out that there are
a whole lot of gay wine geeks and collectors in the
world; and they were out in force at the Masters
of Food and Wine 2008 in Buenos Aires. Upon arrival,
I found myself amidst the swirl of hors d'oeuvres, flagons
of wine, internationally acclaimed chefs, sommeliers,
restaurateurs, and collectors who were willing to ante-up
the air fare, hotel costs, and entrance fees-all of
which added up to somewhere around $6,000.
The five-day extravaganza opened with
a wine and cheese tasting at the Park Hyatt's Palacio
Duhau in Buenos Aires, a stunning, converted mansion
that takes up half a city block. The Duhau's staggered
levels and twisting staircases gave a certain Escher
air to the space. The courtyard and surrounding wine
bar and salons were perfect for introductions and a
chance to sample a range of some of Argentina's most
interesting cheeses and wines.
The next night's "Rarities"
dinner offered an exclusive group of wine gliterati
tastes of treasures from the cellars of 25 Argentine
wineries. Then next day it was off on flights to Mendoza,
700 miles west in the foothills of the Andes Mountains.
At the posh Park Hyatt on the town's
central plaza we kicked off a trio of days with a wine
and hors d'oeuvres party, catered by two dozen chefs
from all over the globe and wineries pouring hundreds
of bottles, to a mere thousand attendees. The next two
days passed by quickly as we broke up into smaller groups
and headed out to Mendoza's amazing countryside, each
group visiting a trio of wineries per day, and dining
our way through multi-course lunches and dinners cooked
by the visiting culinary stars.
The event culminated with a Gala dinner
back at the Park Hyatt where each of us vowed to return
again next year.
The Masters of Food and Wine 2009 will be held
February 10-15. For more information visit www.mfandw.com.ar
[Published:
December, 2008]
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