It's a Food and Wine Pairing to Remember When "Top Chef" Comes to Taste Washington!

Ilan Hall, a Winner on TV's Hottest Cooking Show "Top Chef," Joins Local Chefs to Blend Special Pairings at Nation's Largest Single-Region Tasting Event

Ilan Hall, winner from the second season of Bravo's hit television show "Top Chef," will get things cooking as one of the featured guests at Taste Washington, the nation's largest single-region consumer wine tasting event.

Hall, one of the nation's up-and-coming celebrity chefs, will participate throughout the weekend in various cooking demonstrations with several well-known Northwest chefs, including Jason Wilson of Crush and Jay Bartleson of Bell Harbor International Conference Center. Additionally, Master Sommelier Evan Goldstein will be working with the culinary creations from Hall and Bartleson to match them with Washington wines.

Taste Washington (www.tastewashington.org), scheduled for April 5-6, features seminars by top enological experts and wine celebrities on Saturday and a grand tasting on Sunday at Qwest Field Event Center. At the grand tasting, consumers can sample more than 800 wines from more than 200 of Washington's leading wineries, along with food from more than 50 of the region's top restaurants.

"We are thrilled that Ilan Hall will be on hand to help us showcase Washington wines during Taste Washington weekend," said Robin Pollard, executive director of the Washington Wine Commission. "Much of the weekend's activities focus on how our state's incredible wines pair with food. What better way for one of the nation's rising culinary stars to show off his skills than to pair his work with some of the world's finest wines?"

Hall will make three special appearances throughout the weekend, including:

--  A Waterbrook Winemaker Dinner at Crush: One of Seattle's most
    innovative restaurants will be buzzing with outstanding Waterbrook
    wines from Walla Walla and a five-course dinner prepared by Hall
    and Wilson.
    --  When: 7-10 p.m., Friday, April 4
    --  Where: Crush, 2319 E. Madison St.
    --  Tickets: $250 per person. To purchase tickets, contact Chris Deco
        at Waterbrook, (206) 267-5273.

--  Gourmet Food & Wine Pairing Luncheon: Chefs Hall and Bartleson team
    up with Master Sommelier Evan Goldstein to pair Washington wines with
    each dish in a gourmet three-course luncheon. Hall will be doing a
    live cooking demonstration and a panel of sommeliers, led by
    Goldstein, will discuss wine pairings. Featured wineries include
    Barnard Griffin, Chateau Ste. Michelle, Gordon Brothers Cellars,
    Kestrel and Waterbrook.
    --  When: 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m., Saturday, April 5
    --  Where: Bell Harbor Conference Center, Pier 66, 2211 Alaskan Way
    --  Tickets: $65 per person. Visit www.ticketmaster.com to purchase
        tickets.

--  A "Taste of Top Chef" Cooking Demonstration: Taste Washington takes a
    page from television's "Top Chef" when Hall and several Seattle-area
    chefs prepare gourmet dishes from various local ingredients provided
    to them at the "Viking Kitchen Stage" during the Grand Tasting.
    --  When:  5 p.m. Sunday, April 6 during the Grand Tasting
    --  Where: Qwest Field Event Center, 1000 Occidental Ave.

The Grand Tasting of Taste Washington will be held from 2-8 p.m. Sunday, April 6. Doors open at 2 p.m. for VIP ticket holders and at 4 p.m. for general admission ticket holders. Tickets are $125 for VIP admission and $85 for general admission, and are available through Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.com).

For information on Taste Washington and the special events featuring Chef Ilan Hall, please visit www.tastewashington.org.

About the Washington Wine Commission

The Washington Wine Commission is responsible for the promotion and development of the Washington wine industry, representing the state's more than 530 wineries, 350 wine grape growers and 31,000 vineyard acres. For information about Washington wines, please visit www.washingtonwine.org.