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The Ahwahnee Brings 29 of the Country's Best Chefs Together for Annual Chefs' Holidays in Yosemite National Park This January

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, Calif., Dec. 9, 2010 /PRNewswire/ --

WHAT: The Ahwahnee, a full-service, AAA Four-Diamond hotel in Yosemite National Park, Calif., will host its 26th annual Chefs' Holidays series from January 9 to February 4, 2011, offering guests a Yosemite culinary vacation they will cherish. Celebrating the range of styles, personalities and trends that characterize the American culinary scene, Chefs' Holidays presents 29 prominent American chefs and culinary professionals from Boston to Los Angeles over a series of eight sessions. For each session guests are invited to enjoy a "Meet the Chefs" reception, three educational cooking demonstrations and tastings, a behind-the-scenes kitchen tour and a five-course Gala Dinner prepared by the chefs and paired with four wines, served by candlelight in The Ahwahnee's grand Dining Room.

WHEN: Session 1: January 9-11, 2011 ~ "Chefs of Pat Kuleto Restaurants"

A collaborative dinner featuring one course from each chef: Percy Whatley--The Ahwahnee; Mark Franz & Emily Luchetti (pastry)--Farallon, San Francisco, CA; Parke Ulriche--Waterbar, San Francisco, CA; Adam Mali*--Nick's Cove, Point Reyes, CA. Moderator: Pamela Wischkaemper, Culinary Consultant.

Session 2: January 12-13

Headliner: Michael Tusk*--Quince, San Francisco, CA; Demonstrators: Colin Ambrose--Estia's Little Kitchen, Sag Harbor, NY; Jesse Ziff Cool--Flea Street Cafe, Menlo Park, CA. Moderator: Pamela Wischkaemper.

Session 3: January 16-18

Headliner: Michael Cimarusti*--Providence, Los Angeles, CA; Demonstrators: Ariane Duarte--CulinAriane, Montclair, NJ; Scott Youkilis--Maverick/Hog & Rocks, San Francisco, CA. Moderator: Izabela Wojcik, Director of House Programming, James Beard Foundation.

Session 4: January 19-20 ~ "Culinarians from the San Francisco Ferry Building"

Headliner: Traci Des Jardins--Jardiniere & Mijita; Demonstrators: Peg Smith & Sue Conley--Cowgirl Creamery/Sidekick; Michael Recchiuti--Recchiuti Chocolates. Moderator: Izabela Wojcik.

Session 5: January 23-25

Headliner: Tony DiSalvo--Whist, Los Angeles, CA; Demonstrators: Douglas Keane--Cyrus, Healdsburg, CA; Annie Somerville--Greens, S.F. CA. Moderator: Barbara Fairchild, Editor in Chief, Bon Appetit magazine.

Session 6: January 26-27 ~ "Taste of LA"

A collaborative dinner featuring one course from each chef. Host Chefs: Executive Chef Percy Whatley and Pastry Chef Paul Padua--The Ahwahnee; Guest Chefs: Neal Fraser--Grace, Los Angeles, CA; Suzanne Goin--Lucques, Los Angeles, CA; David Lentz*--The Hungry Cat, Los Angeles & Santa Barbara, CA. Moderator: Barbara Fairchild.

Session 7: January 30-February 1

Headliner: Barbara Lynch*--No. 9 Park, Boston, MA; Demonstrators: Jerry Traunfeld--Poppy, Seattle, WA; Elizabeth Falkner--Citizen Cake & Orson, San Francisco, CA. Moderator: Andrew Friedman, Author.

Session 8: February 2-3

Headliners: Duskie Estes & John Stewart--Zazu/Bovolo/Black Pig Meat Co, Sonoma County, CA; Demonstrators: Brandon Miller--Mundaka, Carmel, CA; Andrew Kirschner*--Wilshire, Los Angeles, CA. Moderator: Andrew Friedman.

WHERE: The Ahwahnee

One Ahwahnee Drive

Yosemite National Park, CA 95389

COST: Two- and three-night Yosemite culinary vacation packages are available at The Ahwahnee and Yosemite Lodge at the Falls, starting at $995 and $695 respectively, and include lodging and admission for two to the Chefs' Holidays events. Tickets for the Gala Dinner are available for $269 per person, including tax and gratuity.

INFO: For information or reservations, call 801-559-4903 or visit http://www.yosemitepark.com/SpecialEventsPackages_SpecialEvents_ChefsHolidays.aspx.

*Indicates new chef this year.

EDITOR NOTE: Photos of guest chefs, Chefs' Holidays events and The Ahwahnee are available upon request.

    MEDIA
    CONTACT:       Tami von Isakovics
                   Ellipses Public Relations
                   415-834-5492
                   tami@ellipsespr.com

SOURCE Yosemite National Park, CA