Brilliant culinary start

The 16th St. Moritz Gourmet Festival, with the new „Gala Night“ on the frozen lake of St. Moritz

It was with the Grand Gourmet Opening Cocktail that the almost fully booked out 16th St. Moritz Gourmet Festival commenced today. Up until 6th February 2009 the traditionally popular Gourmet Dîners, parties and tastings take place under the motto SPICY CHEFS, as the guest chefs from Europe and Mexico are true masters in combining spices and flavours. One of the very special events will, no doubt, be the new Gala Night on Friday evening, with all the master chefs in the VIP tent on the frozen lake of St. Moritz. Last-minute tickets are still available for gourmet fans!

350 guests including several prominent gourmet connoisseurs as well as representatives of Swiss top gastronomy, seized the opportunity tonight at the Carlton Hotel to taste some of the delicacies prepared by the master chefs for the Grand Gourmet Opening Cocktail. There will then be opportunities on the following three evenings for a meet and greet with the Spicy Chefs at the Gourmet Dîners, taking place in the eight Festival partner hotels Badrutt’s Palace, Carlton Hotel, Kulm Hotel, Suvretta House, Kempinski Grand Hotel des Bains, Crystal, Monopol and Schweizerhof where the guest chefs’ and resident chefs’ culinary delights can be savoured in detail. While the legendary Kitchen Party at the Badrutt’s Palace Hotel and the equally popular Gourmet Safaris are already booked out, tickets are still available for the 5-course Gourmet Dîners (CHF 175 per person, reservations can be made directly at the individual hotels).

Naturally fine wines and spirits will also feature extensively during the Festival week. Exclusive brandy tastings and exquisite champagnes during the Fascination Champagne menu are an intrinsic part of the programme as are the Molecular Cocktails.

The ultimate sweet temptation will be the Private Chocolate Tasting during the Chocolate Cult hosted by the renowned Confiserie Sprüngli of Zurich at Badrutt’s Palace Hotel.

Those who have always dreamed of being a VIP guest in the spectacular tent city in the middle of the frozen lake of St. Moritz, should not miss the Festival highlight on Friday night, 6th February 2009: the Gala Night of all the master chefs in the heated VIP tent. Surrounded by a magical panorama, at the final event the eight international guest chefs together with the resident chefs from the partner hotels will prepare an exceptional menu of several courses, accompanied by fine wines. After dinner, the atmospheric evening will come to an end with live music by the Gary Scott Band (tickets are available for CHF 480 per person, including drinks during the meal and at the following party).

Reservations are still possible.

Tina Schinke will be happy to assist you at the Suvretta House, telephone +41 (0)81 836 36 36.

For the 16th edition of the Festival the following Spicy Chefs have travelled to St. Moritz:From Switzerland Ivo Adam (15 Gault Millau points, 2002 cookery world champion, Ristorante SEVEN, Ascona), from Great Britain Vineet Bhatia(first Indian star chef, *Michelin, Rasoi Restaurant, London), from Germany Hans Stefan Steinheuer(**Michelin, 19 Gault Millau points, ‘one of the best restaurants in the world’, Hotel-Restaurant Zur Alten Post, Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler), Thomas Martin(*Michelin, 18 Gault Millau points, Jacobs Restaurant, Hotel Louis C. Jacob, Hamburg) as well as Armin Röttele(16 Gault Millau points, *Michelin, Restaurant im Schloss Neuweier, Baden-Baden), from France Arnaud Lallement (**Michelin, Restaurant L’Assiette Champenoise, Tinqueux, Reims), from Italy Matteo Vigotti (2002 Bocuse d’Or, 2003 Marchesi Award, Ristorante NOV-ECE-NTO, Meina), from Mexico Thierry Blouet (title of ‘Maître Cuisinier de France’, Restaurant Café des Artistes, Puerto Vallarta).
The Festival events can be booked directly at www.stmoritz-gourmetfestival.ch where you will also find the detailed programme and further information concerning the 16th St. Moritz Gourmet Festival.

Personal information and the Festival brochure are available at all Festival partner hotels as well as at the St. Moritz tourist office.

Further information:
www.stmoritz-gourmetfestival.ch

Press office:

WOEHRLE PIROLA
Marketing und Kommunikation AG
Claudia Grasern-Woehrle
Medienstelle
CH-7500 St. Moritz
Tel. +41 (0)81 834 54 30
Fax +41 (0)81 834 54 32
cgrasern@woehrlepirola.ch

by Rocco Lettieri