In this episode of Dishin’ It, I adventure into Connecticut’s premier food and wine event, the Sun WineFest at Mohegan Sun Casino. The Sun WineFest happens to be the largest food and wine show in Connecticut. With more than 1,000 fine wines provided by international wineries and specialty beers, the Sun WineFest is an extravaganza designed for a maximum tasting experience. I had the chance to try a few beautiful wines that tickled my palette and teased my taste buds. If you go to this event next year (it’s usually held in January), I suggest you get there early, especially on Saturday because the convention hall fills up quickly. A sophisticated yet unpretentious crowd, the Sun Wine Fest attracts food and wine enthusiasts from all over New England.

       The Sun WineFest is a mecca for celebrity chefs. Making an appearance at this event to share their culinary techniques are some of the most renowned chefs in the country, including Bobby Flay, Todd English, and Mary Ann Esposito. I’m usually not star struck but, as a major foodie, seeing some of these brilliant chefs in action blew me away. Celebrity chefs graced the charity Dine Around Dinner and the convention center’s main stage, but also chefs, like Food Network’s Robert Irvine, held meet and greets for their fans.

       Many acclaimed Connecticut restaurants made their mark at the WineFest. Food stations lined the walls of the convention hall, offering samples of different signature dishes from each restaurant. Some of the most memorable dishes I tried were the lobster roll prepared with butter instead of mayo from Cuvee in West Hartford and the avocado wrapped tuna sushi roll from Toshi Japanese Restaurant in Avon. The lobster roll almost brought tears to my eyes with its sweet buttery taste of fresh lobster. The avocado tuna roll was refreshing and cool on my tongue, without being mushy.

       Although the food scene at the WineFest was exciting, the real focus was on the abundance of fine wines. My favorite selection out of the assortment I tried had to be Michael David’s Lust Zinfandel and 7 Deadly Zins. Now, I’ve shared with you before that I’m not much of a red wine drinker, but these two selections were rich and full bodied. Lust Zinfandel was an expensive bottle, but worth every penny in my opinion. It started off subtle at first sip, yet the aftertaste blossomed in my mouth like a luxurious orchid. I also loved the bottle itself with its sleek and mysterious casing and bold red lettering. This is a dangerously delicious line of wines full of flavor and originality. I spoke with a number of wine vendors and experts about trends in the wine world.

       The Sun WineFest proved to be a whirlwind of culinary delights and exquisite wine from all over the world. I fully enjoyed myself and also learned a lot from the experience. Check out the video from this amazing weekend...COMING SOON!  n