The Scene In and Around Boston . . .
By Hilda M. Morrill
February 23, 2007
 At the Mohegan Sun WineFest ‘07, some of the celebrity chefs gather for a group photo prior to a
question - and - answer session with members of the media. (Photo by Hilda M. Morrill)
Last month we had the pleasure of driving to Uncasville, Connecticut to attend the “Mohegan Sun WineFest ‘07,” which featured an all-star cast of celebrity chefs and wine experts from around the world.
Amazingly, we traveled to Connecticut and met one of our neighbors for the very first time! Yes, the charming Rod Fritz, a radio newsman extraordinaire from Fox News Radio, literally lives about two minutes from our home.
Celebrity chefs included: Todd English, Jasper White, Roberto Donna, Susur Lee, Daisy Martinez, Mary Sue Milliken, Sara Moulton, Walter Potenza, Luis Bollo, Jimmy Burke, Michael Ginor, Chris Schlesinger, Kim Canteenwalla, Ihsan Gurdal, Lydia Shire, Mary Ann Esposito, Floyd Cardoz, Douglas Rodriguez and Aaron Sanchez.
These great chefs were also joined by celebrity personalities Drew Nieporent of the Myriad Restaurant Group and Jill Cordes of HGTV and The Food Network. Mohegan Sun executive chef Michael Luboff and his culinary team also participated during the events.
Among the wine experts were: Stefano Girelli, Managing Director, Casa Girelli; Leonardo LoCascio, President/CEO, Winebow; Saskia Prüm, Winemaker/Export Director Europe, S.A. Prüm Winery; Kate MacMurray, Proprietor, MacMurray Ranch; Paul Hoffman, Medusa Winery; and Walter Schug, Winemaker/Founder, Schug Winery, to name but a few.
The chefs and wine experts were featured throughout the weekend’s festivities in live cooking demonstrations, seminars, and the “Celebrity Chef Dine Around,” which offered guests the opportunity to sample some of their signature dishes—each paired with an appropriate wine, of course.
The main event at the WineFest was the “Grand Tasting,” which was held in the huge Uncas Ballroom each day. More than 1000 fine wines provided by international wineries, tastings from some of the best restaurants, and exhibitors showcasing related services such as wine storage, culinary accessories and specialty foods, were featured.
Guests had the opportunity to ask questions, hear commentary from the winemakers and experts, and enjoy delicacies from the restaurants by purchasing tastings of their signature dishes. A portion of the proceeds from the weekend benefited Share Our Strength, a non-profit organization dedicated to fighting hunger on the local, national and international levels; and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
There was so much to do during the WineFest, including of course, visiting the two huge Casinos. Especially enjoyable were: a cooking demonstration by Mary Ann Esposito, creator/host of the long running PBS program “Ciao Italia,” who prepared one of her famous eggplant recipes, “Timballo di Melanzane e Bucatini”; a fabulous dinner at world-famous chef Todd English’s Tuscany, one of the many restaurants located at Mohegan Sun; and an outstanding nightclub performance by Louis Prima, Jr., certainly one of the most energetic entertainers whom we’ve ever seen as he sang, danced and played a trumpet—all the while reminiscing about his late father and singing many of the songs that made him famous, such as “Just a Gigolo.”
Incidentally, Louis Jr. told us that his father was the first entertainer to ever record Italian lyrics on an American record label.
We particularly enjoyed meeting Kate MacMurray, proprietor of the MacMurray Ranch in California, which was started by her father, the late Fred MacMurray, a noted film and television actor—especially remembered by everyone for the popular show, “My Three Sons.”
Lucky guests who dropped by the MacMurray Ranch booth not only got to sample delicious wines, but they also got to take home several packets of wildflower seeds to plant in their gardens!
The date for next year’s WineFest has been set—January 19 and 20, 2008. So, mark your calendars. Maybe we’ll see you there?
Mohegan Sun, owned by the Mohegan Tribe, is one of the largest entertainment, gaming, shopping, and meeting destinations in the United States. Situated on 240 acres along the Thames River in scenic southeastern Connecticut, Mohegan Sun is within easy access of Boston. We drove there in less than two hours.
What began with the Casino of the Earth in 1996 has evolved into a legendary destination that now includes: the Casino of the Sky and more than 300,000 square feet of total gaming space; The Shops at Mohegan Sun, featuring more than 60 retail shops and dining venues ranging from food court-style to gourmet; the 10,000-seat Mohegan Sun Arena for world-class sporting events and concerts; an intimate Cabaret; and a 34-story luxury hotel, featuring 1,200 guestrooms and suites, premier meeting and convention space and a world-class spa.
For information about Mohegan Sun and its upcoming shows and special events, call 1-888-226-7711 or visit them online at
mohegansun.com.
Boston Premiere of “Kettle of Fish” Scheduled for March 10
According to Joan Quinn Eastman, Boston is having its own “Red Carpet Screening Benefit and VIP Gala” on Saturday, March 10. She refers to the Boston Premiere of “Kettle of Fish,” a romantic comedy starring Matthew Modine, Gina Gershon, and Boston's own Christy Scott Cashman. Mr. Modine and Ms. Gershon are the Honorary Chairs of the glitzy fundraising event, which will benefit the Lymphoma & Lukemia Society.
The private screening—complete with a “red carpet” entrance—takes place at John Hancock Hall, 180 Berkeley St., in Boston, beginning with a cocktail reception at 6:30 p.m. The VIP Gala follows at the home of Jay and Christy Cashman immediately following the film. There will also be a silent auction.
As President of Saint Aire Productions, Christy Scott Cashman oversees a slate of projects in various stages of development. A member of the Screen Actors Guild, Ms. Cashman is a central player in the New England independent film community, contributing her ideas, energy and financing to the Woods Hole Film Festival, Women in Film, Boston Film/Video Foundation and the Nantucket Film Festival.
Tickets may be purchased for the screening only, or for both the screening and the VIP Gala (limited) afterwards.
For more information, please call Wes Ford at 617-247-2228 or e-mail wes@saintaire.com. For updated information, visit the Web site at
www.saintaire.com.
Enjoy!
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