The 18th Annual Wine & Food Week concludes in splendid culinary fashion with The Wine Rendezvous Grand Tasting & Chef Showcase

THE WOODLANDS, TX – On on the evening of June 11, Wine & Food Week presented the final and most impressive gathering for wine aficionados and food connoisseurs from around the country. Celebrating their 18th anniversary, The Wine Rendezvous Grand Tasting & Chef Showcase brought together some of the best libations and mouthwatering dishes from some of the most admired restaurants in the area. According to Food & Vine Time Productions, the company that created this wildly popular annual event, “All total, the week featured chef teams totaling more than 100, 75 restaurants, 647 wines, numerous educational seminars, and various culinary events ranging from Rose’ Way: A Sweet Soiree to the elegant Ladies of the Vine Tasting, Luncheon & Panel Discussion and culminating in the elegant Wine Rendezvous Grand Tasting & Chef Showcase.”

Click here to view photo gallery of the 2022 Wine Rendezvous Grand Tasting & Chef Showcase

In addition to the wonderful events preceding Saturday evening, The Wine Rendezvous Grand Tasting & Chef Showcase conducted an induction ceremony for Cleverley Stone, affectionately known as the “Diva of Dining” and a long-time friend of Food & Vine Time Productions. It was an honor only offered 4 other times in the 18 year history of Wine & Food Week.

About Cleverley Stone

Cleverley Stone was the founder of Houston Restaurant Weeks, the city’s largest fundraiser of its kind, supporting the Houston Food Bank. She was an icon in the Houston restaurant scene with hundreds of interviews on TV, The Cleverley Show (Texas’ most popular and longest running radio program about food, wine and dining which hit the 15-year mark in 2018.) Cleverley passed away in 2020 at the age 68. She was remembered affectionally by guests at Saturday’s event with a raised glass of wine in her honor and was inducted in the 2022 Chef of Chefs Hall of Fame. Her daughter, Katie Stone Cappuccio, who currently oversees The Cleverley Stone Foundation and Houston Restaurant Weeks was present to accept the award for her mother.

Chef Daisuke Igataki takes top honors at Chef of Chefs Culinary Awards

32 chefs from around the country competed for the esteemed Chef of Chefs Culinary Award and the bragging rights as top chef for Wine & Food Week 2022. According to Wine & Food Week, “Chef Daisuke Igataki, from Shimogamo in Chandler, Arizona took top honors including a $5,000 cash prize along with the Waterford Crystal Trophy presented by GOYA Foods. His dish was a reconstructed Japanese sukiyaki simmered A5 Miyazaki Japanese Wagyu Shoulder in sukiyaki style with soy, sake, and mirin. The eggshell bottom was the sukiyaki wagyu filled with dashi, egg foam topped with charcoal crisps, shiso leaf, shiso flower and salted ikura. First runner-up was Chef Urvin Croes with Infini Aruba for his Tuna Tartar. A tartelette made with seaweed, served with a tuna tartar, orange crème, ponzu gel, and furikake. Second runner-up was Chef David Skinner of eculent for his 44 Farms Sirloin served with a duck fat confit potato, grilled morel mushroom and foie gras cognac morel cream sauce.”

About Wine & Food Week and Food & Vine Time Productions

Wine & Food Week supports charitable organizations such as New Danville and The Woodlands Waterway Arts Council. Food & Vine Time Productions has raised well over two million dollars through various channels for local charities over the years.

Wine & Food Week, produced by Food & Vine Time Productions, is the first multi-day, multi-faceted, comprehensive destination culinary and wine event in the Houston Metro. Owners Clifton and Constance McDerby are dedicated to showcasing the culinary talent in the Houston metro while welcoming great chefs from across the globe who share their passion for flavors. They also are committed to extending their love of wine by featuring the flavors of the winemakers, growers, and producers who bring a time-honored tradition of the flavors of the vine. Food & Vine Time Productions created another first with the state’s first multi-day craft beer destination and educational event featuring over 300 craft beer selections. Brewmasters Craft Beer Festival which celebrated a decade of craft beer experiences was named #3 beer event in America by USA Today and #1 in Houston by Houstonia Magazine. Food & Vine Time Productions offerings include Katy Sip N Stroll, Houston Chronicle Culinary Stars, Nach-Yo Ordinary Tequila Tasting Tour and a myriad of private events for various clients. Since its inception in 2002, Food & Vine Time Productions has assisted in raising well over two million dollars for local charities through live and silent auctions and cash donations. Food & Vine Time Productions is celebrating it’s 20th anniversary in 2022 and raises a glass for the community we serve.

Make plans to attend the Platinum Wine Vault August 17 at Bayway Cadillac and the H-E-B Wine Walk at Market Street on October 6. Information at www.wineandfoodweek.com