The Taste of Vail: chefs' contest drives food, fun, festivities--and wine-tasting.

• Author: Smith, Kathy
• Position: Food

As the ski season winds down and mud season approaches, April isn't the month you'd expect to see heavy traffic around the Vail Village--unless you're aware of the Taste of Vail.

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April 5-8 mark the dates of the 16th annual Taste of Vail. The celebration features wine tasting and winemaker dinners, guest-chef showcase dinners, cooking classes, a lamb cook-off and many more happenings. It's a four-day extravaganza of wine, food and festivities. Events take place throughout Vail from Gore Creek Drive to the top of Vail Mountain. Food, wine and fun abound.

Amy Phillips, Taste of Vail administrator, says, "The most fun part of the Taste is meeting all of the winemakers and owners of the wineries. This makes the event truly unique as so many festivals have the wine poured by a marketing representative." The vineyards and other sponsors support all culinary events.

The lamb cook-off, in its second year, is the kickoff event sponsored by the American Lamb Board. The sizzling showdown features local chefs preparing a cut of lamb, while wineries pour their finest match to the dishes. "Last year was the first year and the chefs really enjoyed the event," Phillips says. "They are all eager to attend again. Because it is a competition, we limit the number of chefs to 15." The 2005 winner was Thomas Newsted of Game Creek Lodge. He won a trip for two to Napa with his winning Leg of Lamp composition.

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