I recently had the immense pleasure of attending the first official Atlantic City Food and Wine Festival, held from July 30th to August 2nd in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The event, which originally debuted in 2007 as Toast to the Coast, was revamped and relaunched this year by partnering with TD Bank and Susan G. Komen for the Cure. With more events, tastings and celebrity chef meet and greets, it was easy to follow the event’s slogan to “Uncork your Passion”.

The fun started from the minute I walked into Harrah’s Resort. With the usual temptation of clamoring bells and chimes calling from the casino floor, I easily avoided getting sucked in to the darkness by knowing that I had a booked weekend full of events with good food and good wine ahead of me (although that might have faded from around 2-4 am; come on, it is Atlantic City we’re talking about here!).

I started off with the Food & Wine Spectacular at The Pool at Harrah’s, hosted by Top Chef’s Tom Colicchio. They honestly couldn’t have chosen a more likeable, respected TV personality and renowned chef to host the event, or a better location for the casual yet trendy walk around tasting. Chef Colicchio made every attempt to wave back or shake the hand of any fan that was able to make their way through the crowd and approach him. Wines were being poured by Banfi, Moët & Chandon, Kunde and Chalone, among others, and the food offerings were delectable and bountiful… a true accomplishment indeed.

After the tasting we headed over to the House of Blues After Party at Showboat, which was appropriately presented by Crystal Head vodka. The Foundation Room was a terrific venue, with a dj, dancing, outdoor balcony and tons of little rooms and alcoves for a more intimate and personal setting. The vodka, quadruple distilled and filtered through Polish crystals known as Herkimer Diamonds, is bottled in a sculpted glass replica of one of the legendary 13 Crystal Heads, believed to project enlightenment, positive energy and mystical properties (check out the video on their Web site with Dan Akyroyd). Yeah, I don’t know if I achieved all those great things, but I definitely remember I had a great time!

The Glenlivet Whiskey & Cigar Lounge was the perfect change of pace from the copious amounts of food and wine. Hosted at Bally’s Bikini Beach Bar, the atmosphere was cool and fun with nonstop dancing and laughter, thanks largely to some of the best live covers I’ve heard in a while from local band Big City. I kept thinking of so many of my guy friends, laughing at how much they would have loved to be there with me, enjoying the bounty of goods being offered.

But the highlight of the weekend? Without a doubt, the intimate, exquisite, and undeniably delicious Feast of Fieri with Food Network personality Guy Fieri. The man is awesome, people… I mean, everything that you think he is from his shows and books (cool, friendly, funny, cuddly) HE IS! And boy oh boy, the man can cook. I had some of the biggest prawns I’ve ever had (wrapped in bacon), a delicious grilled romaine salad (again, with bacon chunks), cedar plank salmon and steak Diane that rivaled any high-end restaurant (sadly, no bacon on that one). The food was second only to Fieri’s tableside manner, which was immensely real and approachable as he regaled us with personal stories that entertained the whole room.

Needless to say, by Sunday I was pretty pooped, so before returning home I decided to hit up the fabulous Elizabeth Arden Red Door Salon at Harrah’s. That was the decision of a lifetime, as the staff was friendly and courteous, accommodations were clean and serene, and the massage was fantastic. I returned home feeling refreshed and relaxed, reveling in the amazing weekend full of food, wine, and fun that I’d just had.

The Atlantic City Food and Wine Festival will be back in 2010, so save the dates now: July 29th to August 1st, 2010. And let me know when you’ve booked your tickets… ‘cause I’ll definitely see you there!

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