First Annual Boudin & Beer Featured Abita Beer, Top Chefs, New Orleans Spirits and Louisiana Flavor
NEW ORLEANS (November 23, 2011) – At Emeril’s 7th annual Carnivale du Vin, over 700 guests from across the country gathered in New Orleans for an evening of food, wine and giving on November 12 to raise over $1.8 million for children’s charities.
New this year, Emeril Lagasse Foundation introduced Boudin & Beer, a nighttime food and music celebration that was held at The Foundry and outdoors in the historic Warehouse District on November 11. Boudin & Beer, presented by Abita Beer, hosted 1500 guests and showcased 30 talented chefs, paying homage to Louisiana’s food culture and local flavor.
“I can’t thank our chefs enough for donating their time and talents and everyone who attended this year’s events for their incredible generosity to the Foundation,” said Emeril Lagasse. “I’m so thankful to our chefs, winemakers, sponsors and loyal supporters who come back year after year for Carnivale du Vin and for our local friends who helped make our very first Boudin & Beer such a huge hit. Thank you for continuing to give back to this community and improving the lives of our next generation of young people.”
The funds raised at Carnivale du Vin and Boudin & Beer benefit Emeril Lagasse Foundation’s year-round programming and community initiatives, which promote mentorship, education and the arts. To date, the Foundation has granted $5 million to children’s causes in the New Orleans region to support programs including the recently completed Emeril Lagasse Foundation Culinary Arts Studio at New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA). The Foundation also provided funding to Second Harvest Food Bank for more than 130,000 nutritious summer meals for hungry school-aged children.
Major sponsors of Carnivale du Vin were the New Orleans Convention Center, American Airlines, Flight Options, Republic National Distributing Co., and Wine Spectator. Major sponsors of Boudin & Beer were presenting sponsor Abita Beer, The Foundry, Presqu’ile Wine and Republic National Distributing Co. Supporting sponsors include Goldring Family Foundation, Viking and Rouses Markets.
Emeril’s Boudin and Beer was co-hosted by chefs Mario Batali and Donald Link. From cowboy boots, hay stacks and haute sausages, to Louis Roederer’s Brut Premier champagne and Presqu’ile wines, Boudin & Beer embodied the essence of Louisiana’s culinary heritage, with New Orleans artist Alex Beard’s iconic original pig artwork providing inspiration for the event’s theme and décor.
The sold-out event featured 14 varieties of Abita Beer, The Glenlivet Scotch (5 marks – 12, 15, 16, 18, and 21-year), Nat Sherman cigars, as well as specialty cocktails – “Moscow Mule” made with Plymouth Gin, “Sazerac Cocktail” with Sazerac Rye, and “Southern Buck” made with Buffalo Trace. The menu included traditional and creative twists on boudin, artisan sausages and other rustic Louisiana fare from chefs Frank Brigtsen, Paul Prudhomme, Susan Spicer and Sue Zemanick, just to name a few. Patrons fested to the sounds of New Orleans and Cajun musicians – Lost Bayou Ramblers, Gal Holiday & the Honkey Tonk Revue, and The Tin Men.
Carnivale du Vin began as Chef Emeril toasted chefs, vintners, sponsors and this year’s honorary “bacchus,” Dan Kosta of Kosta Browne Winery, whose his 2009 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir, recently named “#1 Wine of the Year” by Wine Spectator. The special bottling was lauded by guests as they sipped and savored artisanal hams and cheeses from around the world prepared by chefs from Emeril’s restaurants.
The Carnivale “Krewe du Vin” chefs and vintners comprised the food and wine world’s best – Michael Chiarello, Mario Batali and Mark Ladner, Dean Fearing and Jacque Torres. The visiting chefs were assisted throughout the weekend by culinary arts students from NOCCA.
The four-course wine pairings dinner menu included:
- Michael Chiarello’s Angry Shrimp with White Bean Passatina paired with Foxen Winery’s Santa Maria Valley Chardonnay 2009
- Mario Batali and Mark Ladner’s Agnolotti with Black Truffles and Pecorino di Fossa paired with Williams Selyem’s Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2005.
- Dean Fearing’s Maple-Black Peppercorn Soaked Buffalo Tenderloin paired with Levy McCelllan’s Napa Valley Red Wine 2005.
- Jacques Torres’ fontaine paired with Au Bon Climat Emeril’s Roots Aleatico 1995.
Before dinner, patrons actively bid in a 140-lot silent auction gallery which featured artwork and luxury goods including New Orleans Saints jerseys signed by star players Roman Harper and Darren Sharper, highly sought-after wines, private dining and unique travel experiences including dinner for four at the James Beard House. The highlight of the evening was a 19-lot live wine auction that attracted the attention of chefs, winemakers and bidders. Popular lots included “Cabo Cowboys,” a trip to Cabo for an indulgent weekend of food and drinks with Emeril and rock-n-roll legend Sammy Hagar, guitars signed by the Eagles, and the top lot of the night – “Harvest Boot Camp” – a winemaking adventure hosted by Dan Kotsa and Emeril Lagasse which sold for $85,000.
After fierce bidding until midnight, guests rocked and rolled to the high-energy sounds of the Eagles famed Glenn Frey and his band.
Next year’s Boudin & Beer and Carnivale du Vin will be held on November 9th and 10th, 2012. For more information on Carnivale du Vin, Boudin & Beer and Emeril Lagasse Foundation, please visit www.carnivaleduvin.com, www.boudinandbeer.com, or www.emeril.org.