Coming to this year’s Crave Food and Drink Celebration: two of this year’s James Beard award-winners
The line-up for the second annual Crave Food and Drink Celebration is starting to shape up.
Organizers are still awaiting confirmation from some chefs. But two of this year’s James Beard award-winners have already agreed to be there.
Felipe and June Hernandez of Los Hernandez Tamales in Union Gap, near Yakima, won the James Beard Foundation’s 2018 America’s Classics award and are slated to appear at the event.
Edouardo Jordan won two James Beard awards: for best new restaurant for his Southern-inspired JuneBaby as well as best all-around chef in the Northwest. Jordan is the chef and owner of JuneBaby and Salare, which offers dishes inspired by the cuisine of South America, Africa, Europe and the Caribbean islands. He’s slated to appear at the pop-up event from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. May 30 at the Montvale Hotel in downtown Spokane.
Here’s who else foodies can expect to see at the next Crave event, July 12 to 15 in Spokane Valley.
Trevor Bird of Fable Kitchen in Vancouver, British Columbia, who attended last year’s inaugural event, is slated to return. Also coming from Canada: Mark Singson of Fam Inc.
Grant Hinderliter of the Marcus Whitman Hotel in Walla Walla, Chris Selfridge of Simmer in Moses Lake, Wilson Wieggel of Big Sky Resort in Montana round out the Inland Northwest regional chefs.
John Sundstrom of Lark and Brian Clevenger of Vendemmia are slated to come from Seattle.
Tu David Phu, who hosts pop-up Vietnamese dining experiences in the San Francisco Bay Area, and Jeff Bonilla of Aton in Rancho Santa Fe, California, are also scheduled to be at this year’s Crave.
Slated to travel even farther are Crave first-timers Hugh Acheson of Five & Ten in Atlanta and Matthias Merges of A10 in Chicago, as well as Brian Duffy of Flying Fish Crafthouse in Philadelphia, who’s retuning for the second year in a row.
And that’s not all. A whole host of local chefs are also slated to participate.
At Thursday night’s seafood bash, expect to see Chad White of Zona Blanca, Rick Reichelt of Anthony’s at Coeur d’Alene, Randy Wilson of Anthony’s at Spokane Falls, Chris White of Cosmic Cowboy, Steve Jensen of Craft and Gather, Evan Tewel of Table 13, Paul Mason of Vine and Olive, Alexa Wilson of FSA and Garrett Di Biase of Meishi Oysters.
At Friday night’s foods-from-around-the-world-themed tasting, expect to see Tony Brown of Ruins, Bryan Doyle of Durkin’s Liquor Bar, Travis Tveit of Iron Goat Brewing, Tanya Broesder of Masselow’s, Kyle Bowlby of Steelhead Bar and Grille, and Molly Patrick, formerly of the Blackbird and Manito Tap House.
Saturday night, a fire-and-smoke-themed tasting is planned with Travis Dickinson of Cochinito Taqueria, Chris Silor of Farmhouse Kitchen and Silo Bar, Steven Walk of Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort, Will Wohlfeil of South Fork Public House in Pullman, and Tim Mitchell of Mangia Catering. Tveit is also scheduled to be there, along with a chef from Casper Fry.
Sunday brunch is also planned with Patrick Fechser of Hay J’s, David Adlard of Candle in the Woods, Jeanine and Eric Smith of Cole’s Bakery & Café, Shawn Matlock of Max at Mirabeau, Nick Onustack of Yards Bruncheon, Dan Gonzalez of Wandering Table, Alex Stoy of Le Catering, Doug Metzger of the Red Lion in Lewiston and Kylsey Paul of Madeleine’s Cafe and Patisserie.
During grand tasting events Saturday and Sunday, a whole host of vendors will be on hand. They include Barker BBQ, Booey’s Gourmet, Caramel Kitchen, Fannie’s Ice Pops, Falco’s, Incrediburger, Inland Curry, Sweet Annie’s Ice Cream, The Onion and Area 51 Taphouse, Tomato Street Italian Restaurant, Thomas Hammer Coffee Roasters, The Barrel Steak and Seafood House, First Ave Coffee and Roast House, Heritage Distilling Co., No-Li Brewery, Maryhill Winery, Tieton Cider Works, Whiskey Barrel Cider and more.
Tickets are on sale now for the second annual Crave fest. Early bird prices are still available. To buy tickets or find a complete schedule of events, visit cravenw.com.