2016's Lodi ZinFest Cooking School is more stellar than ever

Culinary wine enthusiasts enjoying wine during previous ZinFest Cooking School

OMG, the 2016 Lodi ZinFest Wine Festival is this weekend, on Saturday, May 14!

What is good wine without food? As the late, great wine sage Andre Simon put it, “Food without wine is a corpse; wine without food is a ghost; united and well matched they are as body and soul, living partners.” Amen, bro'!

There is a reason why our yearly Lodi ZinFest Cooking School is one of our most popular events: It is the naturally lush yet balanced, fruit forward qualities of Lodi grown wines that make them such an easy match for an endless variety of dishes.

This year’s ZinFest’s guest chefs are more stellar than ever. Each of our chefs will not only demonstrate dishes, but will also be talking about why their dishes are such great matches for the wines you will be able to taste with them.

Celebrity Chef Michael Midgley

The line-up:

1:00 – 1:40 PM - Michael Midgley, Midgley’s Public House

Dish: Cheese Stuffed Meatballs

Wine: 2012 d’Art Wines Lodi Barbera

Chef Michael Midgley is Stockton’s own celebrity chef, known as much for his big, entertaining personality as much as for his cooking chops, which he has been honing since the age of 14. Midgley’s Public House is a culmination of this experience, which includes an Executive Chef stint at Manteca’s Ernie’s Food and Spirits, and appearances on Food Network’s “Cut Throat Kitchen” (where he was a top winner), Bravo’s “Top Chef” and “Top Chef Masters,” and Esquire Network’s “Knife Fight.”

Chef Tony Lawrence

2:00 – 2:40 PM - Chef Tony Lawrence, Global Wine Chef and winechefforyou.com

Dish: Summer Braised Sweet & Spicy Bean Corn Bacon Salad on Black Bean Flour Tortilla

Wine: 2013 Jessie’s Grove Lodi Petite Sirah

The 2016 ZinFest will be Philadelphia’s Chef Tony Lawrence’s nth appearance (he's such a favorite, we’ve lost track of how many times, he has appeared!); and we are always thrilled because he is one of the few culinary wizards who is also a trained sommelier and serious connoisseur of wine, a certified wine & food pairing specialist, and a frequent speaker, writer, and professional food & wine judge. His 35 years of experience includes degrees from The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone and the Napa Wine Academy, and as the former chef of the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles.

"Cover chef" Heather Lea

3:00 – 3:40 PM - Heather Lea, Elle’s Custom Catering

Dish: Lemon, Herbed, Ricotta Gnocchi with Peas and Asparagus in a Garlic Cream Sauce

Wine: 2015 Jeremy Wine Company Lodi Albariño

Since 2004 Chef Heather Lea’s Stockton based Elle’s Custom Catering (named after her daughter Elle) has been San Joaquin Valley’s premier event-maker. Her specialty is “keeping it fresh,” and she is known for her seasonal menus showcasing the Valley’s rich agricultural heritage.

4:00 – 4:40 PM Chef Tony Lawrence, Global Wine Chef and winechefforyou.com

Dish: Moroccan Spiced Raspberry Chicken Vegetable & Rice Medley

Wine: 2013 Klinker Brick Old Ghost Old Vine Zinfandel ZinFesters, do plan accordingly, and bon appetit!