Sun Glasses

The big foodie (and drinkie) event this weekend happens at Mohegan Sun (1 Mohegan Sun Blvd., Uncasville; 888-226-7711): the sixth annual Sun WineFest (sunwinefest.com), Jan. 17–18, with wine, spirit and ale tastings, celebrity chef cooking demos, a swanky gala dinner, seminars and more.

The main event is the grand tasting, which fills the Convention Center both days from noon to 5 p.m. with booth after booth of samples from more than 200 wineries, craft and organic beers, trappist ales, importers, distributors, culinary exhibits (fancy home appliances, cooking and serving equipment, crystal glassware, wine storage, etc.), plus live stage presentations. Though drink samples and main stage events are included in the admission fee ($70 per day or $110 for a weekend pass, benefitting Juvenile Diabetes Research), there's a separate fee for food, with nearly 20 restaurants from Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York serving tasting portions (typically $3–$6) from their menus, including Bay Leaf Gourmet, Bosc Kitchen & Wine Bar, Cafe on Main, Dakota Steakhouse of Rocky Hill, Gelato Giuliana, Grants Restaurant, J. Gilbert's Wood Fired Steaks & Seafood, Jacques Torres Chocolate, Jasper White's Summer Shack, Jordan Caterers, La Vita Gustosa, Michael Jordan's Steak House, Mohegan Sun Bake Shop, The Polytechnic On 20, Restaurant Bricco, Rizzuto's Wood-Fired Kitchen & Bar, Sol Toro Tequila Grill, Toshi Japanese Restaurant and Waterfront Grille.

During the grand tastings, the main stage features fun stuff from celebrity chef demos (by Mary Ann Esposito of PBS' Ciao Italia, Robert Irvine of Food Network's Dinner: Impossible and others), to the "Oyster Open" and "Chef Showdown" competitions among area shuckers and chefs, a seasonal cocktail demo and more. Both days intimate seminars on wine, spirits and ales take place in restaurants throughout Mohegan Sun for a separate fee ($40–$75, with no grand tasting ticket required).

On Sat., the Celebrity Chef Dine Around ($175, benefitting the American Liver Foundation) kicks off at 7:30 p.m. with a champagne reception, offering guests a chance to meet television chefs and cookbook authors up close as they serve dishes paired with wine, beer or other booze in the Uncas Ballroom. For example, Summer Shack's executive chef/owner Japser White serves bacon-wrapped halibut with chanterelle mushroom sauce and sweet potato pancake, paired with Domaine Chandon pinot noir Carneros 2006; Tuscany restaurant's Todd English dishes out waygu beef paired with Rubicon Estate, 2004; and "the godfather of nuevo Latino" Douglas Rodriguez dazzles with smoked marlin tacos, paired with Brooklyn Brewery's Local One and Brooklyn Lager. ¡Buen provecho!

Send food news to kcei@newhavenadvocate.com