After the last few weeks of stressing out watching The Weather Channel and tracking Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma, I think just about everyone on the Gulf Coast is looking for a great way to unwind a little bit this weekend. The 4th Annual The Wharf Uncorked Food & Wine Festival presented by Wind Creek Atmore will be coming to Orange Beach this weekend for three days of great food and great wine all benefitting Make-A-Wish® Alabama – an organization devoted to granting wishes to Alabama children with life-threatening medical conditions. What better way to spend a weekend!?
My friend Kayla and I will be heading there tomorrow night and I could not be more excited. If you are local, I would love to meet you there! Tickets are on sale now! If not, you can still follow long on my Instagram and be sure to also check out The Wharf Uncorked Facebook.
The Wharf Uncorked Food & Wine Festival presented by Wind Creek Atmore, set for Sept. 14-16, will bring a dynamic roster of culinary talent from the Gulf Coast and beyond serving up samples of their signature dishes, demonstrating their skills and competing for the ultimate prize.
Thursday, Sept. 14
VIP Kickoff + Chef Showdown
The three-day experience will begin at 4720 Main Street from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Reigning showdown champion, Brody Olive (Perdido Beach Resort), will be joined by two mystery chefs for this year’s competition to create the best dish with Alabama Gulf Seafood fueled with culinary challenges and roadblocks. James Briscione and Brooke Parkhurst, authors of The Couples Kitchen, will emcee as they race against the clock.
There will be select vendor wine and spirits tasting, an auction preview, an open bar, food samples, and giveaways. Individual tickets for the kickoff event are $35. Combo tickets for the Chef Showdown and Grand Tasting are $80. Ticket prices will rise on Sept. 1 to $40/$95.
Friday, Sept. 15
Local Wine Dinners
The Wharf is home to more than 10 unique restaurants with a robust range of fare. Participating venues along with others along the Gulf Coast will curate individual menus with specials and wine pairings. Guests can make reservations directly through the restaurant of their choice.
Saturday, Sept. 16
The Grand Tasting
The Wharf Entertainment District will be lined with vendors serving more than 100 labels of wines, craft beer, spirits and small bites for the culinary competition from participating restaurants including:
- Bayes Southern Bar & Grill
- Blue Water BBQ Company
- Cobalt
- Cosmo’s
- Driftwood Steakhouse
- Fisher’s at Orange Beach Marina
- Flora Bama Yacht Club
- Ginny Lane Bar & Grill
- GT’s On The Bay
- Luna’s Eat & Drink
- Master Joe’s
- Ronin Sushi Bar
- Villaggio Grille
- Voyagers
- Wolfe Bay Lodge
Guests will have the opportunity to cast a vote for their favorite dish, and the night will close with a ceremony of awards. Again this year, The Wharf Uncorked champion will be an automatic Elite Qualifier for the World Food Championships in November back at The Wharf.
The Rouses Market Culinary Experience Tent will be action packed with demonstrations from talents like ‘Top Chef’ contestant, Jim Smith; Southern Living test kitchen director, Robby Melvin; and Rouses in-house chef and author, Neil “Nino” Thibodaux. There will also be designated booths for notable names like two-time ‘Chopped’ champion and cookbook author, James Briscione.
In addition, there will be a luxury yacht walk, book signings, vendor booths, both live and silent auctions benefitting Make-A-Wish® Alabama and a high-end wine sampling tent.
Tickets for the Grand Tasting are $60 – last minute pricing begins Sept. 1 at $70.
Tickets are available online through Ticketmaster.com, or at The Wharf box office. For more information, please visit TheWharfUncorked.com.
About The Wharf
Located in beautiful Orange Beach, The Wharf is the Gulf Coast’s premier destination resort and Marina. The Wharf features a unique selection of shopping, dining and entertainment options, including restaurants, boutiques, and stores, a 15-screen movie theater, 112 foot tall Ferris wheel, and live music at The Wharf’s 9,600 seat Amphitheater. No matter the time of year, The Wharf is the ultimate family-friendly vacation destination. For more information visit alwharf.com.
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