Taste NY Culinary & Mixology Tent
At the 2024 Fest, the Taste NY Culinary & Mixology Tent will host cooking and cocktail demonstrations performed by a variety of chefs, and Mixaritas Mobile Bartending Service! The chefs and mixologists utilize products from our festival vendors in their recipes. In addition to the demonstrations, the chefs and mixologists will compete in ‘Iron Chef’ style competitions each day of the festival, with an ultimate winner being awarded on Sunday! Social Media Influencer judges put their taste buds to the ultimate test and choose the winners!
2024 Schedule
Saturday, June 29th
10:15am – 11:15am (VIP Welcome)
Culinary & Cocktail Brunch Demonstration – with Chef Sakari Smithwick & Mixaritas Mobile Bartending
11:45am – 1:15pm
Culinary Competition #1 – with Chefs Carl Weiner & Robert Murphy
1:30pm – 2:00pm
Cocktail Demonstration – with Mixaritas Mobile Bartending
2:15pm – 2:45pm
Sushi Demonstration – with The Sushi Class
3:00pm – 4:30pm
Culinary Competition #2 – with Chefs Sakari Smithwick & Adam Bruce
5:00pm – 5:30pm
Chocolate & Wine Pairing – with Barkeater Chocolates
Sunday, June 30th
10:15am – 11:15am (VIP Welcome)
Culinary & Cocktail Brunch Demonstration – with Chef Sakari Smithwick & Mixaritas Mobile Bartending
11:30am – 12:00pm
Cocktail Competition – with Mixologists Kelli Hatin, Jenn Berry-Youngs & Heather Miller
12:30pm – 2:00pm
Final Culinary Competition – with the two winning chefs from Saturday
2:30pm – 3:00pm
Sushi Demonstration – with The Sushi Class
3:30pm – 4:00pm
Cocktail Demonstration – with Mixaritas Mobile Bartending
2024 Chefs & Mixologists
CHEF SAKARI SMITHWICK
CHEF CARL WEINER
CHEF ROBERT MURPHY
Chef Sakari’s journey through the culinary world is truly remarkable. From his early days as a McDonald’s Grill Cook to gracing the kitchens of renowned establishments like Eleven Madison Park, Marea, and Restaurant Tribeca in the Netherlands, his path has been filled with passion and dedication. With over a decade of experience under his belt, Chef Sakari has not only contributed to the opening of multiple restaurants but also achieved the incredible milestone of earning his first Michelin star at the age of just 24. His culinary prowess has been recognized on national platforms, with appearances on Food Network’s Chopped, Fox’s Hell’s Kitchen, and more!
Chef Carl Weiner is the owner of Sans Souci, a charming restaurant in the east side community of Cleverdale, just 10 minutes outside Lake George Village off Route 9L. Sans Souci offers casual dining and delicious pizza in a welcoming local setting. Carl is hands-on, splitting his time between the front of the house and the kitchen. Besides his culinary pursuits, he is also a practicing CPA. Notably, Carl was the winner of the 2023 Sunday Culinary Competition!
Chef Robert Murphy, also known as the Upstate Chef, is the Executive Chef at the renowned Alderbrook Lodge. With a wealth of experience as a Food & Beverage Expert, Robert brings a unique blend of creativity and expertise to the culinary world. His role encompasses Event Planning & Catering, ensuring every event is a memorable and delightful experience. As a leader in Full-Service Hospitality, Chef Murphy is dedicated to providing exceptional dining experiences, making Alderbrook Lodge a premier destination for food enthusiasts and event planners alike.
CHEF ADAM BRUCE
MIXARITAS MOBILE BARTENDING
MIXOLOGIST HEATHER MILLER
Mixaritas is brought to you by expert mixologists Kelli Hatin & Jenn Berry-Youngs! Our mobile bartending service delivers the party right to your doorstep, featuring professional and knowledgeable mixologists who craft custom cocktails and mocktails to perfectly suit your event. Whether it’s a birthday, wedding, anniversary, or a girl’s night out, Mixaritas ensures you can sit back and enjoy the fun! Our talent was recognized with a full sweep at last year’s festival, winning the mixology competitions on both Saturday and Sunday!
Heather is the lead bartender at Lizzie Keays, a restaurant recently acquired by Chef Billy Trudsoe, renowned for competing on Hell’s Kitchen and winning our 2023 Saturday Culinary Competition! With 13 years of experience in the industry, Heather has crafted cocktails all over New York State and earned her first-level sommelier certification last April. Many may recognize her vibrant energy and passion from her time at Basil & Wicks in North Creek and at Adirondack Winery in Queensbury and Lake George. In addition to leading the bar team, Heather creates a brand-new menu of craft cocktails, and curates wine and beer selections.
THE SUSHI CLASS
BARKEATER CHOCOLATES
With extensive experience in the food industry and a shared love for sushi, Jaleel and Sara Wingard have transformed their passion into a fun and interactive experience for any occasion! Together, they create unforgettable moments filled with laughter and joy for sushi lovers, offering the ultimate sushi rolling experience. Become a sushi expert as Jaleel and Sara guide you through the art of sushi making in their engaging class! The Sushi Class specializes in curating exceptional experiences for any event, from private gatherings and celebrations to corporate events and public monthly sessions.
Barkeater, a Mohawk Indian term, is named after the mountains to which they belong. Nestled in the heart of the Adirondacks in North Creek, New York—near the base of Gore Mountain ski area—FlavorWow™ gourmet chocolate truffles, bars, bark, peanut butter cups, and caramels (and many other products) are handmade using a European process in small batches with a variety of explosive flavors. Since 2008, Barkeater Chocolates has been the Southern Adirondacks’ source for the finest chocolates.
2024 Judges
518 FOODIES
SARATOGA DINING
DANNY & KATHLEEN PIGLIAVENTO
Megan Rider will be judging the Saturday Culinary Competition starting at 11:45 AM. Jackie Silvestri-Edwards will be judging the Saturday Culinary Competition starting at 3:00 PM. Sarah Rinaolo will be judging the Sunday Culinary Competition starting at 12:30 PM.
Alexis Connor from Saratoga Dining will be judging the Saturday Culinary Competition starting at 11:45 AM.
Danny & his Mom, Kathleen, from Danny Pigs will be judging the Saturday Culinary Competition starting at 11:45 AM.
DEEPAK BALLANEY
DINE 365
TASTE OF TOGA
Deepak will be judging the Saturday Culinary Competition starting at 3:00 PM.
Vee from Dine 365 will be judging the Saturday Culinary Competition starting at 3:00 PM.
Sarah Lefevre from Taste of Toga will be judging the Sunday Culinary Competition starting at 12:30 PM.
LIBBY'S LIBATIONS
518 CRAFT BEER
HARD CIDER GUY
Libby Adams from Libby’s Libations and FLY 92.3 will be judging Sunday’s Cocktail Competition starting at 11:30 AM.
Shannon & Ryan from 518 Craft Beer will be judging Sunday’s Cocktail Competition starting at 11:30 AM.
Adrian Luna from Hard Cider Guy will be judging Sunay’s Cocktail Competition starting at 11:30 AM.
2024 Culinary & Cocktail Tent Supporters
We want to give a big shoutout to our 2024 supporters of the Culinary & Cocktail Tent! THANK YOU for your generous donations that make our festivities possible. Be sure to stop by their booths at the festival!
Our 2023 Winners!
SATURDAY CULINARY COMP
Chef Billy Trudsoe
Basil & Wicks, North Creek
& BTrue's Mad Flava
SUNDAY CULINARY COMP
Chef Carl Weiner
Sans Souci, Cleverdale
WEEKEND SWEEP!
Mixologists Kelli Hatin & Jenn Berry-Young, Mixaritas & Mixafusion
Congratulations to our Saturday Culinary Competition Winner: Chef Billy Trudsoe! Local, celebrity chef, Billy Trudsoe, recently a contestant on Gordon Ramsey’s, Hell’s Kitchen season 21, is now the executive chef at Basil & Wick’s in North Creek, New York. His menu, fueled by his trademark “B. True’s Mad Flava”, is making Basil’s the premiere dining destination of the Adirondacks!
Congratulations to our Sunday Culinary Competition Winner: Chef Carl Weiner! Chef Carl Weiner is the owner of the Sans Souci, a restaurant in the east side community of Cleverdale (10 minutes outside of lake george village off Route 9L); featuring casual dining and pizza in a local setting! Carl spends time in the front of house and in the kitchen. He spends his days as a practicing CPA.
Congratulations to our Weekend Mixology Competition Winners: Kelli Hatin & Jenn Berry-Youngs! Mixaritas brings the party to YOU! Their mobile bartending service features professional knowledgeable mixologists, and custom cocktails/mocktails to fit your party needs. Whether it’s a birthday, wedding, anniversary, or just a girl’s night out Mixaritas allows you to sit back and enjoy the fun!
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