Celebrity Chef Lidia Bastianich Headlines 2010 Saratoga Wine & Food and Fall Ferrari Festival Presented by the Italian Trade Commission, September 10 - 12

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y., Aug. 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Celebrity chef and best-selling author Lidia Bastianich will highlight the 2010 Saratoga Wine & Food and Fall Ferrari Festival presented by the Italian Trade Commission, September 10 – 12. Bastianich joins world-class Italian auto designer Andrea Zagato and Presenting Sponsor, the Italian Trade Commission, in headlining the festival – a series of events over three days celebrating Italy's excellence in wine, food and automobiles.

The centerpiece of the festival – the Grand Tasting and Ferrari Concours on Saturday, September 11 – will feature hundreds of fine Italian and international wines, delicacies from the region's top chefs, Italian couture, luxury auctions, fascinating seminars and a Ferrari Concours.  The Italian Trade Commission will host an Italian Pavilion showcasing the Pure Flavors of Italy with over 35 importers of Italian wines and authentic quality food products. 

New to the festival schedule in 2010 are two events including the "After Party" sponsored by Ketel One – a post-Grand Tasting event that will offer guests a relaxed lounge atmosphere with gourmet food, spirits and music. Also new is an Italian Sparkling Jazz Brunch at Saratoga National Golf Course featuring an Italian-inspired brunch menu, Italian couture and live music. 

Other highlights of the Festival include:

• A seminar on Italian wines by Kevin Zraly, celebrated wine expert, educator and author of the best-selling wine book in the U.S., Windows on the World Complete Wine Course
• A book signing by Lidia Bastianich for her latest cookbook, Lidia Cooks from the Heart of Italy: A Feast of 175 Regional Recipes.

The festival's rising profile has attracted international and national sponsors including the Italian Trade Commission, Key Private Bank, Ketel One Vodka, HSBC Bank USA, N.A., Zagat's, Wide World Ferrari Maserati, Acela, UBS Wealth Management, Marriott Courtyard, Empire Merchants North, Stolzle, Arrive, Grana Padano, Di Palo Selects and Comitti Yachts. Regional sponsors include Saratoga Marketing Group, Times Union, 101.3 FM and Saratoga Eagle.

The Saratoga Wine & Food and Fall Ferrari Festival is presented by Saratoga Performing Arts Center with the partnership of the Saratoga Automobile Museum. Proceeds raised at the event will benefit the education programs of each organization.

Tickets and a full schedule of events are available at www.spac.org.

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SOURCE Saratoga Performing Arts Center