Culinaria Food and Wine Festival Offers Unmatched Experiences, May 15-19!

SAN ANTONIO, March 20, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Culinaria means upscale affairs featuring sumptuous gourmet creations, elegant wine dinners, extravagant tastings, paramount Chefs, global wineries, and roadside food trucks too.

Culinaria gets underway May 15 with winemaker dinners at various locations.  Food Trucks roll into action for an encore, gastronomic experience, Thursday, May 16.  Guests enjoy Latin, Asian and New American cuisine served from rolling roadside kitchens. 

The seating-limited Becker Vineyards Luncheon in Stonewall, May 17, features San Antonio and Hill Country chefs creating fare inspired by visiting winemakers. 

Burgers, BBQ and Beer, May 19 at The Pearl, promises imaginative takes on the classic backyard fare.

"That's probably my favorite event," says John Brand, Executive Chef at Las Canarias and Ostra, the restaurants of the Omni La Mansion del Rio. "It involves the most basic of foods and ingredients, so you are able to show off your identity as a chef with some really cool flavors that you wouldn't expect typically in a burger."

Past burgers featured a bacon and pork burger with crispy scallions and red pepper aioli, and Akaushi sliders with applewood smoked bacon and Kerrygold cheddar, a side of Yukon gold potato salad and even an edible flower.

Best of Mexico, May 17, at The Shops at La Cantera has been growing in popularity, thanks to Chefs from Mexico bringing Latin flavors to the heart of the city. The Southwest's only large-format tequila competition adds allure.

The Grand Tasting is just that...GRAND! Saturday, May 18, the Grotto Riverwalk features live music, tastings, silent auction and the Bubble Room, an opt-in retreat to relax and enjoy champagne.

Festival proceeds support culinary art students and recently launched plans for The Culinaria Educational Center and Gardens to promote healthy living in the city of San Antonio.

"Availability of local, fresh produce changes how people view healthy eating and nutrition," says Suzanne Taranato, president of Culinaria.  "The Garden will host chef demonstrations, dinners, nutritional seminars and inspire physical activity too with abundant walking trails."

Culinaria, formerly known as the San Antonio New World Wine & Food Festival, showcases the Alamo City's culinary artistry through an array of events designed to draw both the most enlightened and casual palates.

Please visit www.culinariasa.org to purchase tickets and learn about all of Culinaria's events.  For inquiries call 210-822-9555 or email [email protected].

SOURCE Culinaria