James Beard Foundation's Taste America® "Local Flavor from Coast to Coast" Traveling Food Festival Comes to Washington, D.C. This Fall

-Tickets on Sale July 10-

Food Enthusiasts and Chase Sapphire Preferred Visa Signature Cardholders Are Invited to Join Taste America All-Star Sean Brock to Taste and Enjoy America's Culinary Diversity September 27-28

WASHINGTON, July 10, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Tickets are available today for The James Beard Foundation's Taste America®: "Local Flavor from Coast To Coast," a national traveling food festival which will visit Washington, D.C., on Friday, September 27 and Saturday, September 28. The five weekend festival will visit 10 cities from September 20 through October 19, 2013. Taste America will showcase culinary all stars and public events exploring the nation's unique range of local cuisines in Washington, D.C., along with nine other cities including Boston, Chicago, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, Philadelphia, Phoenix, and San Francisco. Taste America is presented by the James Beard Foundation (JBF) in partnership with Chase Sapphire Preferred® Visa Signature®. Tickets for the public are available at jbftasteamerica.org.

"Washington, D.C., is a fusion of cultural and culinary diversity with a passion for good food and a fondness for making friends.  In Italy, we take food and friendship very seriously and are honored to host the Taste of America's Amici e Cucina gala at the Embassy of Italy, especially in 2013: Year of Italian Culture in the United States, which is intended as a celebration of the cultural ties and close friendship between Italy and the United States," said Claudio Bisogniero, Ambassador of Italy to the United States.

A weekend-long tour, Washington, D.C.'s Taste America festivities will kick off on Friday, September 27 with an official gala and benefit dinner, 'Amici e Cucina' (Friends in the Kitchen), at the Embassy of Italy (3000 Whitehaven Street, N.W.) beginning with cocktails at 6:30 p.m. At 7:30 p.m., guests will be seated for dinner, featuring a menu created by James Beard Award winner and Taste America All-Star Sean Brock (HUSK) with support from a number of local culinary superstars, including Scott Drewno (The Source by Wolfgang Puck), Todd Gray (Equinox), Haidar Karoum (Proof), Enzo Fargione (Osteria Elisir), Vikram Sunderam (Rasika), and Tony Conte (Oval Room).

Tickets for the public go on sale today, July 10 at jbftasteamerica.org. The James Beard Foundation is proud to donate a portion of the proceeds to Washington's FRESHFARM Markets, a charity whose mission is to build and strengthen the local, sustainable food movement in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Ticket options are:

• All-Star Table: $50,000, includes 3 tables of 10 at the dinner, 30 tickets to private VIP reception, and additional benefits
• Chef's Table: $25,000, includes 2 tables of 10 at dinner, 20 tickets to private VIP reception, and additional benefits
• Farm Table: $10,000, includes 1 table of 10 at dinner, plus cocktail reception and additional benefits
• Friends Table: $5,000, includes 1 table of 8 at dinner, plus cocktail reception and additional benefits
• Food Lover Ticket: $500, includes single ticket for cocktail reception and dinner

In addition to the benefit dinner, a series of free, in-store consumer retail events will take place on Saturday, September 28 beginning at 10 a.m. at Sur La Table (326 King Street, Alexandria, VA). Activities will include a cooking demonstration with All-Star Sean Brock, as well as cookbook signings, local artisanal tastings, and more.

"The Taste America traveling food festival will shine a light on the dynamic culinary cities across the country," said Susan Ungaro, president of the James Beard Foundation. "Our Taste America chefs will be working with local farmers and artisanal producers of everything from cheese to chocolate. With the support of Chase Sapphire Preferred Visa Signature, we are now able to bring together the best innovators in our food world to educate and entertain Americans about local flavors from coast to coast."

The James Beard Foundation's Taste America is presented by Chase Sapphire Preferred Visa Signature, a premier rewards credit card for people who love travel and dining. Chase Sapphire Preferred Visa Signature cardholders will enjoy exclusive benefits not available to the public at James Beard Foundation's Taste America events, including access to chefs, recipes, preferred seating, and more.

The James Beard Foundation's Taste America is supported by retail partner, Sur La Table, national media partner, Every Day with Rachael Ray, and national sponsors including Breville, Delta Air Lines, The Gulf Oyster Industry Council, and Lurpak® butter.

For more information on the events or local sponsorship in Washington D.C., please contact Patricia Anderson at [email protected] or 202.449.4180, or visit http://jbftasteamerica.com/event/washington-dc.

About the James Beard Foundation:
Founded in 1986, the James Beard Foundation's mission is to celebrate, nurture, and honor America's diverse culinary heritage through programs that educate and inspire. A cookbook author and teacher with an encyclopedic knowledge about food, James Beard, who died in 1985, was a champion of American cuisine. He helped educate and mentor generations of professional chefs and food enthusiasts, instilling in them the value of wholesome, healthful and delicious food. Today the Beard Foundation continues in the same spirit by administering a number of diverse programs that include educational initiatives, food industry awards, scholarships for culinary students, publications, chef advocacy training, and thought-leader convening. The Foundation also maintains the historic James Beard House in New York City's Greenwich Village as a "performance space" for visiting chefs. In September of 2012, the Foundation launched the Diplomatic Culinary Partnership with the U.S. Department of State's Office of Protocol and helped create the American Chef Corps as a way to champion American chefs abroad, promote American food products and foster an interest in American culinary culture and history through international programs and initiatives. For more information, please visit www.jamesbeard.org. Find insights on food at the James Beard Foundation's blog Delights & Prejudices. Join the James Beard Foundation on Facebook. Follow the James Beard Foundation on Twitter and Instagram.

About Chase Sapphire Preferred:
Chase Sapphire Preferred is a premier rewards credit card for people who are passionate about travel and dining. With Sapphire Preferred you enjoy premium travel rewards and benefits with no travel restrictions or blackout dates on airfare booked through Ultimate Rewards, two points for every dollar spent on dining at restaurants and travel, no foreign transaction fees, 1:1 point transfer to leading frequent travel programs, 24/7 live customer service, access to exclusive cardmember experiences and more.  More information is available at www.chasesapphire.com/preferred.

SOURCE James Beard Foundation