Martha Stewart To Be Honored At Greenwich Wine + Food Festival

GREENWICH, CT — The 2019 Greenwich Wine + Food Festival has added another big name to its lineup. Culinary and lifestyle expert Martha Stewart is scheduled to be honored at the festival’s Opening Night Master Chef Wine Gala on Friday, Sept. 20.

In addition to Stewart, eight chefs from Connecticut and New York are set to be honored at the gala for their creativity, passion and skill, as well as their local community efforts.

"The addition of Martha Stewart, a name synonymous with cooking, entertaining and all things lifestyle-related, truly rounds out our list of honorees this year," Unger Media founder and CEO Suni Unger said in a statement. "We are honored to be able to recognize her contributions to not only the culinary industry, but also her philanthropic work over her career."

Unger Media is the parent company behind Greenwich Wine + Food.

The gala, entitled "The Big Easy," will be themed after the culinary and music scene of New Orleans. Both the eight featured chefs and a number of Festival Ambassador Chefs will have their cuisine featured during the event.

The evening will be hosted by "The Howard Stern Show" Executive Producer Gary Dell'Abate and Emmy-winning writer and director Rob Burnett. There will also be musical performances from Rebirth Brass Band and Kermit Ruffins & The Barbecue Swingers.

This year's list of Most Innovative Chefs includes:

• Pasquale Abbatiello (Southern Table, Pleasantville, N.Y.)
• Matt Aita (Little Beet, Greenwich and New York, N.Y.)
• Aaron Bautista (F.I.S.H Restaurant, Stamford)
• Evans Corrales (Restaurant at Rowayton Seafood, Rowayton)
• David Guimaraes (Milestone Restaurant, Redding)
• Emily Mingrone (Tavern on State, New Haven)
• Brian Sernatinger (Único, Hartsdale, N.Y.)
• Jeff Taibe (Taproot, Bethel)

"In an area filled with some of the very best food and beverage options around the country, I am thrilled to be honoring the leading culinary talents in Connecticut and New York," Unger said. "Not only does this talented list of individuals show off the very best of their cooking skills in their restaurants, but they are also active in our communities participating in charitable functions, shopping at local farmers markets and further putting the foodie scene of our area on the map."

Festival Ambassador Chefs participating in Friday's event include Lisa Maronian of Sweet Lisa's Exquisite Cakes in Cos Cob, Robin Selden of Marcia Selden Catering in Stamford and Bill Taibe of Jesup Hall, Kawa-Ni and The Whelk in Westport, as well as other chefs from Greenwich, Ridgefield, New Canaan and Norwalk.

"After this amazing celebration that officially marks the start of our ninth annual event, we're looking forward to a fantastic Saturday full of festivities," Unger said, "including tastings and demonstrations from more than 150 of the area's finest food, wine and spirits experts, and areas devoted to the best in burgers, BBQ, tacos and more."

Musical acts set to close out the event Saturday include Little Big Town and Michael Franti & Spearhead.

The festival will take place rain or shine on Sept. 20 and 21. Anyone under 21, including infants or children in strollers, will not be admitted. Pets are also not permitted.

Tickets for the event can be purchased at greenwichwineandfood.com.