Greenwich Wine + Food today announced its 10-year anniversary celebration taking place this October. The multi-day event will feature two completely re-imagined flagship events, festivities that recreate the most memorable experiences from the past decade and more. Beneficiaries include two national non-profit organizations with roots in Connecticut – The Jacques Pépin Foundation and Wholesome Wave. Premium sponsors include Wagoneer, Compass and Greenwich Hospital.
“The time has finally come for us to pop the champagne and celebrate our 10th anniversary with some of the most extravagant experiences we’ve ever offered,” said Suni Unger, founder and CEO of Unger Media, the parent company behind Greenwich Wine + Food and Serendipity magazine. “Our entire team is working closely this year with the culinary community in our area (and beyond) to recreate some of our guests’ favorite Greenwich Wine + Food experiences. We’re also thrilled to launch two all-new flagship events, as well as additional stand-alone, unique celebrations that will span multiple days this fall. We have so many surprises up our sleeves, I promise that there will be something for everyone at this year’s celebration!”
The 2022 Greenwich Wine + Food celebration will kick off on Saturday, October 1 with “The Big Easy,” honoring the sights, sounds and flavors of New Orleans as the event creates a “mini” French Quarter at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, NY. This completely new, dine-around event will feature acclaimed area chefs serving up signature dishes, staying true to the flavors and recipes of New Orleans, paired with Bourbon Street’s iconic drinks such as Hurricanes and Mudslides, as well as local craft brews and wine. Live music including legendary groups (artists to be announced at a later date) will add to the spirit of the evening. The 2022 class of Serendipity’s Most Innovative Chefs will also be honored at this lively event. This year, Serendipity recognizes a diverse and inventive group: Steven Chen (MIKU, Greenwich, CT), Will Friedman (The Whelk, Westport, CT), Jared Sippel (L’Ostal, Darien, CT) and Renee Touponce (Oyster Club, Mystic, CT).
The GWF 10th Anniversary Celebrity Chef Gala will be held on Friday, October 7, honoring legendary chef Jacques Pépin for his lifetime of achievement. Guests will be able to purchase seats to this luxurious dinner where noted chefs will prepare their own Pépin-inspired, four-course meal in front of guests at their table. The evening will include renowned chefs cooking and mingling with guests throughout the evening and participating in special programming to celebrate the incredible contributions that Pépin has made to the culinary world. This limited-ticket event will be held at Abigail Kirsch The Loading Dock in Stamford, CT. Guests will have the opportunity to purchase tables for groups of 10 and select their preferred award-winning chef in the coming weeks.
“Our goal is to not only celebrate our history and help lift-up our local culinary community, but also keep ahead of the trends that are changing the landscape of this industry as we know it and invite the community-at-large to be a part of these one-of-a-kind events,” says Unger. “Of course, at the heart of GWF as it has always been, is raising important proceeds to benefit the work of the Jacques Pépin Foundation and Wholesome Wave. Each organization works tirelessly through food policy and the power of culinary education to ensure that everyone, regardless of age, race, ethnicity or income can feed their families well.”
“After several years of interruption and disruption in our individual lives and our community, we are thrilled to be able to be back together in-person this fall, with Greenwich Wine + Food, to enjoy friendship, conviviality and good cheer, while making a positive impact on the food system and marginalized communities,” said Rollie Wesen, EdD, CEC, co-founder and executive director of the Jacques Pépin Foundation. “Community is strength, with power and purpose. And GWF brings together a great community of friends old and new, who enjoy life and want to make a positive impact.”
“I’m thrilled that Greenwich Wine + Food is happening this fall,” said Michel Nischan, co-founder and chairman, Wholesome Wave. “We’re so grateful for their support of Wholesome Wave and the Jacques Pépin Foundation, especially now that the pandemic has highlighted the importance of food and opportunity in solving some of society’s more vexing challenges. With the first White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health since 1969 happening in September 2022, it will be a pivotal year for food. Partnerships like ours with GWF demonstrate a shared belief that everyone should be able to share the joy, camaraderie and security that good food provides to us all, regardless of race, ethnicity, age or income.”
The full schedule of programming, including musical performances, celebrity chefs and events, and tickets will be available in the coming weeks at www.greenwichwineandfood.com, as well as the GWF’s social media channels (Facebook @Greenwichwineandfoodfestival and Instagram @greenwichwineandfood).
Parameters for weather, age restrictions, and health and safety guidelines will also be available on www.greenwichwineandfood.com.
ABOUT GREENWICH WINE + FOOD
Greenwich Wine + Food embraces and honors culinary visionaries in the community of Connecticut and New York, and beyond. A pillar of the brand is creating content, experiences and opportunities to bring together the most incredible chefs, restaurateurs, purveyors, farmers, vintners, industry leaders and guests while giving back to important causes. GWF celebrates community, charity, food, beverage and more in the Connecticut and New York area with multiple events throughout the year, including its flagship Greenwich Wine + Food Festival. The 2022 beneficiaries include the Jacques Pépin Foundation and Wholesome Wave. All proceeds will benefit both organizations.
Previous participants include chefs Daniel Boulud, Scott Conant, Mary Giuliani, Alex Guarnaschelli, Marc Murphy, Adam Richman and Marcus Samuelsson, as well as musical artists Tim McGraw, Little Big Town, Train and Ziggy Marley. Celebrating its 10-year anniversary this year, previous beneficiaries include the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, the Town of Greenwich Parks & Recreation Foundation, Food Rescue US and Ment’or.
Sponsors to date include Wagoneer, Compass, Greenwich Hospital (Premium Sponsors) and Westy Self-Storage (Supporting Sponsor) (*). The event was created by Suni Unger, founder and CEO of Unger Publishing, the parent company behind Greenwich Wine + Food and Serendipity magazine (a women-owned, women-run business). For more information, visit www.greenwichwineandfood.com or the event’s social media channels: Facebook (@Greenwichwineandfoodfestival) and Instagram (@greenwichwineandfood), or email [email protected].
(*As of 7/20/22)
ABOUT THE JACQUES PÉPIN FOUNDATION
The Jacques Pépin Foundation supports community kitchens that offer free life skills and culinary training to adults with high barriers to employment, including previous incarceration, homelessness, substance abuse issues, low skill and education attainment and lack of work history. Become a JPF Member to support our educational programs and grants. For more information, visit www.jp.foundation.
ABOUT WHOLESOME WAVE
Wholesome Wave is a national non-profit established on the belief that everyone, regardless of race, age, ethnicity, or income, has a fundamental right to choose healthy food. Wholesome Wave’s mission is to address disparities in diet-related disease and enhance nutrition equity by making fruits and vegetables more accessible and affordable to low-income community members through systems change. Founded in 2007 by James Beard Award-winning Chef Michel Nischan and former USDA Undersecretary of Agriculture Gus Schumacher, Wholesome Wave successfully established the legal framework and advocated funding the doubling of SNAP benefits when spent on healthy fruits and vegetables – a program that has reached millions of community members across the country and has been established as a permanent program in the 2018 Farm Bill, named the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program. Today, Wholesome Wave is leveraging our 15 years of experience and relationships supporting successful fruit and vegetable access programs to advocate for their inclusion as a covered healthcare treatment through government-sponsored health plans.
