Harrah's Entertainment, which owns and operates many popular entertainment and recreation centers in the gambler's heaven of Atlantic City, is all set to expand its annual grand food and wine extravaganza. The festival which is  called The Toast to the Coast  will be held at various Harrah properties in Atlantic City from Thursday the  26^th of  June 26th to Sunday the 29^th of  June This event which was primarily aimed at players last year will now afford more access  to the members of the public this year.

This good food and wine event promises to be a gourmand's delight, as its lineup of events includes celebrity chef luncheons, gala dinners, culinary demonstrations, wine and food tastings, cookbook signings and food and wine pairings.  The returning events from last year's spectacle include the popular House of Blue's Gospel Brunch at Showboat Casino and a Good Food and Wine Expo. All the events of The Toast to the Coast 2008 will be held at the four Harrah properties located in Atlantic City namely the Caesar's, Bally's, Showboat and Harrah's Casinos.

Food and Wine Expo at Bally's Grand Ballroom on June 26^th

This is the kick-off event of the Toast to the Coast spectacular and it will feature food and wine purveyors from all over the world who will be showcasing their exquisite foods and gourmet gadgets at the event. The event will be held in Grand Ballroom of the Bally's Casino from 4pm to 9pm from the 26th of June. The Food and Wine exposition will continue until Saturday the 28^th of June. At this exposition you will have the chance to sample signature dishes of many celebrity chefs while you meet and mingle with many top winemakers and sample fine foods and wine. You will also have the chance to shop for cookbooks and gadgets at the event. The exposition will also feature a Premier Wine Tasting and Celebrity Chef Cooking Demonstrations. The schedule for the Celebrity Chef Demos is as follows:- 

Friday 27th June at 6 pm: Roland Meisner

Chef Roland Meisner was appointed the pastry chef at the White house under President Carter and during his appointment he made sure that all the deserts that were served at White House dinners, were made at the White House itself.   Though this resulted in him having to work long hours, he successfully catered  the deserts at countless State Dinners that were held during his tenure at the White House.

Saturday 28th June 1 pm: Ingrid Hoffmann

Chef Ingrid is very passionate about food and entertaining.  She hosts a show on the Food Network  called 'Simply Delicioso'. She also hosts a Spanish language cooking and lifestyle show on Galavision/Univision called 'Delicioso'. She has recently published a book of her simple every day recipes with a Latin twist also titled Simply Delicioso.

Saturday 28th June 2pm: Guy Fieri

Chef Guy Fieri is a star chef on the Food Network and is also the spokesman for TGIF restaurants.

Tickets

Ticket prices for the Cooking Demos and the Food and Wine Exposition range from $15 to $250 and include food, beverage and taxes. Tickets to the various events are all available online at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 800-736-1420. You can also purchase a three day Spectacular Pass. This 3 day pass will give you admission to the Celebrity Chef Culinary Demos, The Premier Wine Tasting and the Giada DeLaurentiis Live Show to be held at Caesars Maximus Theater on Saturday, June 28

The Biggest Champagne Toast to the Coast

The four Harrah Casino's will raise a complimentary champagne toast to the event on Friday the 27^th of June at 8pm.

Splash – a pool side dine around

This event will be held in two sessions around the Pool at Harrah's Casino on Friday the 27^th of June. The event will feature gourmet confections which will be created for the event by celebrity Chefs Guy Fieri and Ingrid Hoffman. These signature dishes will be accompanied by cuisine prepared by the culinary teams from all the four casinos. Tickets to the event, which will be held at 6pm and at 8.15 pm are priced at $125 per head and are also available online.

Cigar Beach Party at Bally's Bikini Beach Bar

This hedonistic event will feature top notch cigars and fine wines and will be held at Bally's raucous Bikini Beach Bar from 6pm onwards on Friday the 27^th of June. Tickets to the event are priced at $95 per head.

Taste of the Pier and Lunch at Mia

The events for Saturday the 28^th of June include a luncheon which is to be held at Mia restaurant. This event will be catered by chefs and owners George Perrier and Chris Scarduzio who also own Le Bec-Fin, Brasserie Perrier Georges and Table 31 in Philadelphia. Tickets to this event are priced at $65 per head and can be reserved by calling the restaurant directly at 609 441 2345.  Various restaurants like Buddakan, Continental and Sonsie which are located at the Pier will also participate in the Toast to the Coast on Saturday the 28^th of June by offering food and wine specials all day long in honor of the festival.

Vine and Dine Event

This gala event of the festival will be held in the Palladium Ballroom of the Caesars casino from 6pm onwards on Saturday the 28^th of June. The highlight of this evening will be a dinner where each course will be presented by a celebrity chef who will be in attendance at the festival. Tickets to this grand affair of good food and wine are priced at $250 per head.

House of Blues  Gospel Brunch at Showboat Casino

On Sunday the 29^th of June the festivities of this gastronomic extravaganza come to an end with the return of the House of Blues Gospel Brunch which will be held from 10 am onwards at the Showboat Casino. Tickets for this extremely popular brunch are priced at $30 per head.

The Harrah's group has formulated special room and event packages for the Toast of the Coast details of which can be found at www.harahs.com/toastofthecoast  or by calling 800-942-7724.

 


Images of Atlantic City casinos originally posted on http://www.flickr.com by roadsidepci,smenzel,Petroleumjeliffe,shoebappa and smenzel.