Atlantic City Food & Wine Festival Kicks Off at The Chelsea

It may have been raining outdoors most of the day, but that’s never a problem in Atlantic City as I kept myself busy with my friend Gail along for the ride.  It was only fitting since she was a big part of my last Atlantic City adventure.

After a work-filled morning, I went to check out The Pool at Harrah’s Resort in the daytime.  It was just as fun-spirited as it is at night. The lunch of Jerk Chicken Sliders was good, but I found heaven and it’s called Temptation.  This is a spot in Harrah’s just outside the pool you can’t miss.  They sell coffee drinks, Jacques Torres chocolates and Crumbs cupcakes.  Plus, there’s even wine and some interesting (chocolate based) cocktails.  I just had a Mocha and I’m hoping to go back for the Frozen Hot Chocolate with Patron Tequila, or the Blackout Cupcake.

We took a cab over to Caesers to pick up credentials for the Atlantic City Food and Wine Festival and I couldn’t believe the decorations.  There was Food Network everywhere, from the pan Julius Caeser held to the faces of the network’s stars around the casino as we walked over to The Pier Shops.  It was a great reminder to everyone of the festivities to come and we took the hint and were off to The Chelsea for the kickoff party.

I hope to spend a bit more time at The Chelsea someday.  It’s a boutique hotel without a casino or the glitz that comes with it, but it looks like a beautiful hideaway under the massive Tropicana.  The party was upstairs in the Cabana Club around the pool and extended through the C5 nightclub.  Sponsors, media and friends mingled with Food Network personalities, most notably Guy Fieri, who reveled in the attention.

There was no shortage of drinks at the Atlantic City Food and Wine Festival’s Kickoff Party, including Blue on Blue Martinis with Van Gogh Blue Triple Wheat Vodka; Cucumber Lemonade with Hendricks Gin; The Paloma, Cazadores Reposado Tequila, Grapefruit Soda and Lime Juice; Red Stag Old Fashioned (a favorite of mine), with Jim Beam’s cherry-infused bourbon, oranges, cherries and club soda; Kentucky Tea, a  mix of Maker’s Mark Bourbon, Iced Tea, Lemonade and Mint; Cruzan Single Barrel Sour, Cruzan Estate Rum, lemon juice and sugar; and Johnnie Walker Gold on the rocks.  There was also a selection of beer and a perfect assortment of wine from Acacia and Provenance(really liked their Sauvignon Blanc).

After we left The Chelsea we headed back to Harrah's for a nightcap at the Eden Lounge and a small snack at The Deli.  It wasn’t an early enough night for what I next have on schedule as the festival gets into full swing.  Friday evening will be Guy Fieri’s Cheeseteak Battle, Maker’s Mark Cigar & Whiskey Gala and Wine Unplugged, a Doors Experience.  All the events will be taking place at Caeser’s, Ballys, Showboat and Harrah’s.  Some tickets are still available through the festival website.