Yosemite National Park: plan ahead for 2009 Chefs’ Holidays

Forward planners (yes, those of you who bought Christmas gifts at the Memorial Day sales), take note: Reservations are available for the next Chefs’ Holidays at the Ahwahnee in Yosemite National Park. The annual event, which will be held Jan. 11 to Feb. 5, 2009, will feature some of the country’s most reputable chefs.

Each two- or three-day session in the series will highlight three chefs, and with the purchase of a two- or three-night stay, you’ll get to see them –- in and out of action –- through a “Meet the Chefs” reception, cooking demonstrations and classes, kitchen tours and a five-course dinner.

Just to give you a taste of the incredible sensory possibilities that await: Lined up for “The City by the Bay” session, on Jan. 14 and 15, 2009, are San Francisco-based chefs Traci Des Jardins of Jardiniere, Elizabeth Falkner of Citizen Cake and Orson, and Scott Youkilis of Maverick. Scheduled for the last session, Feb. 4-5, 2008, entitled “Food Network’s Next Iron Chef Competitors,” are Chris Cosentino of San Francisco’s Incanto as well as Aaron Sanchez of Paladar and Gavin Kaysen of Café Boloud, both in New York City.

It’s not a boring crowd. Falkner’s Orson dessert menu includes culinary concoctions entitled “Are you chocolate experienced” and “Heat of the night.” And Kaysen thinks that pimente d’Espelette on whitefish looks sexy.

Hotel packages: Packages at the Ahwahnee start at $852 for two nights and $1,109 for three nights, based on double occupancy. For a Yosemite Lodge at the Falls stay, rates begin at $548 for two nights and $653 for three nights. Prices are excluding taxes. The aforementioned gala dinner that is included will be held in the Ahwahnee Dining Room. You’ll also receive admission to presentations, the series reception, a split of wine and two keepsake glasses, and a guest chef’s cookbook.

Contact: Yosemite National Park, (801) 559-4884

— Susan Derby, Special to the Los Angeles Times

[Photo: OrsonSF.com]

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This entry was posted on Sunday, June 15, 2008 at 12:00 pm by Susan Derby and is filed under California, Gourmet, National Parks, Sierra Nevada, Ski & Winter, Yosemite National Park. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site.