Pala to host Starlight Food &Wine Festival

PALA – Pala Casino Spa & Resort will sponsor the second annual Starlight Food & Wine Festival from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 19, on the lawn of its Starlight Theater and in the underground wine cave. The event will feature 50 fine wine selections from the leading wineries in Napa, Sonoma and Paso Robles.

Tickets that include all wine tastings, food pairings and entertainment are now on sale and may be obtained at the Pala box office in the casino and by calling (877) 946-7252. Tickets also are available online at www.startickets.com or may be charged by telephone at (800) 585-3737. Harmony of Rock will provide the entertainment.

An example of some of the food pairings created by Pala executive chef Robert Camerota and chef de cuisine Jaime de Alba include: Jim Beam short ribs with horseradish potatoes and garlic chips, presented by specialty restaurant chef Raymond Fukawa of The Oak Room; stuffed crab claws and plum sauce, presented by chef Wah Lam of Noodles restaurant; pistachio crusted Ahi tuna with parsley pesto and tear drop peppers, presented by chef Anila Kurti of CAVE restaurant; and New York strip chicken fried with country sauce, presented by chef Juan Zacarias and chef Victor Meza of Pala Café.

Some participating wineries include: Arrowood, Sonoma County, cabernet; Copain, Napa Valley, pinot noir; Fallbrook Winery, sauvignon blanc, red blend; Ferrari-Carano, Sonoma County, chardonnay, fume, merlot; Justin Winery, Paso Robles, cabernet; Kali Hart, Monterey County, chardonnay; McManis Family Vineyards, Ripon, cabernet, merlot, chardonnay; Robert Mondavi, Napa Valley, fume blanc; and Wild Horse, Paso Robles, pinot noir.