11/15 - Flavor! Napa Valley

If you love eating, wine tasting, watching chefs and winemakers in action, and you happen to be near Napa this coming weekend, this is the event for you!  Join us as we hear from Allison Lane Simpson of the Napa Valley Destination Council, one of the leading chefs of the event, Jefferey Jake of Silverado Resort, and one of the winemakers along the Appellation Trail.


The inaugural Flavor! Napa Valley, four days of tastings, cooking demonstrations and winemaker dinners, takes place November 17-20 at the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone and Silverado Resort and Spa.


A limited number of tickets remain for premium festival events, including cooking demonstrations, wine tastings and seminars. More than 120 wineries will pour their Napa Valley wines from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, November 18 at the CIA. Tickets for individual demos, tastings and Flavor! Napa Valley packages are available at flavornapavalley.com.

Allison Lane Simpson

Vice President, Marketing & Communications

Napa Valley Destination Council

Allison Lane Simpson is a 22-year Napa Valley resident with a strong background in public relations and marketing, having previously held senior positions at Beringer Vineyards and Foster’s Wine Estates for over a decade. Prior to her wine business career, Allison developed a passion for food, wine, art and travel during stints living abroad, and in restaurant and hotel management roles.

Since joining the Napa Valley Destination Council in September, 2010, Allison has overseen the implementation of the organization’s strategic marketing and communications plan, developing and launching targeted marketing programs that promote, protect and enhance the Napa Valley’s position as the world’s premier wine, food, arts and wellness capital. 

Allison lives in St. Helena at the base of Spring Mountain with her husband Clark and two beloved children of the pedigree-challenged canine variety.

Jefferey Jake

Executive Chef

Silverado Resort and Spa

Executive Chef Jeffrey Jake manages the seasonally-changing menus at Silverado Resort and Spa, which highlight the region's bountiful array of top-quality produce, cattle ranches, and award-winning cheese producers.  He oversees the menus for The Grill, a local favorite; The Royal Oak, a sophisticated wine country restaurant; the Main Lounge; and all catering and room service for the resort.

A Napa native, Jake began his culinary career at the venerable Domain Chandon as Sous Chef. He then went on to serve as Chef de Cuisine at Sonoma Mission Inn, and as the Executive Chef at The Old Bath House Restaurant, which was named "Outstanding Restaurant" by the California Writers Association during his tenure. From 1998 to 2006, he served as Executive Chef of The Lodge at Pebble Beach, and prior to his arrival at Silverado Resort he was Executive Chef for The Carneros Inn.

The long and diverse culinary path of Chef Jeffrey Jake has come full circle. While his career has taken him throughout California, he is most at home in the Napa Valley. In his spare time, he can be found authoring his soon to be published cookbook that will include recipes from his life’s work.

Kristy Melton

Winemaker

Clos Du Val Winery

A self-described science geek armed with a BS in Biology and Animal Science from Angelo State University in San Angelo, Texas, Kristy Melton’s career as a research scientist at the prestigious National Institutes of Health was cut short when a family trip to Napa Valley inspired her to trade in her beakers for barrels in 2004.

A year later, Melton was enrolled at the University of California at Davis where she earned her MS in Viticulture and Enology in 2007.  She was appointed Clos Du Val’s Assistant Winemaker in August of 2010 after having held several key enology and winemaking positions at high profile wineries including Saintsbury where, in addition to her research and analysis responsibilities, she contributed her winemaking talents to their famed Pinot Noir, Syrah, and Chardonnay programs.   She has also held coveted intern positions at Sonoma’s Iron Horse Vineyards and Seresin Estate in Marlborough, New Zealand.

A travel, food and wine junky, Melton’s passion for crafting modern wines of elegance and balance are expected to further enhance Clos Du Val’s already exceptionally-regarded wine program.  She lives in Napa, California and is based at Clos Du Val Winery. 

 AND FINALLY... FOR SOME THANKSGIVING ONLINE CHATTING:


Please join me on Circulon's Facebook page for our EXPERT HOUR: LIVE CHAT  where I will be the guest chef discussing "Healthy Twists to Your Thanksgiving Feast” Wed. November 16 from 1-2pm PST http://www.facebook.com/Circulon