Cesare Casella
 

Cesare grew up in the kitchen of his parents resataurant, Il Vipore, outside Lucca, Italy.  At 14, he enrolled in the Culinary Institute Ferdinando Martiniat and after graduating, began transforming his family's restaurant from a local hangout into a Michelin-starred destination.   Il Vipore attracted patrons from all over, from Henry Kissinger to Tom Cruise.   

Cesare came to New York as Executive Chef of the famous restaurant,  Coco Pazzo, and soon launched his own restaurant, the critically acclaimed Beppe. Beppe was followed in 2005 by Maremma, a Tuscan trattoria in the west village, named for the eponymous region in southwest Tuscany.  Currently, he is the executive chef/partner at Salumeria Rosi, where he creates an inspired menu of trattoria-style Italian dishes and artisanal salumi.

Chef Casella travels back to Italy frequently to stay on top of both cultures and culinary scenes.  He has  written three books--Diary of a Tuscan Chef, Italian Cooking for Dummies, and True Tuscan-and has appeared on Food Network's Tyler's Ultimate, Molto Mario, No Reservations with Anthony Bourdain, Top Chef, The Restaurant and Martha Stewart Living.  In 2005, Chef Casella brought his vision and dedication to students of The French Culinary Institute as the first Dean of Italian Studies.  He designed the curricula for their new Italian Culinary courses, including "The Italian Culinary Experience", one of the most comprehensive training programs in Italian cuisine, culture, and language found anywhere in the world.

He is also charming and fun. 

Lia Tolaini-Banville

Lia Tolaini-Banville is a wine luminary with expansive wine knowledge, experience and appreciation for wine.  An emerging star on the Tuscan wine scene with her Donna Laura wines, she is also a big-time North American wine importer through her company, Banville & Jones Wine Merchants (BJWM).  Lia co-founded, with her sister, of an enormously successful retail wine store in Winnipeg, Manitoba, which has evolved into a 3-story wine and food emporium.  whew!

Lia's father is Pierluigi "Louie" Tolaini, founder of Tolaini Estates in Tuscany.  Louie immigrated to Canada at the age of 19, working on oil rigs, then bought a truck, which led to the biggest trucking company in Canada.  His forward-thinking winery produces Tuscan classics, such as Chianti Classico Riserva, as well as more modern, sensual wines like the Valdisanti.  BJWM specializes in leading Italian wineries (such as Paolo Scavino), which would, of course, include Tolaini Estates. 

Champagne is a wine of legend and the entire history of the House of Veuve Clicquot is marked by mythical wines, which harken to the demand for quality that was the driving force behind Madame Clicquot. A short lineage of only 10 Cellar Masters has maintained this quest for excellence, while ensuring the continuity of the Veuve Clicquot style: strength plus complexity.  Dominique Demarville is the latest Cellar Master or Chef du Cave.  He has been the head of the iconic cellars following  Jacques Peter's 30-year reign, which ended  in 2008.  It is only fitting that someone as handsome, charming and talented as he be the virtuoso of the  celebrated caves.  

Dominique grew up near Champagne, 100 km north of Reims.  As fate would have it, he was asked to help with harvest in the Marne Valley in 1985, and the door to the wine industry was opened.

Since then, Dominique has been on the fast track, in that in 1998, he was appointed Chef de Cave at G.H. Mumm and in 2003 he was promoted to Wines & Vines Director for Champagne G.H. Mumm and Perrier-Jouet, responsible for viticulture and vinification across both Houses.  In 2006 Dominique joined Veuve Clicquot to spend two years working with Jacques Peters until Peters retirement.

Veuve Clicquot Brut Yellow Label is famous for its consistency, due largely to its percentage of Cru vineyards ((97% in Grand Crus & Premiers Crus), and to its quality and depth of reserve wines, a high percentage of which are used in the non-vintage wines.

(Partially sourced from hypemeanseverything.com)  

 Joel Gott

If you think there are no bargains in California wine, then you should think again. Gott, whose family created the Montevi�a and Corbett Canyon labels, was the quintessential winery brat.  A fifth generation west coast winemaker and restaurateur, he grew up accompanying his family to one winery after another.  After high school, he apprenticed to Mike Lee, wine master at Kenwood Vineyards in Sonoma County.

Now, he and his wife, Sarah, former winemaker at Joseph Phelps and Quintessa, have created a value-priced line of wines that have exceeded expectations in their depth, elegance, and overall great value.

In addition, Joel is one of the "thieves" behind the popular

Three Thieves label, along with another wine dude we admire, Charles Biehler.  Can you say BUSY?

By the way, he also owns (with his brother) three locations of Gott's Roadside (formerly Taylor's Refresher)--an absolute must-eat destination (albeit on picnic tables) for anyone going to St. Helena, Napa or San Francisco.

Veuve Clicquot Champagne:  The Ultimate Culinary Companion...Pop.  Pair. Enjoy!

TWO CHEFS--Chef de Cave Dominique Demarville of Veuve Clicquot and Chef Kyle Zachary of TOPPER'S at the Wauwinet--and ONE FOOD MAVEN--Sissy Biggers--indulge in some larger than life subtleties of l'art de vivre. 

TASTING MENU

Tart Flamb�, Cr�me Fraiche, Porcini Mushrooms, Cave-Aged Gruyere  Veuve Clicquot Champagne Yellow Label

Pan Seared Diver Scallops, Sea Water Brined Foie Gras, Fava Beans, Black Garlic  Veuve Clicquot Champagne Ros�

Lavender Honey Lacquered Lola Duck Breast, Warm Lentil Salad  Veuve Clicquot Champagne Vintage Ros� 2004

St. Canut Farm's Milk Fed Piglet, Various Onions, Rhubarb, Mustard Spaetzle  Veuve Clicquot - Magnum La Grande Dame 1995

May 21, 2011

10:30am - 12:00pm

White Elephant Main  

Tent

Tickets $100.00 at cV

(limited tickets available)

nantucketwinefestival.com