The Baja California pavilion will host an array of Mexico's best wine, beer, spirits and gourmet cuisine.

Last year international food and wine enthusiasts were treated to Mexican culinary food delights from Villa Saverios Restaurant / Casa Plascencia Restaurant of Tijuana, La Querencia Restaurant of Tijuana, El Olivo Restaurant of Ensenada, and Asao Restaurant of Tecate. Several wineries, distillers, and micro-breweries offered samples of premium wine, spirits and beer from Baja California.

If you live in the region and would like the opportunity to expose your palates and senses to 170 wine and spirit purveyors, and sample over 700 different wines, don't miss out on this exciting entertainment of events. Additionally, 70 of San Diego's top chefs will present tasteful food samples of gourmet cuisine from the region's top food establishments. And, if you still desire more food and beverage, additional culinary samples will be offered by 30 regional gourmet food companies as well.

According to Michelle Metter, the food festival's co-producer, "we are thrilled to have some of the worlds most well-known and renowned chefs and winemakers join us for our Sixth Annual Entertainment Festival. There's definitely not a shortage of star power participating in this year's entertainment event, with talent ranging from television celebrities to cookbook authors, winemakers and James Beard Award-winning chefs. Food and wine enthusiasts will have several opportunities to meet with chefs and winemakers up-close and in-person and truly experience culinary excellence at its finest." Information provided by Evan Klein, media specialist for World of Wine Entertainment Events, explains the diversity of chefs and the dynamic cooking classes being offered at this year's food festival.

"Legendary food and wine experts participating in the San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival are to include: James Beard Foundation Award winner for "Best American Chef, Southwest," Chef Alex Stratta of the two-star Michelin rated ALEX at the Wynn Las Vegas, Cooking Light Magazine's Executive Chef Billy Strynkowski, Peter Mondavi Jr., of Robert Mondavi Family Wines, James Beard Foundation Award winner for "Best Chef," Chef Paul Bartolotta of Bartolotta at the Wynn Las Vegas, celebrity television star Sam Zien of "Sam the Cooking Guy," amongst many others. The 2009 Entertainment Festival will host a variety of action-packed cooking and wine tasting classes taught by the country's finest chefs, sommeliers, winemakers, and culinary personalities."

Some of the cooking presentations will include: Totally Truffles, featuring 2007 "Chef of the Fest" winner Chef Gary Thompson of Viejas Casino; For the Love of Risotto, featuring 2008 "Chef of the Fest" winner and Wolfgang Puck protégé Chef David McIntyre; Holiday Brunch (November 19), featuring multiple Emmy Award winner and television star Sam Zien of "Sam the Cooking Guy"; Sake & Sushi Tasting (November 19), featuring Liloa Papa of Sake One; Brandt Beef Big Red Wines (November 19), featuring John Alonge, founder of the San Diego Wine & Culinary Center; The Bubbly Girl's Ultimate Party Plan (November 19), featuring cookbook author and food writer Maria Hunt; Get Modern & Creative with Seafood (November 20), featuring Cooking Light Magazine's Executive Chef Billy Strynkowski; Top Chef All Stars (November 20), featuring Bravo's "Top Chef" contestant Chef Brian Malarkey of The Oceanaire, along with a panel of "Top Chef" contestants; Making Fresh Pasta (November 20), featuring James Beard Foundation Award winning celebrity chef Alex Stratta, chef owner of ALEX at the Wynn Las Vegas; Seafood, Vegetables, and Olive Oil (November 20), featuring James Beard Foundation Award winning celebrity chef Paul Bartolotta, chef owner of Bartolotta at the Wynn Las Vegas; Charles Krug Winery Vertical Tasting (November 20), featuring Peter Mondavi Jr., of Robert Mondavi Family Wines; Master Sommelier Blind Tasting (November 20), featuring nationally acclaimed Master Sommelier Joseph Spellman; and AIWF Celebrity Chef Luncheon (November 22), featuring Chef Bernard Guillas, Chef Kenny Gilbert, and Chef Thierry Rautureau.

I've attended many national and international wine and food entertainment events from Baja California to British Columbia, however this one is my favorite. The location along the scenic San Diego harbor, the near-perfect weather, all enhanced with some of the world's best wine and food delights is overwhelming, but certainly satisfying. Due to the fact that I've attended all of these entertainment events in the past, it's almost a family reunion among other lovers of the wine and food culture. For instance, I seek out Executive Chef Thomas McAliney of Brandt Beef to examine his newest gourmet wonders with his unbelievable beef, track down mouthwatering dessert delights passionately assembled by the lovely ladies of Sweet Cheeks Bakery, and ultimately enjoy the amazing nectar in the ports created by Bart Barthelemy of St. Barthelemy Cellars winery of Napa.

I won't share my other entertainment event secrets, however I can tell you that I anticipate all year for this wine and food extravaganza, marking the beginning of my Thanksgiving celebration. I normally try and fast a few days before the food event, therefore making room for the abundance of premium food and wine. There is so much to eat and drink here that you'll have a wonderful time discovering the many bottled treasures of delight and gourmet food treats that you'll become another family member of our booming food and wine culture. There are three major entertainment events I highly suggest.

On November 20, 2009, the Reserve & New Release Tasting, featuring an AIWF Silent Auction, held at the historic Wonder Bread building at 14th and L Street. This entertainment event is "an exclusive and elegant evening for collectors of fine wine." The Reserve and New Release Tasting sets the pace for wine enthusiasts to taste the pride of the vine from 160 wineries and spirits' producers. Guests will enjoy cuisine from ten different gourmet food companies and more. Exciting silent auction items such as large format bottles, libraries, and decanters will take the stage this year with proceeds benefiting the American Institute of Wine & Food culinary arts scholarship programs.

The Grand Tasting Event held on November 21. This spectacular afternoon, characterized by great refinement of style, features 170 wineries, 70 of San Diego's top rated fine dining restaurants, 30 gourmet food companies, the action-packed "Chef of the Fest" competition, live entertainment, and much more. This lends for a delightful afternoon with palate pleasing explorations of international wine, beer, spirits and gourmet food delights. You cant beat the location along the shores of San Diegos Bay of live entertainment, with tons of options to energize ones senses.

I'm looking very forward to meeting Peter Mondavi Jr., of Charles Krug winery. I met his brother Marc at an entertainment wine event aboard the cruise ship "The World" in Ensenada just this year. Their historic family winery, which was founded in 1861, being the first Napa Valley winery - and was influential in creating wine that established California as a leader in making world class wines. Don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity to expand your wine consciousness at the Charles Krug Winery Vertical Tasting (November 20) - featuring Peter Mondavi Jr., of Robert Mondavi Family Wines. 12 noon - 1 p.m.

The San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival offers an entire weeklong celebration of the good life, with many exciting entertainment events, oceans of wine and spirits, along with mountains of gourmet culinary wonders. For further details, schedule of entertainment events, prices and ticket purchases please visit their web site at www.worldofwineevents.com, or you may call 619-342-7337.