Eat Dessert First by Madelyn Miller, the TravelLady FOOD AND WINE WEEKEND AT CALLAWAY GARDENS®
AUGUST 15-17, 2008
 Experience tastes from around the world with an easy trip to Callaway Gardens® as you let your taste buds and experts be your guide the weekend of August 15-17, 2008. Callaway Gardens' Executive Chef William Justus, Vegetable Garden Expert David Chambers and Michael Venezia, corporate director of education for United Distributors, will guide you through a comparative tasting of the world's best varietals including Merlots, Cabernets and Sauvignon and Zinfandels. OFF TO A GOOD START
 The weekend begins Friday evening from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with a Welcome Reception featuring a comparative tasting of chocolate delights from select chocolate beans to various delectable creations. Highly respected and honored Pastry Chef Alon Balshon of Atlanta's Alon's Bakery and Market will lead guests on this wonderful chocolate journey. Paring the perfect wine with just the right chocolate will be the perfect start for a weekend full of culinary surprises. I spent a few days at Calloway Gardens earlier this year. I made it my personal mission to taste as many chocolate desserts as I could. And chocolate alone is enough of a reason to go to Calloway Gardens MOM ALWAYS MADE ME EAT THE VEGETABLES FIRST...
BEFORE I GOT ANY CHOCOLATE
 On Saturday around
lunchtime, Justus and Chambers will present Harvest Workshop and Cooking Demonstrations in the beautiful setting of Mr. Cason's Vegetable Garden. Having managed the Callaway vegetable garden for decades and authored books and provided interviews for renown gardening magazines, newspapers and television programs, no one better than Chambers could share knowledge about growing and harvesting fresh vegetables. Chef Justus will follow-up with demonstrating how to cook the bounty as part of a Southern-style barbecue. Known as the southern filming site for the acclaimed PBS television show The Victory Garden, guests will be inspired by the 7.5 acre-demonstration garden while experiencing specialty tasting stations that have been expertly paired with a selection of Rieslings, Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc and Chardonnays. Experience the difference between tasting and enjoying wine Saturday evening from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. with a component tasting of wines paired with food courses for the evening's dinner. The tasting will be featuring five wines from around the world with discussion on complexity of the fruit, growing regions and special nuances of the wine making processes. Then at 8:00 p.m. celebrate the evening with a leisurely five course food and wine dinner with an open comparative discussion where guest can discuss the differences with the wine expert Michael Venezia as he moves from table to table. BUBBLES TOP IT OFF
 Relax and enjoy a leisurely morning on Sunday then top off your weekend in the Gardens Restaurant with a Champagne Brunch. The spectacular lakeside view of this arts and crafts style restaurant features a relaxing atmosphere and the perfect setting for our three-flight course brunch featuring pairings with Southern favorites and French Champagne at your pace. It is the ideal way to end a weekend of superb food and fine wine shared with friends and family. Reserve this extraordinary package by visiting www.callawaygardens.com or calling 1-800-CALLAWAY (225-5292). The luxury Lodge and Spa at Callaway is the perfect lodging choice this extraordinary food and wine package. Package includes lodging, Friday Chocolate and Wine Tasting, Saturday breakfast, Wine and Lunch Tasting, Wine and Dinner Tasting, Sunday brunch and Gardens admission each night of stay and day of departure. Rates are based on choice of accommodation. Registration is limited, so call soon.
 Callaway Gardens®, a premier travel and meeting destination in the South, is owned by the non-profit Ida Cason Callaway Foundation™ (ICCF). Within the 13,000 acres of Callaway Gardens is a resort, nature preserve, residential community, almost 100,000 square feet of meeting space, 931 guest rooms, restaurants, shops, golf, tennis, fishing, shooting club, gardens, butterfly conservatory, horticultural center, chapel, inland beach, nature trails, and many more exciting attractions. For more than 50 years Callaway Gardens has provided "a place of relaxation, inspiration and a better understanding of the living world" for millions of visitors. Callaway Gardens is committed to its mission of environmental education and land stewardship for the benefit of future generations. Callaway Gardens® is in Pine Mountain, Ga., 60 minutes southwest of Atlanta and 30 minutes north of Columbus. To experience Mother Nature at its finest, call 1-800-CALLAWAY or visit www.callawaygardens.com Madelyn Miller is a travel and food writer who was curious about Callaway Gardens because it was the most hit destination on
www.travellady.com After two days there, she understands why. | 