National Culinary Sensations
To Be Part of EUPHORIA 2009 Line-Up <

by Madelyn Miller, the TravelLady <

How do food writers find out about food and wine festivals? I heard about Euphoria from Travellady Magazine's food editor Carole Kotkin. This week, I read more about it in John Mariani's culinary newsletter. Then I knew I was onto something good. <

One of my most exciting moments as a writer was when I wrote about the first Telluride Food and  Wine event.  I usually don't write about something until I have experienced it, but the new marketing person for Telluride was Leary O'Gorman, someone I had worked with extensively in the Santa Fe market. <

Leary gave me information on the festival and I wrote it up and posted it on TravelLady Magazine  At the first night's events I sat with a table of eight strangers from all over the country. I asked everyone to go around the table and tell us how they found out about it since the festival was brand new. Some wanted to come to Telluride and learned it was happening. Others lived nearby and wanted a way to try several top restaurants. But the one that made my heart stop was when one women said she had read about it on the Internet. (this was almost ten years ago and not everyone even did email) I asked her where. She said it was some "traveling lady or something like that"  At that moment, I realized that she was sitting across from me because of something I wrote. <

Euphoria, now in its fourth year, has an amazing 2009 chef lineup. From September 18-20, 2009, guest chefs from all over the country will come to the Upstate for a weekend of food, wine and music. <

This year's line up is a weekend packed with tastings, live music, and educational seminars and demos. 

Friday, September 18, is the Taste of the South- a tasting of Southern dishes, wine and beer, and live music by Edwin McCain and friends. A VIP party will follow at Zen with more live music, food and drink. <

Saturday, September 19, is the Tasting Showcase where guests can taste dozens of wines paired with culinary delights from around the world. There will also be culinary demonstrations, wine seminars and live music.

Saturday night wine dinners are held throughout Downtown Greenville, where guest chefs and wine makers team up with the local chefs and serve multi-course dinners paired with fantastic wines. <

The 2009 Guest Chef lineup includes:

Guy and Franck Savoy - Restaurant Guy Savoy in Las Vegas

Tyler Brown  - Executive Chef, Capital Grille at The Hermitage Hotel, Nashville, Tennessee <

Scott Crawford  - Executive Chef, Herons in The Umstead Hotel and Spa, Cary, North Carolina <

Tim Graham -  Executive Chef, Tru, Chicago, Illinois <

David Guas -  Pastry Chef / Owner, Bayou Bakery, Alexandria, Virginia

Michael Kramer -  Executive Chef, Voice Restaurant, Houston, Texas <

Michael Paley  - Executive Chef, Proof on Maine, Louisville, Kentucky

Kent Rathbun  - Chef, Abacus & Jaspers, Dallas, Texas <

Kevin Rathbun  - Chef / Owner, Rathbun’s, Kevin Rathbun Steak, & Krog Bar, Atlanta, Georgia <

Frank Stitt  - Executive Chef, Highlands Bar & Grill & Bottega, Birmingham, Alabama <

Rick Tramonto  - Chef Partner, Tru, Chicago, Illinois <

Sunday, September 20, is the conclusion of the weekend with an outdoor Jazz brunch buffet featuring dozens of New Orleans style dishes and live Jazz music. The weekend wraps off with a Culinary Cook-off where chefs compete in a live cooking demonstration.   <

Tickets are available now at www.euphoriagreenville.com . Prices range from $45 for individual event tickets to $950 for a full-weekend VIP all-access pass.

Euphoria seeks to present a first-class, multi-day event for food, wine, and music lovers that raises significant funds for charities while also promoting tourism and enhancing the reputation of Greenville, South Carolina as a premiere culinary and performing arts destination.

While Euphoria exposes local, national, and international visitors to the high quality of music and culinary arts being performed in Greenville, South Carolina, it also exists for charities.  Euphoria is organized and presented by Local Boys Do Good (“LBDG”), a non-profit organization exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.  All net proceeds from Euphoria are distributed by LBDG through direct grants to other charities – mostly in upstate South Carolina –  that focus on providing sustenance to those in need (food, hunger, and health), educating (through music, performing arts, or otherwise), or supporting children.  The amount Euphoria has raised for charities has increased in each of its first three years.  Since its inception in 2006, LBDG has received more than 100 grant applications and requests. <

For more information please visit www.euphoriagreenville.com <

Madelyn Miller is a travel and food writer who loves food and wine events.   <

Read her stories on www.travellady.com, www.carladynews.com, www.yogayaya.com, www.chocolateatlas.com, www.cocktailatlas.com, www.teaAtlas.com, www.CoffeeAtlas.com <