Tickets on sale for June’s Food & Wine Classic in Aspen

At a certain time of the year, the tweets from chefs and sommeliers and other foodies stream out into the twittersphere, dateline Aspen. That’s how you know the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen is in progress. If you’re a die-hard foodie and you haven’t yet made it to the magazine’s annual event, well, you’re hardly worth your foodie stripes. It takes place over a three-day weekend, June 14-16 this year, and does sound like a lot of fun.

According to a news release, this year’s highlights include a “Sicilian Summer Supper” by Mozza’s Mario Batali, “Oysters 10 Ways” from Spanish superstar José Andrés (The Bazaar by José Andrés), “DIY Sausage” with Pigg’s Chris Cosentino, and “Porktastic Pours” (who thought that one up?), i.e., best wines for charcuterie from sommelier and Best Cellars founder Josh Wesson. (Expect to see some Lambrusco and Barbera in that tasting.)

You’ve got until March 15 to get in on bargain pricing for tickets, shaving $100 off the regular price of -- $1,250. Want one? Call (877) 900-WINE or visit www.foodandwine.com/classic.

That, the magazine said, buys you a consumer pass defined as “access to cooking demonstrations, wine tastings, and the Grand Tasting Pavilion throughout the 3 days of the FOOD & WINE Classic in Aspen.” No hotel. No transportation.

Of course, some of the money goes to charity. “[T]wo percent of of the net proceeds from all FOOD & WINE Classic tickets sold go to Grow for Good, benefiting Wholesome Wave Foundation,” the magazine said. Very good, but seriously, doesn’t that percentage seem kind of small?

Bottom line: It’s expensive to rub shoulders with the culinary firmament, at least in Aspen, especially when you can meet and greet some of the same superstars here in L.A. at our own homegrown food and wine events for much, much less.

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