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Southern Delaware Wine, Food and Music Festival announces celebrity chef cookoff

Food Network show competitor to represent the north Oct. 8
September 10, 2016

SoDel Fest, presented by nonprofit Creative Coastal Connections Corp, and hosted by SoDel Concepts, is a celebration of wine, food, and music that will take place Saturday, Oct. 8, from noon to 4 p.m., at Independence Clubhouse, 23767 Samuel Adams Circle, in Millsboro. This exciting event benefits Food Bank of Delaware, Children & Families First and Rotary's End Polio Now campaign.

Billed as the "ultimate wine, food and music event on DelMarVa," Southern Delaware's Wine Food & Music festival promises an exceptional afternoon featuring a celebrity chef throwdown, food pairings with wine and spirited cocktails and fantastic live music.

There is a new feature this year: North versus South Chef Throwdown!: a cookoff with Executive Chef Robbie Jester of Stone Balloon/Newark and Chef Doug Ruley of SoDel Concepts/Rehoboth Beach. Foodies and fans of the Food Network show "Beat Bobby Flay" can see Robbie Jester, who beat celebrity Iron Chef Bobby Flay in December 2015 and will represent the north. The south will be represented by SoDel Concept's Vice President and Director of Culinary Operations Chef Doug Ruley. Ruley's stellar resume includes guest chef at the James Beard House three times. With bragging rights at stake, this throwdown is sure to be competitive, and quite a spectacle.

There will be tastings from 18 renowned restaurants, complimented by a wine or spirit pairing coordinated by sommeliers Mike Zygmonski and John McDonald. Incredible edibles will be prepared by Rehoboth restaurants 208 Social, Blackwall Hitch Seafood Restaurant, Blue Moon, Bramble & Brine, Cultured Pearl Restaurant & Sushi Bar, Fork & Flask at Nage, Grandpa Mac, Henlopen City Oyster House, Lupo Italian Kitchen, Michy's Relaxed Dining and Salt Air Restaurant; Lewes' Fish On, The Gate House, Matt's Fish Camp, and JD Shuckers, Milton's Bacchus Wine Bar and Bethany's Bluecoast Seafood Restaurant and Off the Hook.

Forty offerings of wine, spirits and craft beers are featured at SoDel Fest. Attend the 100-point wine tasting session, featuring four 95-point and above tastings, and highlighted by a 100-point tasting with Master Sommelier Larry O'Brien. He is one of only 260 Master Sommeliers worldwide. This optional special event has an additional ticket price of $65.

Live music will be provided by iconic local musicians Ed Shockley, Keith Mack and Sol Knopf, and New Jersey's treasure Patty Blee.

The event benefits three worthy causes: Children & Families First, a nonprofit organization that helps children facing adversity; Food Bank of Delaware, whose mission is to provide nutritious foods to Delawareans; and Rotary International's fund to eradicate polio.

General admission tickets start at $75 per person and the optional 100 point wine tasting is $65 per person. Go to www.SoDelFest.com for details.

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