Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/551222
august 2015 / the tasting panel / 103 a CELEBRITIES AND CHEFS CRAFT CULINARY PARADISE AT BOTTLEROCK NAPA VALLEY WHEN THE ALIGN Stars by Christopher Sawyer If you've ever been to a wine- maker's dinner, you'll know how fun it is to watch a great chef interact with the person who crafted the wines. With that in mind, imagine what it would be like to pair actual rock stars, musicians, actors, entertainers or local sports heroes with a grouping of talented chefs and press play. Well, that's exactly what happened on the Williams-Sonoma Culinary Stage at the 2015 BottleRock Napa Valley. One of the happy participants was cello god Joe Kwon of the Avett Brothers, who crafted a tasty waffle sandwich with fried chicken and kimchi live on stage with Chef Brad Farmerie and his brother Adam, both from The Thomas restaurant in Napa. An admitted foodie, Kwon says he admires the pairings of musicians and chefs. "There's nothing not to like about bringing together two things that are a common thread for everybody: the love of music and the love for food." This mutual admiration society was alive and well at this year's three-day festival. Power, Speed and Finesse Although he may not look as tall, fast or powerful as most pro football players, Bay Area pizza king and author Tony Gemignani of Tony's Pizza Napoletana in North Beach had plenty of moves to teach football stars Charles Woodson of the Oakland Raiders and Vernon Davis of the San Francisco 49ers on how to use handmade dough and fresh ingredients to craft world-class pizzas. These flavors were further enhanced with layers of cheese, fresh sweet fennel sausage, caramelized onions, crushed pepper and samples from Vernon's bag of Krave Jerky sprinkled on top, and driven home with sips of the Twenty Four 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon, the fine wine Charles makes with fruit from Calistoga. A true team effort from start to finish. a Pizza king Tony Gemignani shows football stars Charles Woodson and Vernon Davis how to toss dough the old-fashioned Italian way.