CELEBRATE SUMMER AT THE LITTLE NELL CULINARY FEST

Featuring Relais & Châteaux Chefs

Aspen, Colo. (May 25, 2023) – Immerse yourself in the height of hospitality at The Little Nell’s third annual Culinary Fest featuring Relais & Châteaux Chefs from Tuesday, July 11, to Friday, July 14. Over the festival's four days, guests will partake in engaging culinary experiences by esteemed chefs and learn about the intricacies of wine from expert sommeliers. Purchase the Culinary Fest Package to enjoy all scheduled activities or select à la carte tickets to join us for individual events. As an added benefit, Full Package Culinary Fest participants receive 40% off accommodation at The Little Nell.

Culinary talent for the weekend includes:

• Roberto Solis (Owner and Chef at Huniik on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico)
• Julian Eckhardt (Culinary Director at the Inn at Little Washington in Virginia)
• Jon Endicott (Senior Sous-Chef at the Inn at Little Washington in Virginia)
• Jack Mahoney (Executive Chef at Magee Homestead in Montana)
• Christopher Gentile (Executive Chef at Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa in Southern California)
• Nathan Rich (Executive Chef at Twin Farms in Vermont)
• Matt Zubrod (Culinary Director at The Little Nell)
• Oscar Carrasco (Executive Chef at The Little Nell)

Sommelier talent for the weekend includes:

• Carlton McCoy (Master Sommelier and CEO, Lawrence Wine Estates)
• Chris Dunaway (Advanced Sommelier and Wine Director at The Little Nell)
• Jesse Libby (Certified Sommelier at The Little Nell)
• Jon Koch (Certified Sommelier at The Little Nell)
• Rachael Liggett-Draper (Advanced Sommelier at The Little Nell)

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS – Please note events are subject to change

Tuesday, July 11

6 - 8 pm | Welcome Reception | The Wine Bar

Join us in The Wine Bar and outdoor terrace amidst The Little Nell’s gardens as you enjoy tray-passed champagne, wine, and canapés. Meet the participating chefs and sommeliers as we toast the start of the festival.

Wednesday, July 12

7 - 10:30 am | Breakfast | Element 47

Enjoy the Element 47 breakfast buffet at your leisure, along with a Bloody Mary and Mimosa bar.

9 am | Bike Ride | Around Aspen

Take part in a casual and scenic bike ride around Aspen led by Little Nell ambassadors.  Complimentary bike rentals will be provided by Four Mountain Sports.

12 pm | Napa Valley Wine Class + Lunch | ASPENX Mountain Club

Take the Silver Queen Gondola to the top of Aspen Mountain for a wine class and lunch with a view at the ASPENX Mountain Club. Carlton McCoy, CEO of Lawrence Wine Estates, will present a tour of the various terroirs of the Napa Valley featuring wines from Coombsville, Oak Knoll, Rutherford, Oakville, St. Helena, Spring Mountain, and Howell Mountain. Following the class, a delectable lunch will be prepared by Chef Nathan Rich of Twin Farms, Chef Christopher Gentile of Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa, and Chefs Julian Eckhardt and Jon Endicott from the Inn at Little Washington.

4 – 4:30 pm | Garden Tour | The Little Nell’s Courtyard

Arabella Beavers-Kaplansky of Busy Beavers Gardening will lead a tour of The Little Nell’s magnificent gardens as you enjoy a cocktail or mocktail accented with freshly picked mint grown on site. Recognized for being both beautiful and sustainable, The Nell gardens include Aspen's only colorful living wall, a bee garden, an edible flower garden, and more.

6 - 9 pm | Street Food Festival | Ajax Tavern

Set on the patio at Ajax Tavern, this street food-style tasting event will feature a variety of dishes from all of the participating chefs at Culinary Fest. Complementing the variety of dishes will be wines poured by our team of sommeliers, plus craft cocktails.

Thursday, July 13

7 - 10:30 am | Breakfast | Element 47

Enjoy the Element 47 breakfast buffet at your leisure, along with a Bloody Mary and Mimosa bar.

9 am | Mushroom Foraging 

Our participating chefs will lead you on an excursion in the mountains to forage for mushrooms, which will be used as ingredients for lunch afterward. Learn to identify, pick, and preserve mushrooms on this fun and educational outing.

12 pm | Garden Lunch | The Little Nell Courtyard

Spend your afternoon toasting with friends old and new amid The Little Nell gardens with a four-course, wine-paired lunch presented by Chef Jack Mahoney of Magee Homestead and Chef Roberto Solis of Huniik.

4 pm | Wine Tasting | The Little Nell Wine Cellar

Master Sommelier Carlton McCoy will present an intimate tasting in The Little Nell’s cellar featuring wines in the Lawrence Wine Estates portfolio including Heitz Cellar, Stony Hill, Burgess, Ink Grade, Haynes Estate, and Châteaux Lascombes.

6 pm | Relais & Châteaux Gala Dinner | Element 47

Celebrate the final night of Culinary Fest with a gala dinner at Element 47 featuring an eight-course tasting menu paired with fine wines. All of the talented chefs and sommeliers from The Little Nell and Culinary Fest will be in attendance.

Friday, July 14

7 - 10:30 am | Farewell Breakfast | Element 47

Bid farewell at Element 47 with a decadent breakfast buffet, along with a Bloody Mary and Mimosa bar.

For more information and to book your seats: https://bit.ly/Nell-Culinary-Fest-bookings