2006 Napa Valley Mustard Festival
 Mustard in the vineyards is one of WineCountry’s first sure signs of
spring. At first, just a subtle brush of yellow begins to catch the
eye from between the rows of still-dormant vines. Blink and you’ll miss
it altogether. But as the days begin to warm and the sun becomes a more
regular visitor to the now-green hills and valleys, the tinges of yellow
transform into vast swaths of golden flowers that herald spring’s lively
approach.
So,
from January to May—mustard’s brilliantly short-lived season—Napa
celebrates with an annual Mustard Festival. Featuring an array of mustard-inspired
competitions for chefs and artists, dinners, mustard tastings
and much more, the festival is an ode to the pungent plant that found
its way to California—quite by chance.
Legend
has it that one of the early Spanish missionaries, father Serra, brought
mustard seeds from Spain with him on his journey to establish missions
throughout California. As he made his way from Mexico, to San Diego
and northward into Sonoma, he scattered the seeds along his route. The
following spring, when he returned south, he and his band of travelers
followed a “ribbon of gold” created by the mustard flowers. The missions
from San Diego to Sonoma follow the path of that original ribbon, it
is said.
The
ribbon, however, has become more like a sea, covering vast acres
of land throughout the state—but few places more beautifully than here
in WineCountry.
Selected Events:
GRAND DÎNER À AUBERGE DU SOLEIL
February 17, 2006 -- 6:00 PM
Featuring seven courses by prominent Napa Valley Chefs, paired with ultra-premium
Napa Valley vintages presented by their Winemakers!
CHEFS' MUSTARD RECIPE COMPETITION
Deadline: February 26, 2006
The competition will take place at The Awards - on Friday, March 17, 7 p.m.
at The Lincoln Theater in Yountville. Napa Valley chefs are being invited to
compete for the titles of Napa Valley Mustard Festival Executive Chef of the
Year and People's Choice Chef. Chefs will present their original mustard recipes
in a blind tasting session as they compete for the title of Napa Valley Executive
Chef of the Year. When the doors are opened to the public, the public will
have the opportunity to vote for their favorite mustard recipe presentations
and select the "People's Choice" Mustard Festival Chef of the Year.
THE MARKETPLACE - THE SIGNATURE EVENT
March 18, 2006 to March 19, 2006 -- 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM - The Signature
Event!
Showcase of Food, Wine, Mustard, Music & Art - Celebrate the mustard season
and taste mustards from around the world at The Marketplace, the Napa Valley
Mustard Festival's Signature Event, on Saturday and Sunday, March 18 and 19,
11 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the COPIA - The American Center for Wine, Food & the
Arts in Napa.
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