Executive Producer Jeff Hocker welcomed the all-star cast, noting their contributions are an invaluable part of Food & Wine Festival Palm Desert's success.
"We're honored that all of you are here this weekend," Hocker said. "This is an event that has been a labor of love."
Chris Mitchum, executive chef at Hyatt RegencyIndian Wells, prepared a variety of small plate offerings for the guests.
(From left) Michael Levine; Wine and Spirits Expert Michael Green; chef Tanya Holland and her husband Phil Surkis.
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Jan Boydstun, owner, Kitchen Kitchen.
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(From left) Chuck Nettnin, Ananda Nettnin, Ian Freedman of Chef Works, which provided the chef coats worn by the speakers and demonstrators at Food & Wine Festival Palm Desert.
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(From left) Chris O'Hearn and Maria Helm Sinskey, culinary director, Robert Sinskey Winery.
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Chef Daniel Joly of Mirabelle at Beaver Creek.
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(From left) Andre Carthen, design ambassador for Kathy Ireland Worldwide, and Chris Mitchum, executive chef, Hyatt Regency Indian Wells Resort & Spa.
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(From left) Chef Tanya Holland; Andre Carthen, design ambassador for Kathy Ireland Worldwide, and Chef Sara Moulton.
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(From left) Eric Burke, chef Scott Robertson of New Leaf Catering in Cathedral City, and Jeff Hocker, executive producer of Food & Wine Festival Palm Desert.
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Monique Robertson and Bob Hawker.
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Adam Gertler, host of Food Network’s primetime series, 'Kid in a Candy Store'.
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(From left) Chef Scott Robertson of New Leaf Catering in Cathedral City and his wife, Monique Robertson.
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Chef Bradley Ogden, co-founder and Culinary Advisor, Lark Creek Restaurant Group, and Gean Dee.
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Tracy Cervellone, market manager, Wilson Daniels, Ltd.; Jeff LeBard, head winemaker at The Gainey Vineyard.
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Chef Sharone Hakman, finalist on 'MasterChef'.
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Chef Alejandra Schrader and her husband, David Schrader
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(From left) Richard Sowalsky, vice president, Winemaker at Clos Pegase Winery and Jeff LeBard.
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(From left) Bill Forte, who is semi-retired and works for a catering company in Dunedin, Fla., and Dave Locke of Pro Watch, LLC in Palm Springs. Both Forte and Locke taught together at the Culinary Institute of America.
