Inside The Whole Foods Market Grand Tasting Village

by Jacquelynn D. Powers, Posted Feb 28th 2010 @ 9:00AM

Top Chef's Fabio Viviani at the Whole Foods Market Grand Tasting Village. Photo by Jacquelynn D. Powers

The Whole Foods Market Grand Tasting Village is the "meat and potatoes" of the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival. It is an opportunity for people to sample mass quantities of gourmet snacks, sip a wide variety of libations and mingle with fellow foodies. It is truly a village, with tents stretching along the beach with interactive stations for KitchenAid, Moet & Chandon, Diageo, Evian, American Express and Home Shopping Network.

Adding to the excitement of the Grand Tasting Village are the hourly chef demonstrations. Everyone from Emeril Lagasse and Rachael Ray to Sandra Lee and Ming Tsai prepared their food live in front of their fans. The sights, sounds and smells of these toques cooking was better than watching any TV show.

We were able to spend some time with Top Chef hottie Fabio Viviani at the Bertolli olive oil booth. The season five contestant is the new spokesperson for Bertolli, and was on-site to prepare three of his tasty recipes. Each dish utilized the flavor profiles of Bertolli's three olive oils, Classico, Extra Virgin and Extra Light. First was Fabio's orecchiette pasta with rapini and sausage. This ear-shaped pasta was flavored with rapini, ground sausage, garlic, white wine, chicken stock, pecorino cheese and Classico olive oil. Lighter was his sea bass with spinach pesto and mango salad. Fittingly, he added Extra Virgin olive to the mix. Lastly, there was a lamb loin over salad with Extra Light olive oil.

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Being from Italy himself, Fabio described what an honor it has been to endorse his country's number-one olive oil: "I only work with products I believe in. My mom was so excited when she heard I was working with Bertolli. At first she didn't believe me. I had to e-mail her pictures." Viviani also shills for Panna and San Pellegrino waters.

Fabio was clearly the fan favorite at the Grand Tasting Village, especially among the ladies. The charming Italian took it all in stride, posing for pictures and kissing women's hands (including mine). As for his fame, he noted that, "It's a good problem to have. The more people like me, the better it is for my brand. This is the real me. Being Italian is all about hospitality."

Filed Under: Celebrities, Events
Tags: Fabio Viviani, South Beach Wine Food Festival, Whole Foods Market Grand Tasting Village

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Reader comments (Page 1 of 1)

5-11-2010 @10:02PM Alam said... Cool! The food sounds very delicious. buy christian louboutin shoes
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3-01-2010 @7:20PM Lisa said... I will never forget his famous line from Top Chef Restaurant wars episode!! "We could serve monkey ass in a plain clam shell because I have the front of the house!!! " Best line ever!!!!!
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3-01-2010 @9:07PM Audrus said... Chef Fabio's food is AWESOME !! When in LA, you should go to his restaurant which is 2 blocks north of Universal Studios called FIRENZE OSTERIA. That place is rockin' !
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