A trio of high-profile celebrity chefs will appear on the Mobile Culinary Theatre during the upcoming Niagara Food Festival.

Celebrity Chefs Chuck Hughes, star of Food Network’s Chuck’s Day Off,  David Rocco, host of David Rocco’s Dolce Vita on Food Network and Trish Magwood, from Food Network’s Family Cook Off and Party Dish will all perform cooking demonstrations on the Festival’s Mobile Culinary Theatre during the Niagara Food Festival, which takes place September 7, 8 and 9 in downtown Welland.

“We’re thrilled to bring these culinary stars to this year’s Festival”, said Brad Morgan, Chair of the Niagara Food Festival Board of Directors. “Festival-goers will have the opportunity to watch and learn from three of Canada’s best-known celebrity chefs, live and up-close in downtown Welland.”

Hughes’ Montreal restaurant Garde Manger has received accolades in the New York Times and The Today Show. His show Chuck’s Day Off debuted in 2009, and airs on Food Network Canada and The Cooking Channel in the United States. He is the youngest Canadian chef to win on Iron Chef America. Hughes will appear on the Mobile Culinary Theatre on
Saturday, September 8th at 12pm and 3:30pm. Learn more about Chuck Hughes here.

The Toronto-born Rocco divides his time between Toronto and Florence, Italy. His show David Rocco’s Dolce Vita airs on Food Network Canada and features David gathering fresh ingredients and preparing simple, authentic Italian food. Rocco will appear on the Mobile Culinary Theatre on Sunday, September 9th at 1pm and 3:30pm. Learn more here.

Magwood is a celebrity chef, teacher, entrepreneur and lifestyle consultant whose show Party Dish aired in over 35 countries. She has written two cook books and also hosted Food Network Canada’s Family Cook Off. Magwood will appear on the Mobile Culinary Theatre on Friday, September 7th at 5:30pm and 7pm. Learn more here.

During the Festival, the Mobile Culinary Theatre will also host local chefs, including chefs from Niagara College’s Canadian Food and Wine Institute.  Watch http://www.niagarafoodfestival.com/mobile-culinary-theatre/

The Niagara Food Festival’s Mobile Culinary Theatre made its debut at the 2008 Festival. It is a 28′ x 15′ fully functional mobile demonstration kitchen outfitted with cameras, flat screen monitors and state-of-the-art appliances and equipment. It has hosted high-profile chefs at festivals and events across Ontario and beyond.

Currently in its 19th year, the Niagara Food Festival draws tens of thousands of visitors to Downtown Welland each year. Consistently rated among Ontario’s Top 100 Festivals and Events, the Peninsula’s Tastiest Party is a three-day event that features more than 30 food vendors from across southern Ontario, entertainment, a marketplace featuring local food producers, food-themed contests and top culinary talent on the Mobile Culinary Theatre. This year’s Festival runs September 7, 8 and 9. Further details are available online at www.niagarafoodfestival.com, on the Festival’s Facebook page or by following @niagarafoodfest on Twitter. This year’s Niagara Food Festival is presented in part by Niagara College.

The 2012 Niagara Food Festival will also feature high-profile entertainment on the main stage, including headliners These Kids Wear Crowns on Friday night (Niagara College Night) and renowned Rolling Stones tribute Hot Rocks on Saturday night. The full entertainment lineup is available online at http://www.niagarafoodfestival.com/entertainment/.

The Canadian band will headline a Friday-night bill that will also include local independent recording artists Street Pharmacy.

The Niagara Food Festival also announced a Saturday night bill that will include popular Rolling Stones tribute act Hot Rocks, along with local favourites Sister Act and Jonesy.

“We’re thrilled to offer such an exciting and high-quality line-up of acts for this year’s festival,” said Niagara Food Festival Chair Brad Morgan. “These Kids Wear Crowns and Street Pharmacy are the perfect fit for the traditionally-younger crowd on Friday night, and our Saturday acts offer something for everyone.”

Other acts confirmed for the Festival include LMT Connection, Pauly and the Goodfellas, The Sensational Hot Rods and Orangemen.The full entertainment schedule for the 2012 Niagara Food Festival will be posted in the coming weeks on niagarafoodfestival.com.

Friday’s Niagara College Night is a key element of the partnership between NC and the Peninsula’s Tastiest Party. It replaces the on-campus afternoon concert that has traditionally been a part of Niagara College’s Orientation Week.

“We’re very excited to combine one of the signature events of our Orientation with one of Welland’s signature community events,” said Gord Hunchak, NC’s Associate Vice President, Communications and Planning. “With top-notch entertainment and delicious local food, all in a beautiful downtown setting, Niagara College Night promises to be the perfect cap-off for our Orientation Week, and a great way for our new and returning students to meet the Niagara community and kick off a successful academic year.”

For Niagara College Night, Niagara College will provide transportation to-and-from the Festival from both main campuses. To ensure a safe and successful event, the partners have also committed to providing enhanced security, as well as implementing a wrist-band policy for the sale of wine and beer at this year’s Festival.

Currently in its 19th year, the Niagara Food Festival draws tens of thousands of visitors to Downtown Welland each year. Consistently rated among Ontario’s Top 100 Festivals and Events, the Peninsula’s Tastiest Party is a three-day event that features food vendors from across southern Ontario, entertainment, a marketplace featuring local food producers, food-themed contests and top culinary talent on the Mobile Culinary Theatre. This year’s Festival runs September 7, 8 and 9. Further details are available online at www.niagarafoodfestival.com, on the Festival’s Facebook page or by following @niagarafoodfest on Twitter.

Tuesday, March 22, 2012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Niagara College introduced as title sponsor of 2012 Niagara Food Festival

Niagara College was introduced as the title sponsor of the 2012 Niagara Food Festival today, as part of a partnership that will make Niagara College students, staff and alumni a key ingredient in the Peninsula’s Tastiest Party.

Niagara Food Festival Chair Brad Morgan also announced that the date of this year’s festival will move to September 7, 8 and 9.

“Niagara College has been a part of the Niagara Food Festival for many years as a sponsor and vendor, and we’re very excited to bring our partnership to a new level,” said Morgan. “Niagara College is a very important part of our community and home to the Canadian Food and Wine Institute, which is famous for its unique approach to food, beer and wine education. We think it’s a perfect pairing with the Peninsula’s Tastiest Party.”

“Niagara College is proud to support one of Niagara’s signature festivals,” said Gord Hunchak, Niagara College’s acting Vice President of Student and External Relations. “This is a great opportunity to warmly welcome new students to the Niagara Region, and for all students to meet and mingle with members of the community. This is about everyone coming together to celebrate the start of the new academic year.”

In addition to improving the chances for warm, dry weather, the date change accommodates one of the key elements of Niagara College’s sponsorship. As it coincides with the end of Niagara College’s Orientation Week, the festival’s opening night, Friday, September 7, will be Niagara College Night at the Niagara Food Festival. The night will feature a major headline act on the Festival’s main stage, as well as other College connections designed to draw new and returning Niagara College students, staff, faculty and alumni.

“Niagara College Night will help the festival draw more guests on a night that traditionally draws a younger crowd, and secure higher-profile entertainment than we’ve had in recent years,” said Morgan.

“This allows Niagara College to combine one of the signature events of its Orientation Week with one of Welland’s signature community events,” said Hunchak. “It also allows us to move our concert activities from our Welland Campus neighbourhood to a downtown Festival with the infrastructure in place to accommodate large crowds.”

To ensure a safe and successful event, the partners have committed to providing increased transportation and security, as well as implementing a wrist-band policy for the sale of wine and beer at this year’s Festival. Further details of the sponsorship include the re-branding of the Niagara Food Festival’s Mobile Culinary Theatre to highlight Niagara College and its Canadian Food and Wine Institute, and the return of the Niagara College Teaching Winery as the Festival’s exclusive wine vendor.

“Partnering with the Niagara Food Festival is a great opportunity to highlight some of our specialized and unique programs, especially those within our renowned Canadian Food and Wine Institute,” said Hunchak.

Currently in its 19th year, the Niagara Food Festival draws tens of thousands of visitors to Downtown Welland each year. Consistently rated among Ontario’s top-100 Festivals, the Peninsula’s Tastiest Party is a three-day event that features food vendors from across southern Ontario, entertainment, a marketplace featuring local food producers, food-themed contests and top culinary talent on the Mobile Culinary Theatre. This year’s Festival runs September 7, 8 and 9. Further details are available online at www.niagarafoodfestival.com, on the Festival’s Facebook page or by following @niagarafoodfest on Twitter.

With 9,000 students, Niagara College offers more than 100 diploma, bachelor degree and advanced level programs at campuses in Welland, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Falls and St. Catharines. Areas of specialization include food and wine sciences, advanced technology, applied health and community safety, supported by unique learning enterprises in food, wine, beer, horticulture and esthetics.

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For information, contact:

Gord Hunchak
Acting Vice President, Student and External Relations
905 735-2211 ext. 7567
905 650-7820 (cell)
ghunchak@niagaracollege.ca

Brad Morgan
Chair, Niagara Food Festival Board of Directors
905 401-7136
bmorgan@cara.com