Chefs will bring international flair
to this year’s Taste of Derby party

The Kentucky Derby party continues to heat up as 19 top international chefs announce their menu offerings and wine pairings for the third annual Taste of Derby – the Official Kentucky Derby Party of Churchill Downs.

At this celebration of cuisine and racing on Thursday, May 3, the eve of the Kentucky Oaks, guests will mingle with horse racing and Hollywood celebrities and savor exquisite cuisine and delectable wines from racing destinations across the country as internationally renowned chefs serve samples of their regional specialties.
 

Taste of Derby, which attracts more than 1,250 guests, has moved to the Louisville Executive Aviation Hangar at Bowman Field this year to accommodate its growing demand. Tickets are $300 and include a red carpet entry starting at 7 p.m., food and wine tastings until 10 p.m., premium open bar until 11 p.m., complimentary valet service, and live entertainment by one of country’s most popular dance bands, Burning Las Vegas.

Through the Churchill Downs Incorporated Foundation, partial proceeds from Taste of Derby will go to its new official charitable recipient, Blessings in a Backpack. Blessings in a Backpack is a Louisville-born charity that is growing nationally as it fulfills its commitment to “Feeding the Future of America.”  In addition, partial proceeds of Taste of Derby go to hunger relief organizations in areas represented by the participating chefs. In just two years, a total of $121,000 has been contributed to hunger relief organizations around the world through the event.

Taste of Derby is modeled after the popular Taste of the NFL, a 20-year-old event founded by nationally known restaurateur and 2010 James Beard Foundation Humanitarian of the Year Wayne Kostroski. Churchill Downs partnered with Kostroski in 2010 to create Taste of Derby to expose Louisvillians and the thousands of out-of-town guests who visit the Kentucky Derby annually to these great racing communities across the country and the regional flavors that make them as unique as the Derby City.

The award-winning chefs participating in this year’s Taste of Derby and their menus are:

The state of Washington’s 14 Hands Vineyards has been named the official wine of Taste of Derby and will showcase its wines at each chef station with a pairing to complement the cuisine. In addition, 14 Hands will have a sommelier station that will showcase a special selection of new world wines.

Additional Taste of Derby beverage partners add international flair. Stella Artois, the official beer sponsor of Churchill Downs, the Kentucky Oaks and the Kentucky Derby, is the No. 1 Belgian beer in the world. The brand’s nine-step pouring ritual will be featured at the event.

Brand representatives from Kentucky’s own Woodford Reserve, the official bourbon of the Kentucky Derby, will teach guests how to make a mint julep, and Scotland’s award-winning Hendrick’s Gin will be highlighting its Cucumber Collins. Longines, the official timekeeper, will showcase the three luxurious Swiss watches that will be gifted to the winning owner, trainer and jockey of the Kentucky Derby.

Creekstone Farms Premium Black Angus Beef will present the second annual “Chef Showdown” at Taste of Derby, where three culinary student finalists from Sullivan University in Louisville will compete for a $5,000 scholarship by creating a potentially award-winning dish in 20 minutes. Also, the Kentucky Derby 138 solid-gold winning trophy is scheduled to make an appearance.
For additional event information or to purchase tickets, visit the event website at TasteofDerby.com.

From Churchill Downs