KOHLER Food & Wine Festival

Some things are too good to keep to yourself… like the Kohler Food & Wine Experience.

Sorry if it sounds like I’m bragging today, but I’ve just got to tell you about my latest trip.

Several weeks ago I had the opportunity of visit Kohler, Wisconsin for the annual Food and Wine Festival hosted by The American Club.

The village of Kohler was started as a planned community by the KOHLER Company back in 1912. One hundred years later, it remains a cozy little village with a “Downtown USA” feel.

I adored walking the picturesque tree-lined streets from Kohler’s 5 Star Resort, The American Club, to the Shops at Woodlake where many of the festival events took place.

Even without the festival, The American Club is a destination all to itself.

Previously unbeknownst to me, it is the home of Whistling Straits and Blackwolf Run, two highly sought-after golf courses.

When Lt. Dan found out I was going to The American Club, he hung his head in despair. Finally, in a voice barely distinguishable, he uttered, “But you don’t even play golf!”

Poor guy. I’ll have to take him along next year.

Kohler is also the home of the renowned Kohler Waters Spa.

I had the pleasure of experiencing an aromatic “Bourbon on the Rocks” Pedicure and my very first Harmony Bath, a body scrub/massage performed with high powered water jets.

It sounds rigorous, but was very relaxing.

With multiple dining locations, The American Club is a haven for gourmandes. We ate at several fantastic restaurants, on top of the abundant nibbles from the festival sessions.

I did not go hungry on this trip.

As for the Kohler Food & Wine Experience, it was truly unique.

I have been to my fair share of Food and Wine festivals around the country. What Kohler offers is definitely an “experience” more than a festival.

In every session, we tasted all the dishes prepared by celebrity chefs and had the opportunity to gush over them meet them in person.

Here Julie from The Little Kitchen and I, met the stars of America’s Test Kitchen.

I have been a fan of Christopher Kimball from the first time I got my hands on a Cook’s Illustrated Magazine. He is just as funny and knowledgeable in person as he is on the show.

Bridget Lancaster and Jack Bishop were completely delightful as well.

I also sat in cooking sessions with Lidia Bastianich and Anne Burrell. Their teaching styles were very different, but both extremely enjoyable… and delicious!

Throughout the weekend I sipped and swirled, nibbled and munched, and tasted my way into a state of euphoria, with Wisconsin-made artisan cheeses and wines from celebrated wine makers.

And I ate chocolate. Lots of chocolate.

But my greatest thrill of the entire weekend, was not the celebrities, fine wines, and extravagant food.

What really took my breath away was the Kohler Design Center.

…I could live there.

Let me rephrase that. I want to live there.

KOHLER, please let me live there!

The Kohler Design Center showcases all of Kohler’s newest innovations in an elegant and artful way.

Each little nook is a whole new experience.

Each little room, a refuge from the stress of busy life.

The grand showpiece of the Design Center is the back wall, an art-deco display of various fixtures.

If only my toilets looked so good.

I meandered through a museum below the design center that told Kohler’s story.

The history of KOHLER, from its early beginnings in farm equipment through generations of home goods, is a beautiful tale of art and evolution.

Overall I was thoroughly impressed.

By the Town.

By the Company.

By The American Club.

And by the Festival.

If you are making plans to travel to a Food and Wine festival in 2013, I highly recommend this one!

 (Instagram Shot – Me all gussied up and in a Kohler tub.)

Share This Recipe With Friends!