Chefdance 2013 - Marcel Vigneron

It was the Closing Night of Chefdance 2013 and Chef Marcel Vigneron, best known for his boyish charm and cool vibes on the popular cooking reality show Top Chef, pulled off one of the finest most delicious food events ever. 

The underground dining experience that seats 250+ under Park City Live on Main Street, hosted by the gorg Mimi Kim and Kenny Griswold, was packed with celebrities, industry people, artists, producers, foodies and really cool people. Among the musical acts following dinner was a breathtaking acoustic performance by Matisyahu (my personal crush...!) in the Red Touch Media Lounge and Chefdance lobby.

Backlot Bees Knees by Snake Oil Cocktail Co. Tanqueray Gin, Jasmine-honey water, freshed pressed lemon, jasmine blossom. This was the reception cocktail...sweet, sensational and stunning.

Hamachi Crudo. Oversized piece of yellowtail sprinkled with fennel, grapefruit, castelvetrano, evopuffed wild rice, tarragon. Brilliant combo of flavors and textures—sensational bites. I love luxurious starts!

Black Kale Salad. Shredded raw kale mixed with pear, pomegranate and drowned in a rich persimmon Sicilian pistachio aillade. Hearty haute salads rule. No matter how trendy pomegranates are these days, these teeny explosives are always an awesome touch.

Skipped Beets by Snake Oil Cocktail Co. Tanqueray Gin, beet water, spearmint, pressed lemon, cracked black pepper, striped beet. Rich, sweet, spicy and decadent garnished with awesome striped beet slices. Snake Oil Cocktail Co. from San Diego is renown for their intense flavors and artsy garnishes. Groooovy!

Braised Bison Short Ribs. Generous 3 bone-in bison slab over pine nut apple sauce, brussels sprouts, apricot over Morning Star Farms Veggie Bacon Gremolatta. The pine nut apple sauce is... to die for. Rich, tender, awesome meat for the even the most picky carnivore. Seriously.

Norman Seeff (far left). A legendary rock photographer and producer was in the house! Norman Seef is a brilliant man, articulate and inspiring on topics pertaining to the art and soul. His oversized prints of the famous and beautiful were draped all over the basement walls of Chefdance and Red Touch Media Lounge. 

Quinoa Pine Nut Apple Sauce. The veggie main course contained awesome bright veggies over quinoa and pine nut apple sauce. This will blow any vegetarian or carnivore away. Promise.

Bread Pudding. Giant ramekins loaded with the most delicious bread pudding, maple bananas, raisins, boozy whip. Rich, fattening, delicious.

Almond Milk Panna Cotta.

Wayne Scholes CEO Red Touch Media, Mimi Kim, Marcel Vigneron, Ryan Innes, Kenny Griswold

Mimi and Danny Masterson AKA DJ Mom Jeans.  

Matisyahu in the Red Touch Media Lounge performed an acoustic set at the Chefdance Closing Night after party. Incredible soulful-flirty vocal percussion and guitar. Brilliant voice, "Sometimes in my tears I drown...." (Swoooon...!)

DJ Chunga.

DJ Mimi spinning at Red Touch Media Lounge. Mimi does it all. Go GIRL! SO HOT!

In the Red Touch Media Lounge, artist Michelle Carnes paints live.

Taboo of The Black Eyed Peas at Park City Live.

Michael Esposito of Snake Oil Cocktail Co.

(Matisyahu. Hiding beneath that mysterious hasidic beard for all those years is the kindest most amazing face.... )

Until next year!  XO

For some real pro shots of Sundance/Chefdance, check amazing images by photgrapher Carla Boecklin here.