Raegan Labat
Delicious, innovative food. Lively, danceable tunes. Live fire cooking craft, boutique and small-batch wines, beers, and spirits: All the elements of Louisiana and Mississippi's inimitable culinary cultures come together in perfect, joyful synchronicity at this, the seventh annual St. Francisville Food and Wine Festival—now expanded to fill a whole weekend. In the charming and picturesque small town where this magazine got its start, foodies, oenophiles, music lovers and diners come together to enjoy seated dinners, and exuberant tasting events in the company of some of our region's most celebrated chefs. Here's what's on the roster this year.
• Saturday morning—Jazz Brunch at the St. Francisville Inn: Pop the cork on the 2025 festival with a lyrical, luxurious lunchtime feast at the St. Francisville Inn. Featuring a four-course menu by Chef Michael Dardenne, cocktail pairings by master mixologist Alan Walter, and a rousing jazz performance by New Orleans's Tom Fischer Trio. 11 am–2 pm. $200.
• Saturday afternoon—Bubbles & BBQ at North Commerce: The champagne, craft beer and barbecue bonanza at North Commerce returns to historic downtown St. Francisville. Featuring live fire cooking stations helmed by the Gulf South's most creative barbecue masters, a bottomless champagne bar, local and regional craft beers, live entertainment; and opportunities to sample natural wines, regional spirits, and specialty foods presented by regional purveyors. 11 am–3 pm. $95.
• Saturday evening—Visiting Chef Eric Cook at Restaurant 1796: An exuberant, seated dinner with wine pairings, served at The Myrtles. In a culinary collaboration, Restaurant 1796's Executive Chef Nick Kent will welcome Eric Cook, Chef/Owner of award-winning Gris Gris New Orleans, and author of the acclaimed Modern Creole cookbook. Together, Cook and Kent will deliver a sophisticated, five-course tour of contemporary Southern flavors, paired with bespoke cocktails, fine wines by Eberle Family Winery of Paso Robles, CA, and spirited entertainment. $195.
• Sunday—St. Francisville Food & Wine Festival Grand Tastings at The Myrtles: Sunday's Grand Tastings present celebrated Mississippi and Louisiana chefs serving signature dishes from 30+ tasting stations arrayed around The Myrtles' grounds. Attendees explore The Myrtles property while discovering participating chefs' dishes, wine stations serving 50+ notable wines, a beer garden serving craft beer by Mississippi and Louisiana brewers and a "Spirits of The Myrtles" Courtyard serving craft spirits and cocktails by regional distillers. $135–$275
At press time, tickets for the seventh annual festival were close to sold out. Get yours while they last. stfrancisvillefoodandwine.com.
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