Delicious Details on March 2015 ‘Taste of Solvang’ in California

Come Visit the “Danish Capital of America” in Solvang, California –

The 23^rd annual Taste of Solvang offers savory flavors and sensations from Wednesday, March 18 through Sunday, March 22, 2015. This popular event in California lures “foodies” with its variety of happenings. Here is the delicious details update.

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

2:00-6:00 p.m.:  Solvang Village Farmers Market (First Street between Mission & Copenhagen Drive); find farm-to-you fresh fruit, veggies, flowers, meats, cheeses, breads and savories from around the Central Coast.

2:30 p.m. Solvang Village Farmers Market Chef Walks & Dining Experiences: Choose walk & talk from Chef Budi Kazali of The Ballard Inn & Restaurant (meet at the corner of Mission Dr. & First St. by Solvang Park; followed by gourmet seated dinner at the Inn, for additional fee; reservations required, call 805-688-7770); and  Chef David Cecchini of Cecco Ristorante (meet in front of Cecco Ristorante, 475 First St.; followed by a fresh, wood-fired pizza making demo and tastings utilizing guests’ goods found that day; free of charge, reservations required: http://www.SolvangUSA.com/tickets).

Friday, March 20, 2015

7:00-9:00 p.m.:  The popular Sips & Sweets at the Solvang Veterans Memorial Hall, 1765 Mission Drive features tempting treats accompanied by local wines and beverages with live music from the Sean Wiggins Band. Guests will have the pleasure of voting for Best Dessert–People’s Choice. Plus, the Best Dessert–Amateur and Best Dessert–Professional will be chosen by three judges: Peg Ivy, author of A Dash of Southern; George Yatchisin of the Santa Barbara Independent and Allison Levine, wine writer, Please the Palate.  Ala carte tickets are $30 per person including souvenir wine glass (purchase in advance at www.SolvangUSA.com/tickets; by calling 1-800-468-6765 or at the door).

Saturday, March 21, 2015

11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.: Grand Tasting (also known as the Walking Smorgaasbord) features more than 40 taste stops at restaurants and retailers around the village featuring delicious bites and beverages at A Piece of the Past Belgian Café, Birkholm’s Bakery, Bodega de Espana, Book Loft, Cafe Dolce Gelato, Cariloha, Casa Cassara, CHOMP, Danish Mill Bakery, Del Sol, El Rancho Marketplace @  Artistic Pony Studio, Elverhoj Museum of History & Art, Fresco Valley Café, Greenhouse Café, Home Connection, Johnson Jewelers, Kabuki Japanese Restaurant, La Bella Rosa Fashions, Lemos Feed & Pet Supply, Louise’s Kitchen @ The Wildling Museum, Mortensen’s Bakery, Old Danish Food Farm, Olsen’s Danish Bakery, Pho 805, Red Viking Restaurant, Solvang Bakery, The Mole Hole, The Olive House, The Right Gift, Thomas Kinkade, TLC & Design Alternatives, Tower Pizza. Treats Women’s Boutique, Viking Garden Restaurant and Wandering Dog Wine Bar.

Ala carte tickets are $35 per person including detailed map and menu (purchase in advance at www.SolvangUSA.com/tickets; by calling 1-800-468-6765 or the day of the event if still available at Solvang Visitors Center, 1639 Copenhagen Drive).

5:00-8:00 p.m.:  Wine & Beer Walk—Day 1 offering 18 stops* at downtown tasting rooms pouring their vintages into the prized Taste of Solvang souvenir glass. Ala carte tickets are $40 per person (purchase in advance at www.SolvangUSA.com/tickets; by calling 1-800-468-6765 or the day of the event if still available at Solvang Visitors Center, 1639 Copenhagen Drive). Wine & Beer Walk ticket is valid for both Saturday and Sunday.

6:30 p.m.: Larner Winemaker Dinner with Bacon & Brine’s Chef Pink

For the first time, a limited number of guests will enjoy dinner with local winemaker/vineyard owner Michael Larner of Larner Vineyard & Winery, and taste the fruits of his labor at four-course sit-down dinner with a carefully curated pairing menu by Bacon & Brine’s Chef Pink–first course is roasted green garlic soup with fresh herbs and house made bacon; second course is spring lamb ragu with fresh tagliatelle and garden greens; third course is slow smoked pork shoulder with tangerine and small batch bourbon-mustard seed mashed butter potatoes and heirloom spinach; and the final course is vanilla bean crème caramel. The dinner will be held at the magical Greenhouse Café in downtown Solvang. Ala carte tickets are $95 per person (available only in advance at www.SolvangUSA.com/tickets or by calling 1-800-468-6765).

Sunday, March 22, 2015

–SOLD OUT–11:00 a.m. Bubbles & Brunch—SOLD OUT

New this year, savor Danish food favorites and farm-to-table foods artfully prepared by Chef Louise Smith of Louise’s Kitchen Table paired with sparkling wines from local Flying Goat Cellars. Winemaker Norm Yost will be personally sharing his “Goat Bubbles” sparkling winemaking process. The event will be held in the gallery of the Wildling Museum, 1511-C Mission Drive, to add an artistic flair.

11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.: Wine & Beer Walk—Day 2 offering 18 stops* at downtown tasting rooms pouring their vintages into the prized souvenir Taste of Solvang glass. Ala carte tickets are $40 per person (purchase in advance at www.SolvangUSA.com/tickets; by calling  1-800-468-6765 or the day of the event if still available at Solvang Visitors Center, 1639 Copenhagen Drive). Wine & Beer Walk ticket is valid for both Saturday and Sunday.

*Participants in the 2015 Taste of Solvang Wine & Beer Walk are Carivintas, Casa Cassara, Dascomb Cellars, Lion’s Peak, Lucas & Lewellen, Lucky Dogg, Presidio, Randy’s Taproom, Royal Oaks, Santé Wine Bar & Lounge, Sevtap, Solvang Brewing Company, Sort This Out Cellars, The Good Life, The Olive House, Toccata, Viking Garden Cellars and Wandering Dog Wine Bar.

The 2015 Taste of Solvang Weekend Passport includes tickets to Sips & Sweets, Grand Tasting and Wine & Beer Walk plus Souvenir Wine Glass, Wine Charm, Taste of Solvang Map, Visitors Guide and Souvenir Tote Bag for $85 per person. 2015 Taste of Solvang ala carte ticket prices per person are: Sips & Sweets-$30, Grand Tasting-$35, Wine & Beer Walk-$40; Larner Winemaker Dinner-$95. To enjoy wine and beer tastings, attendees must be age 21 years or over with valid ID.  2015 Taste of Solvang advance purchase of ticket packages or ala carte tickets is highly recommended at www.SolvangUSA.com/tickets

The Taste of Solvang is presented by the Solvang Conference & Visitors Bureau since 1993 with sponsorship support this year from Visit the Santa Ynez Valley (VisitSYV), OnQ Financial, Graphic Systems and 805 Living Magazine. For more information about Solvang year-round lodging, dining and attractions visit www.SolvangUSA.com

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