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The Chefs' Holidays, held each year in January and February, feature some of America's most innovative and acclaimed chefs. These culinary adventures provide a showcase for the fascinating range of styles, personalities and emerging trends that characterize the American cuisine scene.

Each session features a "Meet the Chefs" reception, cooking demonstrations and behind-the-scenes kitchen tours. The Ahwahnee Hotel provides the ideal setting to learn the culinary secrets and techniques that helped our guest chefs reach the pinnacle of their profession.

At the end of the presentations, the Gala Chefs' Banquet provides a fitting finale. These memorable five-course dinners, paired with a full complement of fine wines, highlight specialties of the guest chefs as well as those of the Ahwahnee's culinary team.

During free time, guests are encouraged to discover the wonders of Yosemite at this time of year. There are naturalist programs, sightseeing tours, ice skating, photography walks, downhill and cross-country skiing to name a few.

Demonstration seating is limited and is provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Lodging, package, or banquet reservations do not guarantee demonstration seating.

CHEFS' HOLIDAYS 2002 SCHEDULE AND LODGING PACKAGES

Session I: January 9 and 10, 2002
Session II: January 13, 14 and 15, 2002
Session III: January 16 and 17, 2002
Session IV: January 20, 21 and 22, 2002
Session V: January 23 and 24, 2002
Session VI: January 27, 28 and 29, 2002
Session VII: January 30 and 31, 2002
Session VIII: February 3, 4 and 5, 2002
Session IX: February 6 and 7, 2002

Exclusively for Chefs' Holidays guests, we offer special packages that include lodging for two people, with two tickets to a Chefs' Banquet. Package prices are $729 (2 night) and $999 (3 night) The Ahwahnee and $449 (2 night) and $529 (3 night) at the Yosemite Lodge. The cost for each banquet $139.75 (includes wines, tax and service gratuity). Packages are offered Sunday - Thursday and are based on double occupancy. Packages do not include room tax. For reservations, please
call the Yosemite Reservations office at (559) 252-4848 or book online.

2002 Yosemite Chefs' Holidays Schedule

Session I
Wednesday, January 9:

Moderator:
Joyce Goldstein, Noted author and former chef/owner "Square One"

10 a.m. Jeffrey Powell "Rustic Winter Italian Feast"
2 p.m. Greg Higgins "Cooking Close to Home - Using Regional, Seasonal Ingredients"
6 p.m. - Meet the Chefs Reception

Thursday, January 10:
10 a.m. Holly Peterson Mondavi "Flavor Dynamics of Natural Sea Salt"
6:30 p.m. - Gala Chefs Dinner prepared by guest chef Greg Higgins

Session II

Moderator:
Mike Cleary, Northern California syndicated food, wine and travel talk show host "Food and Travel Radio"

Sunday, January 13:
6 p.m. - Meet the Chefs Reception

Monday, January 14:
10 a.m. James Chan "Fusion Foods of Shanghai circa 1920's - the Paris of the East"
2 p.m. Janos Wilder "Cooking Southwest Cuisine with Native Products"

Tuesday, January 15:
10 a.m. demonstration
Michael Laukert and James Anile "Olive Oil"
6:30 p.m. - Gala Chefs Dinner prepared by guest chef Janos Wilder and Mary Cech (dessert)

Session III

Moderator:
Mike Cleary, Northern California syndicated food, wine and travel talk show host "Food and Travel Radio"

Wednesday, January 16:
10 a.m. Bo Friberg "Cookies and Pastries with Pâté Sucreé"
2 p. m. Gerald Hirigoyen "Favorites from The Basque Kitchen award-winning cookbook"
6 p.m. - Meet the Chefs Reception

Thursday, January 17:
10 a. m. Amy Wend and James Anile "Savory Chevre Starters"
6:30 p.m. - Gala Chefs Dinner prepared by guest chef Gerald Hirigoyen

Session IV

Moderator:
Dan Berger, Nationally syndicated wine and food columnist

Sunday, January 20:
6 p.m. - Meet the Chefs Reception

Monday, January 21:
10 a.m. Elizabeth Falkner "Texture/Temperature/Taste - Combinations with Chocolate"
2 p.m Mark Peel and Nancy Silverton "Foods of Campanile"

Tuesday, January 22:
10 a.m. Josh Silvers "Rhone Wine Friendly Foods"
6:30 p.m. - Gala Chefs Dinner prepared by guest chefs Mark Peel and Nancy Silverton

Session V

Moderator:
Dan Berger, Nationally syndicated wine and food columnist

Wednesday, January 23:
10 a.m. Damaso Lee "Lobster Risotto"
2 p.m. Tom Douglas "Favorites from 'Tom Douglas' Seattle Kitchen' Award-winning Cookbook"
6 p.m. - Meet the Chefs Reception

Thursday, January 24:
10 a.m. Dr. Robert Steinberg and Eric Phillips "Cacao and Chocolate: The Secrets of a Journey from Tree to Table"
6:30 p.m. - Gala Chefs Dinner prepared by guest chef Tom Douglas

Session VI

Moderator:
Sally Bernstein, Editor in Chief of www.sallybernstein.com (food, beverage and travel Internet site), Co-host Wine Valley Radio

Sunday, January 27:
6 p.m. - Meet the Chefs Reception

Monday, January 28:
10 a.m. Georgeanne Brennan "Winter Dinner in Provence"
2 p.m. Tim Goodell "Pairing Foods with Champagne"

Tuesday, January 29:
10 a.m. Trey Foshee "The Versatility of Braising"
6:30 p.m. - Gala Chefs Dinner prepared by guest chef Tim Goodell

Session VII

Moderator:
Sally Bernstein, Editor in Chief of www.sallybernstein.com (food, beverage and travel Internet site), Co-host Wine Valley Radio

Wednesday, January 30:
10 a.m. Nick Blinoff "A Celebration of Fresh Herbs"
2 p.m. Kevin Taylor "Fish with Red Wine"
6 p.m. - Meet the Chefs Reception

Thursday, January 31:
10 a.m. Elaine Bell "Wine Country Cooking with Elaine Bell"
6:30 p.m. - Gala Chefs Dinner prepared by guest chef Kevin Taylor

Session VIII

Moderator:
Gene Burns, Northern California radio talk show host "Dining around with Gene Burns" KGO-Radio (ABC)

Sunday, February 3:
6 p.m. - Meet the Chefs Reception

Monday, February 4:
10 a.m. Craig and Anne Stoll "Tuscan Winter Comfort Food"
2 p.m. Dennis Leary "Dinner Menus in Anticipation of Spring"

Tuesday, February 5:
10 a.m. demonstration
Bruce Aidells and Nancy Oakes "Making and Cooking with Sausage"
6:30 p.m. - Gala Chefs Dinner prepared by guest chef Dennis Leary

Session IX

Moderator:
Gene Burns, Northern California radio talk show host "Dining around with Gene Burns" KGO-Radio (ABC)

Wednesday, February 6:
10 a.m. "Favorite recipes from the kitchens of Kendall-Jackson Estates"
2 p.m. Kent Rathbun "Tastes from the Southwest"
6 p.m. - Meet the Chefs Reception

Thursday, February 7:
10 a.m. Jeffrey Madura "Winter in the Wine Country"
6:30 p.m. - Gala Chefs Dinner prepared by guest chef Kent Rathbun

Chefs' Holidays 2003 Schedule

Session I: January 8-9, 2003
Session II: January 12-14, 2003
Session III: January 15-16, 2003
Session IV: January 20-21, 2003
Session V: January 22-23, 2003
Session VI: January 26-28, 2003
Session VII: January 29-30, 2003
Session VIII: February 2-4, 2003
Session IX: February 5-6, 2003