It is a no secret that New York City, Montreal and Boston all have their share of famous restaurants, theaters and entertainment hotspots, but what some people don’t realize is that those same very things can be found right here in our own backyard.
• What: Wine & Dine for the Arts
• When: Jan. 16-18
• Where: Various venues in Downtown Albany
• How much: $10-$150
• Info: www.albanywinefest.com
“The talent that we have here in Albany is often overshadowed simply because of our geographic location, wedged between Montreal, Boston and New York city,” said Donna Purnomo, founding member of Wine and Dine for the Arts. “Despite Albany being the capital, we get pushed aside as far as a presence in the grand scheme.”
Purnomo, who is married to Chef Yono Purnomo of Yono’s in Albany, considers herself somewhat of a theater geek.
“You can’t say a bad thing about the arts,” Purnomo said. “The only thing is the funding, so we wanted to fill the gaps.”
It was for this reason that in 2010, she and her husband threw around the idea of bringing Albany area chefs together for an event to raise money for the arts.
Purnomo describes her husband, Yono, as a “dreamer.”
“He has great ideas and wants to help and give back to the community,” she said, “and he is good at surrounding himself with wonderful people bearing talent that could bring this into fruition.”
They began by approaching the general manager at the Crowne Plaza in Albany.
“He said, ‘OK, we will give it a try,’ and we brought other people on board – all volunteer.” Purnomo said. “The first year we thought, worst case scenario, we would all throw in a grand for Capital Rep, but we gave Capital Rep a check for around $40,000.”
Since its inception, the event has raised $290,000 for the arts in Albany.
“It just sounds like one of those fairy tales where you just add water, but that’s how it happened,” Purnomo said.
This year’s Wine & Dine for the Arts event is expected to draw more than 3,500 people. The three-day long festival will be held at the Hilton in Albany from Thursday, Jan. 16, through Saturday, Jan. 18. Proceeds will benefit Albany Barn, Albany Institute of History & Art, Albany Symphony Orchestra, Capital Repertory Theatre and Park Playhouse.
The festival will bring together more than 70 innovative chefs and 250 global wine, spirit and New York state craft beer companies.
Purnomo stresses the event isn’t one where you need to spend a fortune in order to go. Tickets start at $10.
A variety of events will take place all three days of the festival: from a barista showdown where the Capital District’s top coffee houses will compete for bragging rights as Albany’s best barista to a Bloody Mary competition where six of Albany’s finest bartenders will battle head to head..
The popular Slider Slam will once again take place on Friday from 8 to 11 p.m.
“Instead of being held at the Hilton this year, the Slider Slam will be at 90 State Street, which is literally across the street,” Purnomo said. “We have 13 different restaurants and chefs competing to come up with the best slider, not just beef. We don’t put strings on their creativity for that.”
Purnomo said the new location of the Slider Slam allows more people to attend.
On Friday and Saturday from 4 to 8 p.m., the grand ballroom at the Hilton is transformed for the grand tastings.
“There will be 35-40 chef tables, all of the well-known restaurants in the Capital Region,” said Purnomo.
In addition to the tastings, there will be educational seminars presented by brand ambassadors.
Parking is complimentary to all festival events at the HIlton Albany. The only rule to attending is that all festival goers must be 21 years of age.
Purnomo hopes the popular event brings people to the City of Albany and helps people near and far see what the area has to offer.
“To the people who say there is nothing to do in Albany, open your eyes,” she said.
For more information about Albany Chef’s Food and Wine Festival, visit albanywinefest.com.