As usual, the celebrity lineup is studded with the empresses and emperors of the food world: pig pimper, jokester and all around nice guy José Andrés; orange Croc-garbed and Italian stallion Mario Batali; Top Chef judges Tom Colicchio and Gail Simmons; super hot cooker and funny man Michael Symon; the dynamic duo of Jacques and Claudine Pépin; Too Hot Tamales co-host Susan Finiger on global street food; Bobby Flay, whose shtick this year is brunch -- and a whole lot more.
It's not a cheap weekend, especially when you factor in airfare, a slumbering pad and all the extras, including the Best New Chef dinner, which, last year, honored Fruition chef/owner Alex Seidel. But it's fun as hell, and you never now who you might rub shoulders with.
Check out our food and chef porn from last year's Food & Wine Classic as well as the cool gadgets in the VIP swag room.