Big Food, Big Wine, Big Time
Tulalip Resort Casino is about to set the stage for the 6th consecutive Taste, a hotly anticipated weekend of big food, big wine, big stars and what can certainly be described as a big time. Executive Chef Perry Mascitti and Wine Director Tom Thompson are calling on renowned chef and winemaker friends from around the country to join them as headliners for this tasting gala. Joining the culinary couplet will be James Beard victor and Emmy award winning host Ming Tsai; one of the most entertaining wine and spirit authorities on the planet – Anthony Giglio; TOT 2014 Honorary Winemaker and Woodinville Wine Cellars grape maestro, Sean Boyd; KCPQ Fox 13 news anchor and “Western Washington Man of the Year” Bill Wixey; television host/voice about town Kaci Aitchison; and Honorary Artist Joe Gobin, master designer and educator. Taste of Tulalip has become one of Washington’s annual show-stoppers.
Tom Thompson
Tulalip Wine Director Tom Thompson is always first in line to uncork the latest and greatest boutique finds. He has carefully selected well over 100 pours from Washington, Oregon, California, Germany, and New Zealand for the “Wine Event of the Year”, as recognized by the Washington Wine Commission. Thompson keeps adding breadth to Tulalip’s extensive cellar, garnering Wine Spectator’s Best of Award of Excellence.
Executive Chef Perry Mascitti
Executive Chef Perry is the man behind the pan! He oversees seven dining venues, in-room meals for the Four Diamond hotel and catering for the entire Resort Casino. His creativity shines along with that of his culinary team at the multi-course Celebration Dinner, the nibbles of endless proportions at the Grand Taste, and he is the mastermind behind the Rock and Roll Challenge.
Ming Tsai
Ming Tsai is a pioneer and innovator in East-West cuisine and the chef/owner of Blue Ginger in Wellesley, MA and Blue Dragon in Boston, MA. Ming hosts and executive produces the Emmy-nominated public television show, Simply Ming. He is the author of five cookbooks: Blue Ginger: East Meets West Cooking with Ming Tsai, Simply Ming, Ming’s Master Recipes, Simply Ming One-Pot Meal, and Simply Ming In Your Kitchen.
Anthony Giglio
Anthony Giglio is a writer, educator and raconteur who motivates countless imbibers to trust their own tastes and relax the rules. Giglio’s witty, unpretentious style can be discerned in the weekly column he writes for Details Magazine’s “Food + Drinks” section. He has written ten books, including three editions of the annual FOOD & WINE MAGAZINE Wine Guide review of 1,000+ wines; five editions of the enormously popular Mr. Boston Official Bartender’s Guide; and his highly-regarded first book, Cocktails in New York.
Joe Gobin
Like his father Bernie, Joe is a commercial fisherman who carved during the off-season. As a Tulalip tribal artist team leader, he was involved in the design and actual creation of furnishings at the Resort Casino’s AAA Four Diamond hotel. During the early 1990’s, Gobin was hired by the Tribes’ Board of Directors to promote the Tulalip culture through art, with the task of protecting and enhancing their traditional values as well as spiritual beliefs. His work can be found throughout Tulalip’s property including the Health Clinic, Resort Casino, and Administrative Building.
Sean Boyd
Sean Boyd joined the award winning Woodinville Wine Cellars family in 2002. While growing up in California, Boyd was surrounded by gourmet food, fine wines and journalism (his father is a professional wine critic). He began cultivating his craft at an early age. After working for a wine shop, Sean left home at age 20 to learn the art of enology. His travels led him to prominent viticulture areas such as Australia, Portugal, Spain and New Zealand, where he studied under master vintners and developed his signature style.
Bill Wixey
Having grown up in the Pacific Northwest, Bill feels privileged to chronicle the issues that affect his community. A newsroom leader, he has anchored and reported in the Seattle area since 1998, and is co-host of This Morning on Q13 FOX News weekdays from 7 to 10 a.m. Offering commentary on major news events from all over the world, Wixey has reported from Asia following the 2004 tsunami, from Haiti after the 2010 earthquake and covered the Olympic Games in Beijing, Vancouver and London. He has been honored with two Emmys for his broadcast work.
Kaci Aitchison
A Seattle native and proud University of Washington grad, Kaci picked up her first microphone as a sophomore, and hasn’t put it down since. She got her start in radio at KISS-FM, to meeting the big brothers she never knew she wanted as host on The Bob Rivers Morning Show. In 2009 she joined the Q13 This Morning as a features reporter and is now co-anchor. Voted “Best Local TV Personality in Western Washington”, Aitchison is also one of the lead singers with local rock and roll band Spike and the Impalers.
Taste of Tulalip tickets go on sale in mid-July. For more information, visit www.tasteoftulalip.com.
About Tulalip Resort Casino
Award winning Tulalip Resort Casino is the most distinctive gaming, dining, meeting, entertainment and shopping destination in Washington State. The AAA Four Diamond resort’s world class amenities have ensured its place on the Condé Nast Traveler Gold and Traveler Top 100 Resorts lists, as well as Preferred Hotel & Resorts membership. The property includes 192,000 square feet of gaming excitement; a luxury hotel featuring 370 guest rooms and suites; 30,000 square feet of premier meeting, convention and wedding space; the full-service T Spa; and 7 dining venues, including the AAA Four Diamond Tulalip Bay Restaurant. It also showcases the intimate Canoes Cabaret and a 3,000-seat amphitheater. Nearby, find the Hibulb Cultural Center and Natural History Preserve, Cabela’s; and Seattle Premium Outlets, featuring more than 110 name brand retail discount shops. The Resort Casino is conveniently located between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C. just off Interstate-5 at Exit 200. It is an enterprise of the Tulalip Tribes. For reservations please call (866) 716-7162.
