iLani Brewfest brings celebrity chefs, brewers, & distillers to SW Washington
Not far north of Oregon, the ilani Casino is hosting their annual weekend-long brewfest in Ridgefield, Washington from February 16-19th, 2023. The casino resort is bringing in top guest and celebrity chefs for live cooking demos, pairing dinners, and there will be beer and distillery talks with the masters. Ilani is home to Michael Jordan’s Steakhouse, where they will host a whiskey seminar during one of the nights. Organizers promise a celebration featuring hundreds of beers, seltzers, ciders, spirits and wines.
The impressive and growing lineup of celebrity chefs, including Robert Irvine, Alex Guarnaschelli, Justin Sutherland, Antonia Lofaso, Doug Adams, Brian Duffy and Betty Fraser. Guests will enjoy delicious food pairings, entertainment, contests — including Sunday’s Oyster Open — and so much more during a weekend packed with exciting events. Tickets for all ilani BrewFest events are on sale now, and more information and tickets are available on ilani’s website.
Thursday and Friday BrewFest Events
BrewFest weekend kicks off Thursday, Feb. 16, at The Stadium Sports Bar & Grill, 7-8:30 p.m., with the Beer, Bourbon & Burgers Dinner featuring Doug Adams and Brian Duffy. The two talented chefs will host guests as they indulge in the sweetness of hand-blended bourbon and award-winning craft beer that pair with a gourmet burger. On Friday, Feb. 17, the evening features a marquee BrewFest event, the Celebrity Chef Dine Around, inside the Meeting & Entertainment Center, 7-10 p.m. Foodies will taste and enjoy the creative pairings of food with beer, wine and cocktails prepared by local and nationally acclaimed celebrity chefs at live cooking stations. Tickets to both these events are on sale now at ilanibrewfest.com.
The Main Event: Grand Tastings
ilani’s BrewFest features two days of Grand Tasting events with sessions on Saturday, Feb. 18, and Sunday, Feb. 19. Upon entering the doors of the Cowlitz Ballroom, guests will be transported to a world of hops, malts, and delicious food and fun. Hundreds of beers, seltzers, ciders, spirits and wines for tasting will be accompanied by celebrity chef demonstrations on the main stage. Guests can sample coveted recipes created by the country’s top chefs, listen to live music, and learn about how their favorite beverages were created.
Saturday’s sessions are offered 1-5 p.m. and 6-10 p.m., and Sunday’s Grand Tasting will take place 1-5 p.m. Tickets are on sale now; designated driver tickets are also available for purchase. All Grand Tasting ticket purchases include $6 in food tokens and $10 in Promo Play.
ilani is partnering with Northbank Brewers Alliance to offer guests the chance to enter Sunday’s Grand Tasting one hour early. Beer enthusiasts will be able to sip and sample their way through many offerings before the doors open to the public. This special ticket will admit guests on Sunday, Feb. 19, noon-5 p.m., and includes $6 in food tokens and $10 in Promo Play. Tickets are available at ticketmaster.com
Can’t-miss Special BrewFest Events
Bamboo 8 will host a Craft Beer Seminar on Saturday, Feb. 18, and Sunday, Feb. 19, 2-2:45 p.m. Guests can engage in intimate conversations over beers with several award-winning brewers. Chef Justin Sutherland will host a Bourbon Whiskey Seminar, an extraordinary opportunity to discover and explore the depth of bourbon at Michael Jordan’s Steak House, 3-3:45 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 18, and Sunday, Feb. 19. The event also features Michael Jordan's Steak House Executive Chef Jason Ford.
Robert Irvine hosts the Beer, Bubbles & Bloodies Brunch inside Rose & Thorn on Sunday, Feb. 19., with seatings at 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. Brunch aficionados can enjoy a curated experience from Chef Irvine and ilani Executive Chef Chris Pauls, featuring fresh seasonal and local produce along with live-action stations serving up brunch favorites. Guests can indulge in mimosas, beer or even build their own bloody Mary.
For more information on the event, combination ticket packages, designated driver tickets and more, please visit ilanibrewfest.com
**Please note: The mentioned schedule of events, locations and appearances are subject to change.
ABOUT ILANI:
Located on the Cowlitz Reservation in Ridgefield, Washington, ilani, developed by the Cowlitz Tribe and Salishan-Mohegan, a partnership that includes Mohegan Sun, one of the world’s foremost gaming and entertainment developers and operators, is the Pacific Northwest’s premier gaming, dining, entertainment, and meeting destination. With nearly 400,000 total square feet, ilani includes more than 100,000 square feet of gaming space with nearly 3,000 slots and 75 gaming tables; 18 different restaurants, bars and retail outlets; and a 2,500-seat meeting and entertainment venue hosting nationally recognized performances. For more information, visit ilaniresort.com and follow ilani on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.