Tuesday, August 4, 2009 Page 9-B The Universal African Dance and Drum Ensemble perform during a surprise party for the Rev. Robert P. Shine Sr. and Barbara Ann Shine. The couple will both turn 70 this August. ? SHIRA YUDKOFF/TRIBUNE PHOTOGRAPHER Family surrounds Rev. Robert P. Shine Sr. and Barbara Ann Shine during their joint surprise birthday party. The Shines will both turn 70 this August. ? SHIRA YUDKOFF/TRIBUNE PHOTOGRAPHER

AFRICAN FESTIVAL

Big Steve, a founding member of the Liberian drama and musical group Malawala Balawala International, performs during the ACANA African Festival at Penn?s Landing in Philadelphia. ? SHIRA YUDKOFF/TRIBUNE PHOTOGRAPHER

Culinary celebration attracts top chefs, foodies

Kimberly C. Roberts Tribune Entertainment Writer ?Foodies? from around the region flocked to Atlantic City last weekend for the Atlantic City Food and Wine Festival, benefiting Susan G. Komen for the Cure Central & South Jersey. The four-day culinary celebration featured tastings, book signings and celebrity appearances, including chefs from the Food Network and Bravo, who were happy to ?host, demonstrate, mix and mingle with guests at more than 20 events filling the schedule throughout the weekend.? Among the enticing events were ?Gourmet Pizza Bash with Tom Collichio,? ?Jeremiah Sweet Tea BBQ Tailgate,? ?The Grand Market,? ?Dr. Bubbles Champagne Seminar,? ?Gospel Brunch hosted by Duff Goldman? and ?The Phillips Seafood Boardwalk Clambake.? With a newly heightened interest in wine, Diane Leiter, a flight attendant from Doylestown, Pa., took advantage of an event titled ?Wine Garden: A California Wine Tour hosted by Ted Allen,? which Leiter said reminded her of a relaxing ?lawn party.? ?It was nice. They had a band and everything,? she said immediately after the fourhour tasting. ?I started off with white (wine), and that was good. Then I went to red and stuck with red for the rest of the night. They were all California wines, which was Sonoma Valley and Napa Valley. I learned about wines that I?d never heard of, which were really good. ?They would describe the wines that they had. They would tell you that ?this is fullbodied, this is sweet ? this is not so sweet, or dry.? They would explain to you what they had, and if you wanted to try more than one wine, what order in which you should try them. There were a couple of really good California wines that the next chance I get, I will go and pick up those wines.? Leiter also sampled some of the offerings at the festival?s Grand Market, including a rich lobster bisque created by local chef Barry Sexton, and proclaimed it ?the best I?ve ever tasted!? There were others however, whose Grand Market experience was not quite as pleasant. Before I could even enter the expo center where the Grand Market was located, a woman who had just exited and was visibly upset, stomped through the lobby and screamed at the people who were waiting in line to purchase tickets, ?Keep your money! Go somewhere and eat! It?s a total rip-off!? I approached her for an explanation, but she clearly was not interested. As for my own Grand Market experience, while there was food for you to taste, and I do mean ?taste? in the most literal sense of the word, The Grand Market was essentially a place for food industry professionals to sell their wares. Tony Luke was promoting a quick and easy version of his steak sandwiches that can be prepared at home, and I picked up some fabulous Chocolate-Chip Toffee Pecan cookies from My Boy?s Baking. Overall, I found The Grand Market to be quite congested, and I suggest that the presenters find a much larger venue for next summer?s event. As the festival continued, foodies, their families and friends were able to rub elbows with celebrity chefs such as Duff Goldman, Guy Fieri and Ingrid Hoffman, and even have their photos taken with super chef Emeril Lagasse, who presented an entertaining cooking demonstration. Local chefs with impressive credentials were also on site, including the award-winning Darryl Harmon, executive chef of The Water Works Restaurant and Lounge. Despite the festive nature of the event, the real purpose of the Atlantic City Food and Wine Festival was not lost. On Saturday afternoon, as patrons converged on Grand Ballroom of Bally?s Atlantic City, the hub of most of the festival activities, they were met with the heartfelt testimonies of numerous breast cancer survivors. As the women told their stories of triumph and tragedy, they were rewarded with encouraging applause. The most popular events, including the gospel brunch and the clambake sold out quickly, so if you?d like to attend next year?s Atlantic City Food and Wine Festival, a partnership between TD Bank and Harrah?s Entertainment, I suggest the you visit www.acfoodandwine.com, and buy your tickets early. The Rev. Robert P. Shine Sr. and Barbara Ann Shine say hello to family and friends who have come to celebrate both of their birthdays. Mr. And Mrs. Shine will both turn 70 this August.

BLESSED WITH TWO BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS

? SHIRA YUDKOFF/TRIBUNE PHOTOGRAPHER Family and friends greet Barbara Ann Shine after she and her husband, the Rev. Robert P. Shine Sr., walk into a surprise birthday party in honor of both of their birthdays. ? SHIRA YUDKOFF/TRIBUNE PHOTOGRAPHER A member of the Universal African Dance & Drum Ensemble performs Swaray and The Safari Jazz Band were the closing performance. Darryl Harmon, the award-winning executive chef of The Water Works Restaurant and Lounge, was among the talented chefs featured at The Grand Market of last weekend?s Atlantic City Food and Wine Festival. ? SUBMITTED PHOTO

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