Acclaimed Chef Barbara Lynch Named Chef de Cuisine for the 2015 Naples Winter Wine Festival

Lynch Joined by seventeen other All-Star Celebrity Chefs

Naples, FL – August 26, 2014 – Award-winning chef Barbara Lynch will join the 2015 Naples Winter Wine Festival for her fourth year, this time returning as the honored Chef de Cuisine. Recognized as one of the top chef-restaurateurs in her native Boston and throughout the country, Lynch will be joined by seventeen all-star chefs and 41 acclaimed vintners for an inspired weekend of food, wine, and philanthropy at the 2015 Naples Winter Wine Festival. The festival will take place from January 23-25 at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort in Naples, Florida.

Chef Lynch is the CEO of Barbara Lynch Gruppo, comprised of many of Boston’s best restaurants and culinary experiences, including No. 9 Park, B&G Oysters, and fine dining experience Menton, Boston’s only AAA Five-Diamond, Forbes Five-Star, and Relais & Châteaux property. Recently named Outstanding Restaurateur by the James Beard Foundation in 2014, Lynch is a four-time James Beard Award winner and is the only female in the country to hold the distinguished title of Grand Chef Relais & Châteaux.

“The Naples Winter Wine Festival attracts our countries brightest culinary talent and the world’s best vintners, and has long been one of my favorite events of the year. I am honored to be the Chef de Cuisine for 2015,” said Barbara Lynch. “The NWWF does such a great job of securing donations that go towards improving the lives of those that need our help the most: underprivileged and at-risk children. I set up the Barbara Lynch Foundation in 2012 with a very similar goal of empowering urban youth in at-risk Boston communities.”

This year’s participating chefs come to Naples from some of the United States’ most celebrated restaurants in eleven different cities with a collective 23 James Beard awards. These talented chefs include:

Paul Bartolotta of Bartolotta Ristorante Di Mare in Las Vegas, NV
Tom Colicchio of Craft Restaurants in New York, NY and various cities
Curtis Duffy of Grace in Chicago, IL
Ryan Hardy of Charlie Bird in New York, NY
Melissa Kelly of Primo Restaurant in Rockland, ME
Gerry Klaskala of Aria in Atlanta, GA
Joseph Lenn of The Barn at Blackberry Farm in Walland, TN
Barbara Lynch of Menton in Boston, MA
Matthias Merges of A10 Hyde Park in Chicago, IL
Carrie Nahabedian of NAHA in Chicago, IL
Carmen Quagliata of Union Square Café in New York, NY
Kent Rathbun & Kevin Rathbun of Abacus in Dallas, TX and Rathbun Steak in Atlanta, GA
Richard Reddington of REDD in Napa Valley, CA
Giuseppe Tentori of GT Fish & Oyster in Chicago, IL
Rick Tramonto & John Folse of Restaurant R’evolution in New Orleans, LA
Cindy Wolf of Charleston in Baltimore, MD

“We are looking forward to tasting the wonderful creations of these acclaimed chefs, all of whom have contributed a great deal to the culinary community” said Terry Edwards, Trustee of the Naples Winter Wine Festival and Chef Chair. “Their participation will continue to elevate the festival to new heights, and their contributions make a tremendous difference in the lives of so many children who benefit from the festival.”

In addition to enjoying finely crafted meals from these celebrated chefs, guests to the Naples Winter Wine Festival will also taste award-winning, cult classic wines, and have the opportunity to bid on exceptional wines, unforgettable dining experiences, and custom travel packages during an electrifying live auction.

Ticket packages to this exclusive event are available and start at $8,500 per couple for festival tickets, with a $20,000 package that includes reserved seating for a party of four at the same vintner dinner and under the tent. For more information about the Naples Winter Wine Festival, please visit http://www.napleswinefestival.com or call 888-837-4919.

About the Naples Winter Wine Festival
The Naples Winter Wine Festival is one of the world’s most prestigious charity wine auctions, bringing together renowned vintners and chefs with wine enthusiasts and philanthropists for a three-day festival that raises millions of dollars for underprivileged and at-risk children. Every dollar raised under the tent funds the festival’s founding organization, the Naples Children & Education Foundation (NCEF), whose annual grants and strategic initiatives have provided around 200,000 children with the services and resources they need to excel. For more information, please visit Napleswinefestival.com.