Naples Children & Education Foundation Debuts “Purposeful Pairings”

 “Purposeful Pairings” Dining Series; First Virtual Dinner and Wine Tasting Set for October 25^th

The Naples Children & Education Foundation (NCEF), founders of the Naples Winter Wine Festival, announced today that it is launching a new dining series, “Purposeful Pairings,”a delicious and unique way to support local restaurants and help the organization fulfill its mission to support underprivileged and at-risk children in Collier County.

The inaugural virtual dinner and wine tasting is scheduled for Sunday, October 25^th at 4 p.m. with hosts Sea Salt and The Wine Store. This fun-filled presentation will last 90 minutes, bringing together gourmet dining, fine wine and a virtual cooking demonstration right to your own kitchen.

“The ‘Purposeful Pairings’ dining series will combine world-class gourmet cuisine and fine wines presented by some of Naples’ top chefs and most experienced sommeliers,” said NCEF Chief Executive Officer Maria Jimenez-Lara. “Your involvement helps support our local culinary partners who are coping with the effects of the COVID-19 health crisis while helping NCEF fulfill its mission to provide life-changing programs and services for underserved children in our community.”

On October 25^th, participants will enjoy some of Chef Fabrizio Aiello’s signature dishes and learn “tips and tricks” on how to make a perfect risotto, presented by Aielli Group’s Corporate Chef Jason Goddard. Sommeliers Liset Zelaya of Sea Salt along with Marcello Pallazzi and Bruce Nichols of The Wine Store will guide participants through the wines with each course.

The three-course menu with carefully paired wines will include:

Appetizer: Sea Urchin, Lobster and Scallops with Braised Potato

2019 Domaine Papagiannakos, Attiki Assyrtiko

Entrée: Lobster Risotto, Roasted Tomato, Truffle Perfume

2017 Castello di Neive Barbaresco  

Dessert: White Truffle Panna Cotta, Fresh Figs, Blackcurrant Sauce

Henri Champliau Wild Miss Méthode Ancestrale Rosé Demi-Sec

The dinner will be packaged for two. The appetizer and dessert will already be prepared, while Chef Goddard will demonstrate precisely how to create the entrée. Menu ingredients and the wines will be available for pick up at Sea Salt the day before the event from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

 Participation in “Purposeful Pairings” is limited and reservations are required. The cost is $350 per couple and participants must be 21 years or older and reside in the local area (NCEFis not able to ship food out of town). Media partners for the “Purposeful Pairings” dining series include WINK-TV and Gulfshore Life. For additional information or to make reservations, e-mail Lisa Juliano at lisa@napleswinefestival.com or call (239)514-2239 by Monday October 19, 2020.

 About Naples Children & Education Foundation

The Naples Children & Education Foundation, the founding organization of the Naples Winter Wine Festival, is improving the educational, emotional and health outcomes of underprivileged and at-risk children. Through its annual grants and collaborative strategic initiatives, NCEF has impacted over 45 of the most effective nonprofits in the community, providing more than 275,000 children with the services and resources they need to excel. NCEF’s unique approach, which emphasizes collaboration between organizations and bridges public and private resources, has become a blueprint for how to transform a community, one issue at a time.

About Naples Winter Wine Festival

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The Naples Winter Wine Festival, one of the world’s most prestigious charity wine auctions, offers a weekend of unforgettable memories. Guests enjoy world-class food and wine during intimate dinners in private homes and are invited to bid on once-in-a-lifetime travel and wine experiences during an electrifying live auction. Since its inaugural event in 2001, the NWWF has raised more than $212 million, making a profound difference in the lives of hundreds of thousands of children.