Key West Vintners Dinner Raises Funds for AIDS Help

Key West heats up on April 12 with the foodies' fusion of ambiance and nuance, the 2015 Vintners' Dinner, followed by the April 13 20th Anniversary of the Taste of Key West. The event benefits Key West AIDS Help.

In what the event's chairperson Terri Wilson is calling "Culinary Theatre," the evening at Casa Marina, 1500 Reynolds Street, will begin at 6 p.m. with a champagne reception and introduce a new dining intimacy -- up-close dialogue with chefs and in-depth conversations with wine company and vineyard representatives.

"Food and wine still star, but everyone attending will have a supporting role," said Wilson, adding, "No rehearsals necessary, although you may want to diet a little beforehand."

As in years past, the evening features eight courses. It begins and ends the same, with hors d'oeuvres and dessert served on the patio. From there, the landscape shifts.

Tables of five will now be the standard, allowing easier conversation. Well-known local chefs will be positioned at six different food stations, where groups of 25 will be summoned. The course's components and preparation will be discussed. (It should be noted that this is a non-vegetarian event, with no substitutions.) Each diner will be given a collectible glass for the wine pairings.

Upon finishing each course, the 25 will rotate to the next Chef's station. Each interval will also offer a slightly different perspective on the room.

"We're always ready to reconfigure our approach in fundraising," said Jeremy Wilkerson, Director of Community Relations for AIDS Help, the beneficiary of the evening's proceeds. "By reinventing the way the food and beverage are presented, we acknowledge the savvy world we live in. People are curious about exotic ingredients or the provenance of the grape."

"This will be an all-encompassing, 365-degree experience," Wilson promises.

The Vintners' Dinner precedes another event offering a bounty of bites and serious sipping: the 20th anniversary of 'Taste of Key West' at Truman Waterfront, on the end of Southard Street.

On April 13 from 6-9 p.m., locals and tourists can sample culinary delights from more than 50 local restaurants and vineyard wines. Free shuttle service is provided from 5:30 at various locations.

"It's 48 hours of appreciating good food and wine while spending time with friends old and new," Scott Pridgen, Executive Director of AIDS Help, states. "Great food and drinlk, smiles, suntans, strollers... plus that waterfront view. It defines 'taste of Key West' in every way."