By: Christine E. Serio Director of  Marketing  and Public Relations Wilmington Renaissance Corporation

christineserio@downtownwilmington.com

Mark your calendars and get your taste buds ready for the culinary delights happening in Wilmington in April. The month offers multiple events to satisfy the palettes of foodies and just your average Joe that likes to go out to eat.

The smorgasbord of April kicks off with the Meals From the Masters event which benefits the Meals on Wheels program. The weekend begins with the 8th annual Evening With The Masters on Friday, April 16 at the Chase Center on the Riverfront from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Guests will enjoy the cuisine of more than 40 local and regional restaurants and beverage purveyors, a silent auction, live music and dancing. Tickets are $75.
During Evening With The Masters, the 6th Cellar Masters’ Wine Auction takes place with a live auction of fine wines, rare beers and spirits. This year, the auction is presented by Bouchaine Vineyards and guest will enjoy exclusive pours of Bouchaine wines as well as hors d’ouvres and gourmet desserts. The auction begins at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are $90 and include entry into Evening With The Masters.
The weekend of food culminates, on Sunday, April 18 with the 13th annual Celebrity Chefs’ Brunch held at Bank of America’s Bracebridge IV in Wilmington from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. During the brunch, 32 world-class chefs are featured with a specialty dish for guests. Some of this year’s participating chefs include Radhika Desai of Chicago, IL and a former Top Chef contender, Michael Schwartz of Miami, FL and a 2009 James Beard Award nominee for the South and Cathy Whims of Portland, OR, a 2009 James Beard Award finalist for the Northwest, to name a few. Tickets are $175. For more details or tickets, visit www.mealsfromthemasters.com.
If the weekend of great food, fine chefs and other culinary treats isn’t enough, join the City of Wilmington, Riverfront Development Corporation and Wilmington Renaissance Corporation for a celebration of the city’s finest restaurants on the Riverfront and in downtown.
City Restaurant Week (CRW), sponsored by Robert Mondavi Wines, will be held from Monday, April 26 to May 1. The week will feature two-course lunches for $15 and three-course dinners for $35. To date, the participating restaurants include Café Mezzanotte, Chelsea (one of Wilmington’s newest restaurants), Deep Blue, Domaine Wilmington, the Green Room at the Hotel duPont, Harry’s Seafood Grill, Mikimotos, Orillas Tapas Bar and Restaurant, Public House, and Washington Street Ale House.
The week will offer specials including a Chef’s Table where guests can enjoy a special dining experience with a unique menu and an attentive chef who will take time to speak with them about the food and pairings. In addition, guests who dine in any of the CRW restaurants Monday through Thursday and complete a survey will be entered to win a pair of tickets to the Cake Boss appearance at the DuPont Theatre on Saturday, May 1 at 3 p.m.
The week of filling stomachs and appeasing appetites while keeping the budget in check will culminate with the Dine Around on Saturday, May 1. The evening is a progressive dinner with appetizers at one restaurant, dinner at another and dessert at a third location.
The cost is $60 and includes wine with appetizers and dinner and coffee with dessert.
For more information or reservations for the Chef Tables and Dine Around, visit www.cityrestaurantweek.com.