Mohegan Sun hosts Chef Showdown

29 November 2007

UNCASVILLE, Connecticut -- (PRESS RELEASE)-- Calling all chefs Sun Winefest is looking for the area's most talented chefs to compete in the 4th Annual Chef Showdown competition. The chef who presents the most creative, unique, inspiring, and of course "tasty" dish wins the grand prize of $3,500 and an exclusive two-night VIP stay at Mohegan Sun. The second place winner receives $1,500. The finals will take place on the Main Stage during the Grand Tasting at Sun Winefest 2008 on Sunday, January 20th.

Presented by Contessa Premium Foods and Smithfield Foods, contestants must first submit an original recipe that utilizes Contessa Uncooked Tail-On Shrimp of any size and Smithfield Eckrich Smoked Sausage as the primary ingredients. From the entries received, four recipes will be chosen by a panel of culinary judges. The four finalists will be invited to a cook-off on the Main Stage at Sun Winefest 2008 during the Grand Tasting on Saturday, January 19th. Each contestant will prepare their recipe, but only two finalists will emerge from votes cast by a panel of celebrity judges.

The two finalists will then move on to Sunday's final round where they will have 30 minutes to create a dish from a basket of mystery ingredients. The winner will be chosen by a panel of celebrity judges and receive the $3,500 grand prize.

The deadline for applications is December 14th, 2007 - only one entry per chef is allowed. To submit a recipe, visit sunwinefest.com/chefs.htm for a registration form and official rules.

The main event at Sun Winefest 2008 is the Grand Tasting, which will be held in the Convention Center on Saturday, January 19th and Sunday, January 20th, from 12:00pm to 5:00pm each day. More than 1,000 fine wines provided by international wineries, sampling of premium spirits and world wide craft beers and trappist ales, tastings from some of the best restaurants, and exhibitors showcasing related services such as wine storage, culinary accessories and specialty foods will be featured. Guests will have the opportunity to ask questions, hear commentary from the winemakers and experts, and enjoy delicacies from some of the region's finest restaurants by purchasing tasting portions of their signature dishes.

Tickets for the Grand Tasting are $65.00 for a one-day pass ($70.00 at the door) and $95.00 for a weekend pass, and may be purchased online at ticketmaster.com, over the phone at 860.886.0070, or in-person at Mohegan Sun's Box Office. Proceeds from the Grand Tasting will benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Seminars are additional and may be purchased through Marketing Resource Consultants at 860.728.5700 or by visiting sunwinefest.com.

Sun Winefest 2008 is a production of Marketing Resource Consultants, Inc. (MRC) a Hartford, Connecticut-based, full service firm that specializes in marketing, event management and production, public relations, sponsorship, advertising sales, creative design, promotions, publishing and more.

Mohegan Sun is currently in the midst of Project Horizon - a multi-million dollar expansion that calls for a new 1,000-room hotel, featuring 300 House of Blues-themed rooms and an exclusive members-only House of Blues Foundation Room. The expansion also includes 115,000 square feet of additional retail and restaurant space, and a new 64,000 square-foot "Casino of the Wind." In addition, Project Horizon expanded Mohegan Sun's Asian gaming experience in Casino of the Earth with Sunrise Square which opened in the summer of 2007. Upon full completion in 2010, Project Horizon is expected to add more than 1.4 million square feet to Mohegan Sun's existing structure.