Travel the World Through Food With Chef Jose Andres at BottleRock
Oh, Napa Valley. La crème de la crème of American Vineyards. If you’re not being swept off your feet by
Victoria Liotta
Oh, Napa Valley. La crème de la crème of American Vineyards. If you’re not being swept off your feet by its picturesque wine tours you’re probably out on a boat surrounded by mountains enjoying a fresh bottle. Another place you might be if you find yourself in Napa this September (September 3-5 to be exact) is BottleRock. BottleRock Napa Valley brings together the world’s top musicians on five stages along with the VIP acoustic stage. And that’s not all. Unlike most music festivals, this one has a Culinary incorporation. The infamous stage features one-of-a-kind culinary and celebrity mashups with master Sommeliers, celebrity chefs and dozens of the region’s most exceptional vintners, restaurateurs and brewers. Presented by JaM Cellars, the intimate setting of BottleRock offers guests an authentic wine country experience with its blend of music, wine, food and brews.
A Blend of Sounds
BottleRock has been named one of USA Today’s “10 Best” music festivals, with a hard-to-beat history of brilliant headliners. The festival is “JaM”-packed with big names such as Stevie Nicks, Guns N’ Roses, Foo Fighters, Miley Cyrus, G-Eazy, Megan Thee Stallion and more. Over the course of three days you will be able to drown yourself in music from countless artists while embracing the wine country sunshine.
As a guest you can purchase tickets to the festival or tickets for individual afterdark shows to see performances such as Jimmy Eat World and Matt Nathanson. Alongside that, you can download the BottleRock app to build your schedule on your phone so you don’t miss any of your desired artists. And did we mention that there’s a silent disco too?
Eat Your Heart Out
Napa Valley isn’t just known for its fabulous wines. It also holds more Michelin stars per capita than any other wine region on the map. With an assortment of offerings from many of the area’s best chefs and restaurateurs, BottleRock has a menu of places reflective of the vibrant culinary scene in Napa. At the Culinary Stage guests will have dinner and a show, where they can eat their delicious food while watching celebrity chefs and famous artists team up to make a meal of their own. And, just recently, BottleRock announced that the founder of World Central Kitchen, Chef José Andrés, will be the featured chef in the BottleRock Platinum Lounge for 2021.
“We are honored to be working with Chef Andrés,” said Justin Dragoo, partner, BottleRock Napa Valley. “José is obviously an incredible chef, but he’s also one of the world’s most impactful humanitarians. We can’t think of anyone in the culinary arts who has more positively affected global change in hunger, poverty and human rights. We are proud to be associated with Chef Andrés and all he represents.” Andrés formed World Central Kitchen, a non-profit that provides smart solutions to end hunger and poverty by using the power of food to empower communities and strengthen economies, in 2010. He and his team have worked in serving meals to people during natural disasters, humanitarian crises, and the COVID-19 pandemic. He has since earned multiple awards and distinctions and received a nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019.
Guests who purchase the Platinum Pass for BottleRock will receive the highest standard in luxury festival amenities that partake in the Platinum Lounge. Available for indulgence will be artisanal cocktails served by renowned mixologist Scott Beattie, world-class wine and wine demonstrations selected and served by a team of Master Sommeliers, signature craft beers AND, tastes of Chef Andrés mouthwatering culinary creations.
Take a Trip to Spain With Chef Andres
If you don’t have the opportunity to experience the craft of Chef Andrés in Napa Valley, you can experience the taste of his work at his restaurant, Jaleo. With four locations already opened up, he recently opened up the fifth in the River North neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. The menu is inspired by traditional dishes from Andrés childhood, elevated with his talents and creativity. Alongside that is the remarkable drink menu which is a reflection of how the locals drink in spain. The interior is filled with 240 seats surrounded by bold colors put in place to represent Andrés festive spirit and personality. And it doesn’t stop there. Later this summer in the basement of the restaurant will be the opening of a new speakeasy concept called Pigtail. Here, guests will get a complimentary experience to Jaleo. Whether they are just beginning or ending the night, it doesn’t matter. Pigtail will have its own bespoke cocktail experience and bar menu as well.
This is the most personal concept from Andrés, bringing alive the spirit and flavors of modern day Spain through an awe-inspiring assortment of tapas, paellas, sangrias, Spanish wines and sherries all while being immersed in a festive environment. Andrés shared “Jaleo is the very first restaurant we opened, and I love being able to share the flavors and spirit of Spain by bringing this special place to new destinations. In Spanish, Jaleo means revelry—a lively celebration—and with the bustling excitement of River North, I cannot think of a better neighborhood to be opening in!”
So, purchase your ticket to BottleRock, hop on a plane to Chicago, maybe even Spain dare I say? This is the summer of traveling and experiencing to make up for a year of it being lost and José Andrés is the pilot of it all.