Savor Delectable Fare and Luscious Vintages at Virginia Beach’s Winter Culinary and Wine Events

2009 Restaurant Week and “Wine by Design” events spice up the oceanfront in celebration of Coastal Cuisine and Virginia wines

(Virginia Beach, Va., December 2, 2008) – From January 18-25, 2009, over 40 of Virginia Beach’s finest restaurants are participating in the 4^th Annual Restaurant Week, when the city’s finest chefs create an explosion of flavors featuring Virginia Beach’s Coastal Cuisine. On February 27, 2009, the Contemporary Art Center of Virginia celebrates Hollywood and wine at the 18^th Annual Wine by Design.

Oysters Rockafeller bisque; crispy fried petite grouper filets with roasted piguillo pepper mojo; pecan fried oysters over wild mushroom risotto with a smokey cherry tomato vinaigrette … these are just a few of the many indulgences featured during the 2009 Virginia Beach Restaurant Week. Enjoy two-course prix fixe lunches for $10.09 and three-course prix-fixe dinners for $20.09 and $25.09 throughout the week at Il Giardino, Fire and Vine, Tautogs, and Hot Tuna, among others. Appetizers and main dishes range from blackened tilapia, salmon, rockfish, fried calamari, and many other deep-sea favorites.

The Restaurant Week Kick-Off begins on January 15, 2009 at the Virginia Beach Convention Center, when local chefs pair up with local celebrities to out-cook the competition at the Celebrity Culinary Challenge. For out-of-town guests, hotel packages are available during Virginia Beach Restaurant Week. More information can be found at www.vbfun.com/restaurantweek. The 2009 Virginia Beach Restaurant Week is presented by the Virginia Beach Restaurant Association. Participating restaurants, menus, and the official map can be found at www.VBRestaurantWeek.com. Reservations are recommended, but not required for this event.

Coastal Cuisine isn’t the only thing pleasing taste buds in Virginia Beach. Enjoy delectable Virginia wines during the 18^th Annual Wine by Design. This red carpet event features a silent auction which showcases everything Hollywood and cinema. And discover more about Virginia vineyards.

In 1979, Virginia had just six wineries. By 2001, the Commonwealth's wine industry had grown to 75 wineries, producing more than 285,000 cases of wine. Now, Virginia is home to more than 130 wineries, and boasts a vast array of award-winning wines. Virginia's wines garner national and international awards, including a "Best of Show" in a California competition.

Tickets for the 18^th Annual Wine by Design are available at www.cacv.org and include a one-year subscription to Virginia Wine Lover magazine with purchase. All proceeds from the event benefit the Contemporary Art Center’s exhibitions and educational programs.

After enjoying the finest coastal foods and Virginia wines, indulge in all else that Virginia Beach offers for a cool season vacation. Embark on a whale watching boat trip sponsored by the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center, available from December through mid-March. Be enthralled as fin and humpback
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