The Iowa Events Center in Des Moines will host a Celebrity Food and Wine Expo later this year. Events Center General Manager Matt Homan says the three-day event will feature at least five well-known chefs.
"We’re going to bring in some top celebrity chefs," Homan said. "Right now, we’ve confirmed Curtis Stone, Sandra Lee and Jamie Gwen – and within the next day or two, we hope to have a couple more big announcements."
The expo will begin November 21. Homan says celebrity chefs have become increasingly popular on television channels like the Food Network, The Learning Channel and The Travel Channel. He’s hoping that craze will spell success for the expo in Des Moines.
"People are crazy about the Food Show. We find people are very fascinated by it," Homan said. "We think there’s a good opportunity for everyone." Tickets are priced at $25 in advance or $30 at the door – and they go on sale on March 29.
Homan says there will be a large kitchen, where people will be able to watch the celebrity chefs prepare meals, followed by autograph sessions. The expo will also include about 150 vendors, a dessert and coffee bar, and wine and beer tasting.