Mohegan Sun’s 21st Annual Sun Wine & Food Fest was the place to be the weekend of January 25 & 26th. I joined over 8,000 guests, as we enjoyed days filled with food, wine, cocktails and fun. While the next Sun Wine & Food Fest won’t take place until the end of January 2026, bookmark this article so you know which events you can’t miss next year!
Suntory Global Spirits Presents: Asian Market:
Friday evening was the debut of Suntory Global Spirits Presents: Asian Market. Here, guests sampled flavors reminiscent of the renowned Asian night markets. Waiters walked around serving shrimp and pork potstickers. Esther Choi represented South Korea with a Bulgogi Japchae served in mini takeout boxes. Leah Cohen shared the flavors of the Philippines with a Dry-Aged Ribeye Green Curry served over rice with roasted carrots. Shota Nakajima served Teriyaki Fried Chicken (age-dori) over wilted spinach. Each of these dishes was delicious and I don’t think I could easily pick a favorite.
The event was sponsored by Suntory Global Spirits. There were several bars throughout the space where guests could enjoy the brand’s Toki Japanese Whisky, Hibiki Harmony Whisky, Roku Gin, Haku Vodka and Legent Bourbon. The featured cocktail of the evening was a classic whisky sour with Legent Bourbon.
Held in the Earth Ballroom, the space was decorated to give visitors the overall feel as if they were in the Far East. Red fabric was draped over the lights casting a muted red glow throughout the space. Blossom trees and a fountain added a peaceful accent. In China, the color red is associated with happiness and prosperity. Artists were present to write guests' names in Chinese characters and offered floral paper cuttings.
The event was not overly crowded and there were plenty of tables and seating for guests to enjoy their food. This was the premiere of the Asian Market at the Sun Wine & Food Fest. While it’s too soon to tell if this event will make a return appearance next year, I’d love to see it again with additional food vendors and other Asian cuisines.
Mohegan Sun's 21st Annual Sun Wine & Food Fest was a delicious culinary experience!
Sun Patio Ice Bar Experience:
The Sun Patio Ice Bar Experience was literally a “cool” event. It took place Friday evening outside on the Sun Patio where the temps were a brisk 22 degrees Fahrenheit. There were heavy coats available and fire pits all around the space for guests to warm up. DJ Jay R One was playing tunes all evening with guests dancing and having a great time.
This was a more cocktail-based event with specialty drinks by High West, Hendricks and Gallo Family Vineyards available. NoRA Cupcake Company had a delicious variety of mini cupcakes with enticing flavors like Snowball, Hot Cocoa and Minterland. For those willing to brave the frigid temps to indulge in a cold treat, there was a frosty fusion ice cream cart serving up scoops of Mudslide, Baileys and Greyhound cocktail . If you are looking for a unique and “chill” experience, the Sun Patio Ice Bar Experience is the place to be.
Grand Tasting:
The largest event at the Food Fest is the Grand Tasting. There was a Grand Tasting preview Friday evening and the main event was held Saturday afternoon. This was a sell-out event with almost 4,500 attendees! Held in the Earth Expo Center, there were a variety of vendors including restaurants providing food samples, small business owners and, of course, plenty of wine, beer and liquor brand representatives.
The Grand Tasting was beverage heavy, with the majority of the vendors being liquor and wine brands. One of the more interesting beverages I discovered was Downeast Cider’s Liquid Luck. This is a special collaboration between the brand and Mohegan Sun that is currently only available at Mohegan Sun.
There were a handful of restaurant vendors offering free food samples as well as larger plates of food for guests to purchase. I really enjoyed the Jerk Chicken from Treat Yourself Jerk and the Hot Honey Cheese Bites and Filet Mignon Steak sample from Omaha.
If you enjoy cooking demonstrations than you will not be disappointed at the Grand Tasting. There were cooking demos taking place all day on two different stages. The Coca-Cola Stage was a more informal and intimate setting. There was bar stool seating for 10 with lots of standing room for an up-close view of the chef demos. Chef Plum hosted the demos which included Nick Calias, Jamie Bissonnette and Robert Sisca cooking Friday evening. Saturday, Leah Cohen, Michele Ragussis, Alessandra Ciuffo and Chef Plum himself cooked on the Coca-Cola stage. He brought the energy to the stage and there were lots of liquor shots passed around.
The Thor Kitchen Demo Stage was the larger stage with seating for the crowds. This stage was hosted by Elena Bessar, chef, television host and founder of The Lineup, a dinner series that spotlights cooks and sous chefs on the line. Friday evening, Adam Young, Jason Santos and Shawn Osbey graced the stage. Saturday’s cooking lineup on the Thor Demo Stage included Antonia Lofaso, Scott Conant, Maneet Chauhan, Geoffrey Zakarian, Marc Murphy, and Rocco DiSpirito.
When I attend any food festivals, the majority of my time is usually spent watching the cooking demos. The lineup of chefs at the Sun Wine & Food Fest did not disappoint! During each of the short thirty-minute cooking demos, guests really got to see the personalities of the chefs shine. While most of these chefs appear on cooking competitions and/or shows, television can be edited, and live demos offer a different perspective.
During their demos, the chefs answered audience questions in real time. Many chefs offered cooking tips and information. Adam Young, of Sift Bakery, noted that his handmade croissants are a three-day process, with each croissant consisting of 81 razor-thin layers of dough and butter. I learned that Leah Cohen can sometimes eat rice three times a day. She also adds a controversial ingredient, coconut milk, to her adobo. She made a chicken version during her demo.
Antonia Lofaso shared that Top Chef was the most mentally challenging of the cooking competitions that she has been on. However, Tournament of Champions gives her the most anxiety and stress. The same sentiment of how stressful Tournament of Champions can be was also shared by fellow TOC alumni and demo chef, Maneet Chauhan.
During his cooking demonstration, Rocco DiSpirito met a cousin of his for the first time, who was in the audience. Geoffrey Zakarian shared some of his favorite NYC restaurants including Minetta Tavern for a steak, Una Pizza Napoletana for a slice of pizza and BondST for Asian food. You can be sure I added these to my to-visit list!
After each demo, the chefs made themselves available for pictures and autographs. Many of these chefs have a dedicated fan base with guests waiting on lengthy lines for an opportunity to interact with their favorites. Cookbooks were often available for purchase, but many people also brought their previously purchased cookbooks from home for the chefs to autograph.
As mentioned, the Grand Tasting is the largest event of the Sun Wine & Food Fest. If you enjoy wine and spirits, this is a great opportunity to try some new brands and sample some cocktails. There weren't as many food and restaurant vendors as I had expected and if you have dietary restrictions or are vegetarian or vegan, the options were very limited indeed. However, if you want a chance to see some of your favorite chefs up close and cooking, this is the place to be.
Celebrity Chef Dine Around
If you are only able to attend one event at the Sun Wine & Food Festival, hands down, the Celebrity Chef Dine Around is the culinary experience that you won’t want to miss! This event allows guests to get up close with all of their favorite celebrity chefs and taste their food.
There were over 20 chefs at the Chef Dine Around, each serving a dish that had an accompanying wine or spirit pairing to enjoy with it. Out of all the dishes, I think my favorite was the Viet-Cajun Style Crispy Shrimp that Chef Jason Santos created. The shrimp was so light and crispy and it paired so well with the yogurt sauce. Shawn Osbey’s Herb-Crusted Lamb Chop served with a three-onion marmalade was another standout dish.
Sadly, there were so many dishes that I got too full before I could sample them all! I was so disappointed that I didn’t have room for dessert because if the dessert tables created by the Mohegan Sun culinary team tasted as good as they looked, I really missed out.
All of the chefs were so friendly and engaging. There were long lines to meet some of the chefs, but every one of them I met took the time to interact with the guests and pose for photos.
There were plenty of tables with seating as well as high tops and even some sitting areas with couches, spaced throughout the ballroom. A small dance floor with a DJ was stationed in the middle of the ballroom. By the end of the evening, it was packed with guests dancing and having a great time.
The Celebrity Chef Dine Around is the best event for guests to be able to interact with the most number of chefs. The food is outstanding and it’s a delicious and memorable experience.
Final Thoughts:
Since Mohegan Sun’s Sun Wine & Food Fest takes place over the course of four days, there was some down time for the chefs. I was pleasantly surprised to see the chefs supporting each other at the different events. Whether they watched their colleague’s cooking demos or attended the Asian Night Market or Chef Dine Around, they showed up for each other.
Attending this food festival gave me a greater appreciation for these chefs. It’s one thing to see them competing on television. However, walking up to a cooking station where they are helping to plate their creations is a much more intimate experience. Being able to taste a dish that they created was a treat.
My cookbook shelf will be expanding and the list of restaurants that I need to visit has grown exponentially longer after attending this culinary experience.
If any of these events piqued your interest, be sure to follow Mohegan Sun on social media so you know the exact dates of next year’s Sun Wine & Food Fest. Several events including Spirits & Cigars, the Connecticut Spotlight Series featuring Preston Ridge Vineyard, Cocktails & Chandeliers, The Macallan Tasting and the Celebrity Chef Dine Around sold out prior to the start of the food fest. If a particular event piques your interest, don't wait too long to purchase a ticket!
Since the Food Fest takes place at Mohegan Sun, book an overnight stay at the resort and make it a long weekend. There are many different events over the course of the four days and there is plenty to see and do at the resort. Since the festival takes place in late January, tickets to the food events make a great holiday gift idea.