Five US finalist teams compete today in the 2011 Copa Jerez food and Sherry pairing cook-off competition. Each team which includes the restaurant’s chef and sommelier/beverage director will highlight their culinary prowess and expertise in Sherry wines in the day-long competition held at Astor Center that culminates before a panel of judges. The winner moves on to the final competition to be held in Spain in January, 20111.

Competing teams are:

Casa Mono (New York City) – Chef Anthony Sasso and Wine Director Ashley Santoro

La Boca (Santa Fe) – Chef James Campbell Caruso and Wine Director Adam Johnson

Michy’s (Miami) – Chef Michelle Bernstein and Sommelier Allegra Angelo

The Bazaar (Los Angeles) – Chef Joshua Whigham and Sommelier/Beverage Director Lucas Paya

The Broadmoor (Colorado Springs) – Chef Bertrand Bouquin and Sommelier Timothy Baldwin

“It was a tough decision. The caliber of chefs and sommeliers this year is fantastic, and we look forward to a great Final in New York, ” said Sonia Smith, director of the Sherry Council of America. “It’s wonderful to see the trend for Sherry growing, as chefs and sommeliers become excited about pairing Sherry with their food.”

Now in its fourth year, the Copa Jerez competition is one of Spain’s leading culinary events. The winning national teams will compete for the international title this January in Jerez, Spain where renowned chefs and sommeliers from around the world judge the menus. International chef and sommelier teams from countries such as Japan, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Germany, and France compete with their most innovative recipes and Sherry wine pairings.

To view the competition via live video feed, stop by Astor Center today between 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

For more information on Copa Jerez 2010, visit www.sherrycouncil.com