Chef John's Going to the 2009 Aspen Food and Wine Classic!

If you follow me on Twitter, you probably already know I'm headed to Colorado to cover the 27th Annual Aspen Food and Wine Classic for About.com. I received one of the extremely coveted, full-access press passes, and will be taking full advantage.

This time each year, the Food and Wine Classic becomes the absolute center of the epicurean universe. Everyone who's anyone in food and wine (not to mention food/wine writing and blogging) makes their way to Aspen for three days (five for some) of delicious tax-deductible decadence.

I'm flying out of San Francisco on Wednesday, and returning Monday. In between, my goal is to set the Food and Wine Classic record for media coverage – there's a chance I'll be moving from event to event, from tasting to tasting, from party to party, so fast and furiously that my press badge will actually burst into flames.

Of course, if that does happen I imagine one of the rising star chefs will run over and try and smoke some scallops over it. It's just that kind of event. I'll be posting every day on About.com, as well as doing my best to give you a play-by-play on Twitter. So, if you're not already following me, get on it!

As much as I'm looking forward to seeing, and being seen with, the food world's best and brightest, I'm also excited to meet and trade war stories with fellow food writers and bloggers.

I'll be meeting up with my friends from Foodbuzz (they always know where the party's at), and a couple new food blogger friends, Heidi from SavoryTV and Average Betty, who will both be there with Plum TV. Here's a little taste they shot at the 2007 Aspen Food and Wine Classic. Enjoy, and stay tuned!

Classic Fireworks Photo (c) Steve Mundinger

Jacques Pépin, Danny Meyer, and Bobby Flay Photo (c) David Sawyer

The Grand Tasting Pavilion Courtyard Photo (c) Perry Johnson