The immersive three-day event will celebrate the tantalizing flavors of Italian cuisine through interactive programming, giving guests exclusive access to food world luminaries with live cooking demonstrations, intimate wine tastings, hands-on culinary experiences, exclusive dinners and more. Gather by JW promises to expand on the success from last year by incorporating mindfulness experiences and touting a star-studded lineup featuring top culinary talent, to date including:
- James Beard Award winner, Michelin-starred restaurateur, and Chef of JW Marriott Venice’s Fiola at Dopolavoro Venezia, Fabio Trabocchi
- Chef, Author and Emmy Award-winning television personality, Giada De Laurentiis
- James Beard Award-winning chef, Jonathan Waxman
- Chef and Owner of two Michelin-starred “Ristorante Duomo” in Ragusa, Sicily, Ciccio Sultano
- Chef of Michelin-starred restaurant Murano in London, Angela Hartnett
- Chef of Michelin-starred restaurant Signum in Salina, Italy, Martina Caruso
- F&W Contributor & Wine expert, Anthony Giglio
- F&W Executive Wine Editor, Ray Isle
- F&W Editor-in-Chief, Hunter Lewis
JW Marriott Venice’s award-winning chef and the mastermind behind Fiola at Dopolavoro Venezia, Fabio Trabocchi, will lead the way with festival programming including ‘A Return to Roots,’ a dynamic dinner where guests will enjoy the nostalgic flavors of traditional Venetian cuisine prepared with a modern twist. Additional Gather by JW events include ‘Essentially Giada,’ a gastronomic cooking demonstration for festival attendees hosted by chef, author and television personality Giada De Laurentiis, ‘Simple Secrets to Perfect Pasta,’ an interactive demonstration hosted by Jonathan Waxman, cooking academies and more. In addition to the best of the culinary world, JW Marriott is working on soon to be announced collaborations with top well-being brands to add an element of wellness and mindfulness to the wining and dining. This will further elevate the Gather by JW programming to create a truly immersive and well-rounded festival experience for guests.
“Right after we concluded our JW culinary festival in Venice last year, one thing was abundantly clear to all of us: we are returning in 2019,” said Mitzi Gaskins, Global Brand Leader of JW Marriott. “The focus of this year’s festival truly connects to JW Marriott’s passion for nourishing the soul, togetherness and being mindful, and we are especially excited to continue our collaboration with FOOD & WINE and welcome internationally-acclaimed chefs and culinary personalities to join us in September.”
Members of Marriott Bonvoy, the company’s recently renamed loyalty program, replacing Marriott Rewards, Starwood Preferred Guest and The Ritz-Carlton Rewards, have the opportunity to bid loyalty points for a number of exclusive, VIP Gather by JW Marriott Venice Moments including preview experiences taking place in New York and London. Members can indulge in a celebratory dinner party full of surprise and delights in New York City with Fabio Trabocchi, the chef behind the soon-to-open Fiola at Dopolavoro Venezia at JW Marriott Venice. In London, they can enjoy a hands-on Chef’s table experience and decadent dinner with Michelin Star Chef, Angela Hartnett at her restaurant Murano. These exclusive Moments are only available at Marriott Bonvoy Moments. Additional Gather by JW Moments will be available later this spring, including meet & greets, cooking schools with top chefs, and exclusive access to the coveted ‘Il Finale: All Star Feast’ dinner.
“Few things get me more excited than seeing so many talented chefs come together from around the globe to join forces and create an extraordinary culinary experience,” said Rainer Zinngrebe, Vice President, Global Luxury Culinary, Marriott International. “And no better place in my opinion than Venice, at the iconic JW Marriott on Isola delle Rose, to bring Gather by JW to life during the early fall season.”
Tickets and Festival accommodation packages to Gather by JW are available online and can be purchased by visiting www.gatherbyjw.com.
Additional talent and programming will be announced in the coming weeks, as well as future Gather by JW festivals in Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Shanghai slated to take place in late 2019.
