Park Hyatt Carmel and co-sponsor Wine Spectator are pleased to announce the lineup of world-renowned chefs and winemakers who will be participating in the 17th Annual Masters of Food and Wine at Highlands Inn, which is located along the magnificent coastline of Carmel, California, February 19-23, 2003. Internationally recognized as one of the most spectacular gatherings of celebrated chefs and winemakers, the annual event features rare wine tastings, unique culinary events, cooking demonstrations by world-class chefs and extravagant gala luncheons and dinners. Wine Spectator, a proud sponsor of the event, is the country's foremost magazine for aficionados of fine wine and breathtaking destinations.

Renowned chefs participating in this year's event include: Jean Joho of Everest and Gale Gand of Tru, Chicago, Gary Danko of Gary Danko, San Francisco, Susur Lee of Susur in Toronto, and Laurent Gras, Fifth Floor of San Francisco, among others. The week's cooking demonstrations will be lead by such talented chefs as Bobby Flay of Mesa Grill/Bolo, New York, Eric Ripert of Le Bernardin, New York, and Jacques Pepin of French Culinary Institute, Connecticut. The 17th Annual Masters of Food and Wine will also feature more than 50 prestigious wineries, including Jean Michel Diess of Domiane Macrcel Deiss, and Alois Kracher Jr of Kracher Vineyards. Featured tastings will include a rare vertical of Bounes-Mares with Pierre-Henry Gagey of Louis Jadot going back to 1969, and ten vintages of Domaine Favieley, Chateau Margaux, Krug, Veuve Cliquot, Peter Michael, and Pisoni.

Making Masters of Food and Wine even more special in 2003 is "A Celebration of Women" charity dinner. For the first time, Masters of Food and Wine will host a fund-raiser, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the San Francisco Bay Area Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. The dinner will feature top-rated female chefs from around the country including: Nancy Oakes of Boulevard, San Francisco, Michelle Bernstein of Azul, Miami Beach, Suzanne Tracht of Jar, Los Angeles, Susan Spicer of Bayona/Herbsaint, New Orleans, Suzanne Goin of Lucques, Los Angeles; and Elizabeth Scherber of Pacific's Edge, Carmel.