Rarely do I leave a large consumer tasting/drinking event with a smile on my face and wanting to mark my calendar for next year.

That's what happened when I left eh Feb. 28 Seattle Food and Wine Experience at the Seattle Center Exhibition Hall.

Maybe it was the "A" list line up of restaurants - Ray's, Earth & Ocean, Tulalip Bay, Cafe Campagne, Andaluca, Ponti, Ruth's Chris, Salty's and TASTE to name a few. Maybe it was the "AA" line up of wineries from Washington, Oregon, California and abroad...and premier brewers and cider makers.

What ever the reason this event rocked. A good crowd that was generally happy. Certainly a huge difference from previously attempted consumer tasting events tried in the Emerald City.

I'm ready to mark my calendar for next year.