Beard in Baldwin: The highlight (so far) of the 2016 culinary calendar

Last December's James Beard Foundation Celebrity Chef Tour at the Four Seasons Resort was easily the highlight of the 2015 culinary calendar, and this Saturday's Beard in Baldwin event (7-10 p.m.) will easily be the highlight (so far) of 2016.

Lake Baldwin and Harbor Park provide the picturesque backdrop to this one-day "food and wine festival" to benefit the James Beard Foundation's National Scholars Program.

No less than 28 chefs will be on hand (many James Beard Foundation Award nominees) serving fancy plates paired with wines courtesy of Augustan Wine Imports (menu and list of chefs here). Cost for the event is $85.

For those willing to foot $200, a VIP treatment awaits. The exclusive experience inside the Osprey Tavern commences at 6 p.m. and will see executive chef Joseph Burnett and pastry chef Kristy Carlucci working alongside a handful of chefs making the trip from other parts of the state, notably JBF Award semifinalist Timon Balloo of Miami's SUGARCANE and Brad Kilgore of Miami's Alter.

Kilgore was recently named one of Food & Wine's Best New Chefs of 2016. The chefs will prepare hors d'oeuvres and mignardises while craft cocktails, champagne and fine wines, according to event organizers, will be "poured from your own private bar."

Should be a doozy.

Visit beardinbaldwin.com for more.