AUDI & MASTERCARD® PRESENT
THE 27th ANNUAL AMERICAN WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL
BENEFITING LOS ANGELES CHAPTERS OF MEALS ON WHEELS

Tickets Now on Sale! Friday Night Sizzles with Return of "Red Hot @ Red Seven"

LOS ANGELES, CA, July 29, 2009 - For its 27th year, the American Wine & Food Festival, hosted by the Puck-Lazaroff Charitable Foundation, is serving up a world-class culinary celebration benefiting Los Angeles Chapters of Meals On Wheels. With generous contributions from our returning top sponsors Audi and MasterCard®, AWFF is delighted to deliver a weekend of feasting and fundraising. This star-studded food Festival taking place October 2 - 4, 2009, in Los Angeles, features world-renowned chefs, vintners and spirit purveyors at the most anticipated epicurean event of the year.

The Festival features a spectacular spread of delectable dishes, superb libations, fantasy auction items and amazing entertainment in three events - each offering a different level of participation for culinary connoisseurs to contribute to the cause.


Red Hot @ Red Seven Kickoff Event
Date: Friday, October 2, 2009 - 7 p.m.
Location: Red Seven by Wolfgang Puck at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood
Designed to whet the appetites of Festival first-timers and alums alike, this party offers chic eats and innovative libations in an intimate lounge setting. Mingle with philanthropists and foodies who are newcomers and well-knowns on the Los Angeles scene.

Friday Evening Event tickets are available for $150 per person. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.AWFF.org.

Saturday Evening Event at Universal Studios Backlot
Date: Saturday, October 3, 2009 - 5-11 p.m.
*5:00 PM Wolfgang Puck VIP Cooking Demonstration
*VIP entrance available only with tickets purchased through Festival Patron and MasterCard promotions.
6:00 PM Festival Opens
Location: Universal Studios Back Lot
Staged against the backdrop of movie sets, the signature Saturday night event returns, once again, to Universal Studios Back Lot. As dusk falls, a spectacularly lit movie set provides the stage for a culinary scene like none other: An unrivaled epicurean feast prepared by world-renowned chefs, superb libations including fine wines and smooth spirits, and a silent auction filled with luxury items - all set to swinging sounds of live bands.

Saturday Evening Event tickets are available for $300 per person. Table reservations are available from $3,500. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.AWFF.org.

Chefs Grand Tasting Dinner
Date: Sunday, October 4, 2009 - 6:00 p.m.
Location: Spago Beverly Hills
Wolfgang Puck, Lee Hefter & Barbara Lazaroff with Chef de Cuisine Thomas Boyce & Executive Pastry Chef Sherry Yard welcome several of the world's finest chefs to prepare an elegant six-course dinner at the 10th Annual Chefs Grand Tasting Dinner. This limited-seating event at Spago Beverly Hills is filled with exquisite dishes paired with select wines and a live auction featuring one-of-a-kind items and experiences. Celebrity chefs Thomas Keller of Bouchon; Dean Fearing of Fearing's at The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas; Jereme Leung of Jereme Leung Creative Concepts Pte Ltd; Laurent Gras of L2O; Nobu Matsuhisa of Matsuhisa & Nobu LA; Gina DePalma of Ristorante Babbo.pair up, each preparing one course, for the grand gala dinner.

Reservations for the Chefs Grand Tasting Dinner are available for $750 per person or $7,000 per table. Please contact Ellen Farentino, Spago, at (310) 385-0880.

In addition to the spectacular Festival line up, AWFF is pleased to announce special events and perks.

For a second year, Audi's charitable support will help set the scene for an unforgettable Festival. In addition, Audi will host a special wine tasting in the month of September featuring distinguished sommelier Christopher Miller of Spago Beverly Hills. Sommelier Miller has been dubbed "2008 Best Young Sommelier in the World," "2007 Best Young Sommelier in the U.S." (both Chaine des Rotisseurs International and National Competitions), and Wine & Spirits magazine's "Best New Sommelier of 2008." Miller's expertly executed, yet approachable, wine tasting is the perfect entrée into wine season. Stay tuned for more details in early August.

We are also honored to have MasterCard® return for a third year as the preferred card of the American Wine & Food Festival. In addition to its philanthropic presence making for a memorable weekend, MasterCard® is serving up palate-pleasing perks to its cardholders. World and World Elite MasterCard® cardholders can savor the full weekend of festivities with VIP packages and ticket purchase perks customized for the culinary connoisseur. Please contact MasterCard at 1-800-964-4742 or offers@octagon.com to purchase special packages and tickets. Reservations are limited in number and subject to availability, and are only valid if purchased via MasterCard using your World and World Elite MasterCard®.

Saturday Participating Chefs & Restaurants (to date):
Alan Wong of Alan Wong's; Alex Stratta of ALEX, Wynn Las Vegas; Larry Forgione of An American Place; Mark Gaier and Clark Frasier of Arrows Restaurant; Jonathan Waxman of Barbuto; Paul Bartolotta of Bartolotta Ristorante di Mare; Laurent Tourondel of BLT; Thomas Keller of Bouchon; Robert Del Grande of Café Annie; Rene Mata of Chinois; Walter Manzke of Church & State; Mark Miller of Coyote Café; Ken Oringer of Clio; Tom Colicchio of Craftsteak Restaurants; Ari Rosenson & Matt Hurley of CUT Las Vegas and Beverly Hills; Roger Stettler of Four Seasons Resort Maui, Hawaii; Ilan Hall of Gorbals; Frank Ostini of The Hitching Post; Richard Sandoval of Ketsi, Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita; Lydia Shire, Mario Capone & Simon Restrepo of Scampo; Traci Des Jardins of Manzanita Lake Tahoe; Cal Stamenov of Marinus Restaurant at Bernardus Lodge; Nobu Matsuhisa of Matsuhisa & Nobu LA; Gino Angelini of Minestraio Trattoria; John Cuevas of Montage Beverly Hills; Nancy Silverton of Mozza; Octavio Becerra of Palate Food + Wine; Joachim Splichal of Patina; Francois Payard of Payard Patisserie & Bistro; Julian Serrano of Picasso; Jimmy Schmidt of Rattlesnake Club; Richard Reddington of Redd; Sam Choy of Sam Choy's; Charles Phan of Slanted Door; Kerry Heffernan of South Gate; Mark Ferguson of Spago Bachelor Gulch; Wolfgang Puck of Spago Beverly Hills; Sherry Yard of Spago Beverly Hills; Lee Hefter and Thomas Boyce of Spago Beverly Hills; David Robins and Eric Klein of Spago Las Vegas; Cameron Lewark of Spago Maui; Stephan Pyles of Stephan Pyles Restaurant; Lissa Doumani and Hiro Sone of Terra, St. Helena, and AME, San Francisco; David Walzog of SW Steakhouse, Wynn Las Vegas; Tommaso Tarantino, Luciano Pellegrini and Nicola Chessa of The Valentino Restaurant Group: Santa Monica, Las Vegas and Houston; Yuji Wakiya of Wakiya Ichiemicharo, Tokyo; Marc Djozlija, Aram Mardigian, John Lechleidner and Dustin Lewandowski of WP Bar & Grill; Mat Bencivenga, Yoshi Kojima, Scott Drewno Ben Hong & Sara Johannes of Red Seven, Source, Jai and Five Sixty.

Sunday Participating Chefs & Restaurants (to date):
Thomas Keller of Bouchon; Dean Fearing of Fearing's at The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas; Jereme Leung of Jereme Leung Creative Concepts Pte Ltd; Laurent Gras of L2O; Nobu Matsuhisa of Matsuhisa & Nobu LA; Gina DePalma of Ristorante Babbo.

Participating Vintners (to date):
Baker Lane Vineyards; Beckmen Vineyards; Beringer Vineyards; Bernardus Winery; Betts and Scholl; BISOL Prosecco; Bonaccorsi Wine Company; Bouchaine Vineyards; Chappellet Winery; Charles Krug Winery; Chateau St. Jean; Cielo Malibu Estate Wineyards; Crimson Wine Group; Domaine Drouhin Oregon; Domaine Serene; Dreyfus, Ashby & Co.; Duckhorn Wine Company; Ferrari-Carano Vineyards & Winery; Flowers Vineyard & Winery; FOXEN; Francis Ford Coppola Winery; Frank Family Vineyards; Frog's Leap Winery; Gramercy Cellars; Grgich Hills Estate; Gridley Family Cellars; J Vineyards & Winery; Joseph Carr; JUSTIN Winery; Laetitia Vineyard & Winery; Lancaster Estate; Layer Cake; Loire Valley Wine Bureau; Long Shadows Vintners; Luna Vineyards; Malibu Family Wines; Malibu Vineyards; Mason Cellars; Melville; Miner Family; Morgan Winery; Ortman Family Vineyards; O'Shaughnessy Winery; Paradigm Winery; PEJU; Rosenthal-The Malibu Estate/Surfrider; Semler & Saddlerock; Silver Oak Wine Cellars; Tantara Winery; Topanga "TV" Vineyards; Waters Winery; Whitcraft Winery.

Participating Spirits (to date):
Ultimate Vodka, Patron Tequila, PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur, Ventura Limoncello.

Event Sponsors (to date):
Audi, MasterCard, Fiji Water, Campbell Soup, Southern California Gas, Pure Blue Meat Australian, Tillamook Cheese, Solaire Wines by Robert Mondavi, Ultimate Vodka, Patron Tequila, Loire Valley Wine Bureau, Idaho Potato Commission, EvansHardy+Young, Mansour Travel Company, American Airlines, Wynn Encore Las Vegas, PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur, Ventura Limoncello, Wolfgang Puck Bistro, Wolfgang Puck Catering, Wolfgang Puck Coffee, Wolfgang Puck Culinary Coffees, La Brea Bakery, Integrated Transportation Services, Republic Master Chefs, Universal Studios, Acteva, Mighty Leaf Tea, Oikos Yogurt, L.A. Specialty Produce, Knork Flatwear, Southern California Wine & Spirits, Tsar Nicoulai Caviar, SYSCO Los Angeles, Miele, Urbani Tartufi, US Foodservice Los Angeles Division, Classic Party Rentals, Clear Channel Outdoor, Jacob Maarse, Renaissance Hotels, The Tasting Panel, SingularCity.com.

About Audi
Audi of America Inc. and its 270 dealers offer a full line of German-engineered luxury vehicles. The Audi lineup is one of the freshest in the industry with 23 models, including 12 models launched during model years 2008 and 2009. Audi is among the most successful luxury automotive brands globally. In selling one million vehicles worldwide in 2008, AUDI AG recorded its 13th consecutive record year for sales growth. Visit www.audiusa.com or www.audiusanews.com for more information regarding Audi vehicle and business issues.

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About the American Wine & Food Festival
Since its inception in 1982, the Puck-Lazaroff Charitable Foundation has supported the American Wine & Food Festival, raising more than $15 million for Los Angeles Chapters of Meals On Wheels. This organization serves thousands of meals each day to Los Angeles' homebound senior and disabled citizens.

As a result of their efforts on behalf of Meals On Wheels, the Austrian-born Puck, renowned for feeding Hollywood glamour at the annual post-Oscar extravaganza, and leading restaurant designer Lazaroff, are also celebrated for their philanthropic spirit.