Press Releases

Carmel, Calif. - February 21, 2006 - Tempt your senses at the 15th annual Gary Ibsen's Carmel TomatoFest®, Sunday, September 10, 2006 from 12:30 - 4:30 p.m. at the magnificent Quail Lodge Resort in Carmel, California. This year's festivities invite out-of-town visitors and locals alike to make a weekend of the TomatoFest®. In addition to Sunday's main event, those looking for a fun-filled getaway can enjoy the Carmel TomatoFest® Celebrity/Chef Golf Classic on Friday and the TomatoFest® "Hot Tomato Night" Dinner and Dance on Saturday.

Attracting more than 3,000 tomato lovers from around the world, Gary Ibsen's Carmel TomatoFest® delivers what some call "the best food and wine event of the year in Central California". Sunset magazine is lined up as the primary festival sponsor and will host a pavilion for culinary and gardening displays, demonstrations and activities during Sunday's event.

Gary Ibsen's Carmel TomatoFest® offers guests the opportunity to tempt their palette with a tasting of more than 350 heirloom tomato varieties, over 100 premium wines from Monterey County and California, an "International Olive Oil Tasting," a "Salsa Showcase" featuring 90 tomato salsas, an "International Cheese Tasting," an incredible BBQ lunch and a feast of gourmet tomato entrées created by leading chefs from 60 of America's top restaurants. Festival attendees will also have the opportunity to enjoy outstanding live jazz music, purchase hard-to-find heirloom tomato seeds and indulge themselves all while enjoying the notoriously perfect "Indian Summer" weather of the Monterey Peninsula.

"If you love tomatoes, you don't want to miss America's most spectacular and unique tomato event," said Gary Ibsen, event founder and executive director. "The Carmel TomatoFest® entices more than one's senses, it captures the spirit and embraces the celebration of the season's tomato harvest. It truly is a community festival for gardeners, chefs, winemakers and food lovers."

The TomatoFest® Celebrity/Chef Golf Classic, on Friday, September 8, 2006 combines the love of golf, exceptional cuisine and premium wines allowing sponsors, chefs and industry leaders to play a round of golf on the exclusive Quail Lodge Resort course, all while helping to support regional and national youth-focused charities. Registration for the TomatoFest® Celebrity/Chef Golf Classic is available through the website only at www.tomatofest.com. The entry fee of $295 includes an awards banquet, greens fee and cart rental.

The TomatoFest® "Hot Tomato Night" Dinner and Dance is an exclusive VIP dinner and dance featuring delicious cuisine created by Cal Stamenov, Executive Chef of Bernardus Resort and the festival's honored Celebrity Chef, live musical entertainment and a high-profile guest list. Registration for the TomatoFest® "Hot Tomato Night" Dinner and Dance being held on Saturday, September 9, 2006 at the Quail Lodge Resort is available through the website only at www.tomatofest.com. Tickets at $150 per person are limited to 125 persons.

Admission tickets for Sunday's event may be purchased in advance for $95 if purchased by March 31, 2006 and $110 from April 1, 2006 up until the day of the event. Tickets include entry into Sunday's event, all food, wine tasting, logoed wine glasses and the day's activities. Children under the age of 12 with a parent are admitted free. Admission tickets may be purchased through www.tomatofest.com or by calling 1-800-965-4827.

Reservations are required in advance by ticket purchase for all Gary Ibsen's Carmel TomatoFest® events. Gary Ibsen's Carmel TomatoFest® and TomatoFest® Celebrity/Chef Golf Classic are sellout events every year, so interested parties are encouraged to purchase their tickets early.

                                        

Gary Ibsen's Carmel TomatoFest® is the tomato lover's paradise. Founded and operated by Gary Ibsen in 1991, the TomatoFest® has revitalized the appreciation and desire of true heirloom tomatoes. Ibsen's belief in sustainable farming and seed saving has inspired him to develop and grow heirloom tomato varieties for more than 30 years. For the 2006 season, he is currently growing more than 500 varieties of certified organic heirloom tomato seeds. These seeds were originally sourced from family farms around the world. Ibsen's hands-on production and harvest techniques ensure the highest quality product from harvest to table. Net proceeds from the weekend's festivities are donated to regional and national youth-focused charities. For more information visit www.tomatofest.com or call 1-800-965-4827.