Celebrity Chef & Wine Dinner followed by Benefit Concert with St. Paul & the Broken Bones
Jazz Aspen Snowmass (JAS) is excited to launch a new version of an older, popular fundraiser, the Saute & Swing Celebrity Chef Dinner and Concert. The original Saute & Swing concept took place for many years in the early 2000’s at private homes across Aspen and Snowmass. Each home would feature an intimate dinner created by a Celebrity Chef with exclusive wine pairings and live music from JAS Academy students, with all proceeds benefitting JAS Music Education programming. Former participating Chefs included household names such as Emeril Lagasse, Tom Colicchio, Anne Burrell and Lidia Bastianich. JAS hosted the last Saute & Swing event in 2008.
With the opening of the new Paul JAS Center offering a built-in home and commercial catering kitchen for JAS events, the organization has decided to revive the concept with a few new elements. The evening will start with an intimate 5-course dinner prepared by Colorado native, Chef Alex Hong of San Francisco’s Michelon Star Restaurant Sorrel. Dinner will be paired with exclusive wines from Napa Valley’s Cathiard Vineyards, all for a small group of up to thirty guests. Following dinner, the event will open up to a larger audience for a benefit concert featuring the powerhouse soul ensemble, St. Paul & the Broken Bones. Known for their electrifying live shows and impassioned vocals, the band blends rock & roll, soul, R&B and more, captivating audiences around the world.
Tickets for both the dinner and concert portion of the evening will include a substantial benefit to JAS Mission based programming, including their multiple music education programs taking place throughout the Roaring Fork Valley and beyond.
Tickets for the Saute & Swing Dinner can be purchased here.
Tickets for the St. Paul & the Broken Bones concert can be purchased here.
Chef Alex Hong first discovered his love for cooking through his aunt and uncle, a pair of Missouri farmers who share homegrown organic product and cooked simple farm to table dishes with the family on their frequent visits. Alex attended The Culinary Institute of American in Hyde Park, NY. He’s worked in kitchens such as Jean-Georges in New York City, Quince in San Francisco, and Fasca Food and Wine in Boulder. In 2012, Alex began to operate his own emerging concept, Sorrel, as a pop-up in a small boutique Hotel in Union Square, opening his brick-and-mortar Sorrel Restaurant three years later. In 2018 he was nominated for James Beard Rising Star Award and received three and a half stars from long time restaurant critic Michael Bauer from the San Francisco Chronicle. Around the same time, he and the Sorrel team were able to secure Sorrel’s status as a One-Star Michelin restaurant.
Cathiard Vineyard, situated at 1978 Zinfandel Lane in St. Helena, California, is a family-owned estate that seamlessly blends Napa Valley’s rich winemaking traditions with French heritage. The property spans both the Rutherford and St. Helena appellations, featuring vineyards planted predominantly with Cabernet Sauvignon, along with Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Malbec. The estate’s history dates back to 1885, and under the Cathiard family’s stewardship, it has been revitalized to produce wines that honor the land’s legacy.
The vineyard’s portfolio includes the flagship Cathiard Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, crafted from the estate’s oldest vines, and the Founding Brothers Red Wine, a Bordeaux-style blend paying homage to the property’s original founders. Another notable offering is the Hora Red Blend, inspired by Greek mythology and representing the changing seasons. These wines have garnered critical acclaim for their balance, depth, and expression of Napa Valley terroir. Cathiard Vineyard offers visits by appointment, providing guests with an intimate experience of their winemaking philosophy and the estate’s serene beauty.
