November 1, 2014
That’s the Ticket!
Five Tips for Purchasing Tickets to
2015 Forks & Corks’ Grand Tasting and Succeeding
Tickets Go On Sale November 10 at 7 p.m.!
Tickets to the wildly popular Grand Tasting at The Ringling sold out in under eight minutes last year.
Follow these five simple tips to get your ticket.
(Sarasota, Florida) It’s getting closer. Before you know it, 7 p.m. on November 10, will be here and gone.
What’s so special about November 10 at 7 p.m.?
The hottest ticket in town goes on sale then and, judging by last year’s rush, will be sold out within five minutes.
What’s the big deal?
The big deal is The Grand Tasting, the anchor event of the Forks & Corks Food & Wine Festival. Presented by The Sarasota-Manatee Originals (SMO), this four-day culinary celebration (January 23-26, 2015) brings together celebrated regional chefs and world-renowned vintners. While the festival features a hearty menu of delicious events, The Grand Tasting (Sunday, January 25, noon to 4 p.m.) remains the favorite. Held in the grand courtyard of The Ringling Museum, the event features signature dishes from the area’s top chefs, along with a vast array of wines and beers presented by guest vintners and breweries. Grand Tasting general admission tickets are $95 (plus service charges). VIP tickets are $250 (VIP tickets include a $100 wine voucher, VIP parking, early admission, a champagne reception, a guided tour of the art museum, covered seating, and an invitation to the kick-off party.)
Kate Atkin, SMO’s executive director, shares that all 1,500 tickets to The Grand Tasting sold out within the first eight minutes of the online sale for the 2014 event.
“So, this year we’re offering a crash course in how to get your tickets fast,” she says. “Follow these five simple rules and, if you’re lucky, you’ll succeed!”
Five tips for purchasing tickets to the 2015 Forks & Corks Grand Tasting:
- TIP #1: Decide whether you want VIP or general admission tickets ahead of time. (There is an allotted amount of tickets for each guest transaction. Guests can purchase up to six general admission tickets or up to four VIP tickets.)
- TIP #2: Clear your browser cache and data and make sure you have a high-speed internet connection.
- TIP #3: Log on to www.dineoriginal.com/forksandcorks by 6:45 p.m. Select “Purchase Tickets” and have your credit card handy.
- TIP #4: At 6:59 p.m. get ready to click refresh button on your browser. At 7 p.m., click the refresh button and the ticketing link will open. Select the event tickets and proceed to checkout.
- TIP #5: Print tickets and keep them in safe place. See you at The Grand Tasting!
Tickets to The Grand Tasting go on sale Monday, November 10, at 7 p.m., and can be purchased only online at: www.dineoriginal.com/forksandcorks.
Atkin adds that, this year, serious fans of The Grand Tasting can purchase a Patron’s Sponsorship. This $1,000 initiative offers numerous benefits, including the most coveted—four guaranteed VIP tickets. Other benefits include tickets to the 2015 Forks and Corks kick-off party, early admittance to The Grand Tasting, a champagne reception at the event, covered seating, a private tour of the museum, and recognition as a festival patron. This opportunity is only available through November 7. For more information about this initiative, call Kate Atkin at 941-365-2800; email to: [email protected].
Forks & Corks Food & Wine Festival, a four-day culinary festival presented by The Sarasota-Manatee Originals (SMO), unites food, wine and beer enthusiasts with preeminent regional chefs and celebrated vintners from around the world. The festival, January 23-26, 2015, features various winemaker events at area restaurants and retail shops (January 23, 24); interactive wine seminars (January 24); The Grand Tasting in The Ringling Museum’s courtyard (January 25); and a trade event for area restaurants, retailers and hoteliers (January 26).
For more information about the eighth annual Forks & Corks Food & Wine Festival, visit www.dineoriginal.com/forksandcorks, or call 941-365-2800. For more information about The Sarasota-Manatee Originals, visit www.dineoriginal.com.
About the Sarasota-Manatee Originals
The Sarasota-Manatee Originals is a not-for-profit trade organization founded in 2003. Together, more than 50 locally-owned, independent restaurants throughout Sarasota and Manatee counties work collaboratively to celebrate and promote the creative cuisine of the region, from unique quick service eateries and waterfront family restaurants to award-winning fine dining establishments. Passionate member restaurateurs work together to produce community events, optimize cooperative marketing efforts and develop synergistic partnerships among members as they focus on preserving the culinary heritage of the region. With more Florida Trend and Zagat top-scoring restaurants within a 20-mile radius of downtown Sarasota than any other area in the Florida, the Sarasota-Manatee Originals is dedicated to sharing the area’s vibrant culinary scene with the world. For more information, call 941-365-2800 or visit www.dineoriginal.com.
