Ending the Wine Prohibition By Sarah Waller Photo courtesy of Evonne Everett
FUA alumna Evonne Everett continues to share her passion for food and wine pairing through Chic Wine Events. The guests tapped their feet to the swinging music as the servers in snappy bow ties delivered the wine they had been anticipating. Dressed to the nines, the guests were transported to an era when alcohol was forbidden and classiness trumped reason. When the wine hit their lips, a new world opened. The speakeasy had ended their personal prohibition - The guests understood the wine and it’s place in the world of culinary art. This is a common experience at Chic Wine Events, educational wine events with a speakeasy twist. Evonne Everett pioneered Chic Wine Events after Florence University of the Arts triggered a passion for the art of food and wine pairing. Everett attended FUA’s hospitality school Apicius during fall 2012 for a 4-week special event management program that culminated at the James Beard Foundation in New York city, where she and fellow culinary and hospitality students staged professional events. During her time at FUA, Everett learned about true Italian culture. The program offset the limited image of Italian food based on pasta and pizza. “There’s a range of what Italian culture consists of and wine played a great part in that,” Everett explained. “The food and wine pairing is a part of a distinct culture.” The program emphasized bringing the passion and knowledge of wine to the United States. Everett first learned about Chianti, which has many nuances and intricacies. Once she mastered this big, more difficult wine, Everett tackled other wine education easily. The abundant diversity of Tuscan food and wine inspired the event at the James Beard Foundation, a nonprofit that celebrates the art of food, wine and community. At the James Beard Foundation event, Everett fell in love with hosting a culinary event completely. The environment the James Beard Foundation embraced the guests and harkened back to the days when James Beard would invite his friends to his house to explore the wonders of culinary arts. Everett felt at home hosting and could not believe this could be a career. “It was fine dining at its best,” Everett reminisced. After her experience at FUA and the James Beard Foundation, Everett became a freelance event planner. In May, she began her passion-project Chic Wine Events. In hopes of teaching wine education in a beautiful, creative environment, the FUA alumna creates unique speakeasy-themed wine tasting events. Everett aims to aid her clients by teaching wine in a relatable, friendly format. The atmospheres of the events are upbeat and opening. The attendees not only have a great time; they are no longer afraid of applying food and wine pairing, and making informed wine purchases for their daily lives.
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