Berkeley Wine Festival

While some young boys dream of becoming astronauts or baseball players, Josh Thomsen’s 6th grade yearbook listed “chef” as his career of choice. This New Jersey native credits his ambitions to his father Jerry, an accomplished amateur chef.

Named a “Rising Star Chef” by StarChefs in 2010, Thomsen is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in New York and honed his skills with some of the most prominent chefs in the country kicking off his career at the Hotel Bel-Air and Pinot Bistro in Southern California. He then relocated to Aspen, Colorado to work at the Little Nell Hotel, a Relais Chateau property as chef de cuisine before moving to Napa Valley Wine Country to work at the French Laundry under Thomas Keller, whom he credits as a major influence on his career.  Then after spending two years in Napa Valley, Thomsen was drawn to the lights, action and many culinary hot spots of Las Vegas where he continued to build his resume at the exclusive “Mansion” at the MGM Grand Hotel as well as being executive sous chef at Michael Mina’s Nobhill Tavern.

An opportunity as executive sous chef at The Lodge at Pebble Beach lured him back to the California coast and in a few years he was back on the strip as corporate executive chef for Innovative Dining Group overseeing the opening of three BOA Steakhouses – two in Las Vegas and a third in Los Angeles. Before returning to California, he opened the 400-seat Tao restaurant at the Venetian Resort.

In his role as executive chef at the Claremont Hotel, Club & Spa, Thomsen, oversees the food and beverage program, including hotel banquets operations, Paragon bar & café as well as the new Meritage restaurant. Here, he offers a seasonal menu of contemporary California cuisine using many locally-sourced ingredients.
When he is not in the kitchen, he can be found watching his favorite baseball team, the New York Yankees, or his Dad’s favorite football team, the New York Giants, while unwinding with his favorite cocktail, a Tanqueray & Tonic. He is also a supporter of The V Foundation for Cancer Research and Keep the Memory Alive, a charitable foundation supporting research for Alzheimer’s disease. Most recently he partnered with Taste of the NFL, an organization that rallies the top chefs and NFL’s greatest to raise money in support of food banks. Thomsen represents the Oakland Raiders at the annual Super Bowl Taste of the NFL event that raises funds for both the city of Oakland as well as the hosting Super Bowl city. He enjoys traveling the world to explore new cuisines and cultures having been to France, Switzerland, Italy, Mexico and Russia.

Chef Thomsen is looking forward to delighting your taste buds at the 2012 Berkeley Wine Festival, brought to you by the Claremont Hotel, Club & Spa.

March 2012

• Cakebread Cellars

  Owner Dennis Cakebread will host an evening featuring a variety of their sauvignon blanc, merlot and reserve wines from Napa Valley. Discover how thirty years after their first vintage, Cakebread Cellars continues its dedication to making the highest quality wines. Chef Thomsen will flawlessly pair dishes to these wines.

  http://www.cakebread.com

• Hirsch Vineyards

  Hirsch Vineyards, which overlooks the Pacific Ocean on the very edge of the Sonoma Coast, was the first vineyard in the area planted to produce premium pinot noir. Owner David Hirsch and his daughter Jasmine lead us through an evening focusing on their “farming-first” philosophy and minimal intervention winemaking approach. Enjoy their array of unfiltered chardonnays and pinot noirs.

  http://www.hirschvineyards.com

• Joseph Phelps Vineyards

  Founded in 1972, Joseph Phelps Vineyards is an independent, estate-based winery located outside St. Helena. Damian Parker, vice president and director of wine making for Joseph Phelps, will join us to present wines from their Freestone project. Enjoy a four course dinner with a full range of wines, including their famous Bordeaux blend Insignia.

  http://www.jpvwines.com

• Justin Vineyards & Winery

  Justin Baldwin founded his winery in 1981 in Paso Robles on California’s Central Coast. Since the beginning he has focused on producing world class Bordeaux style blends. His commitment to quality has lifted this winery to the very top of its class. Savor his full selection including his Savant, Isosceles and Obtuse.

  http://www.justinwine.com/

• Kamen Estate Wines

  Robert Kamen, a larger than life personality, produces not only wonderfully crafted, organically farmed wines, but also has had tremendous success as a screenwriter of movies such as The Karate Kid series, The Fifth Element and Taken. Robert will present wines from the Mayacamas Range in Sonoma including his viognier, sauvignon blanc and winning cabernet.

  http://kamenwines.com/

• Opus One Winery

  Considered by many to be America’s first growth, Opus One is a legendary winery whose name is synonymous with perfection and harmony. Join winemaker Michael Silacci for an exquisite dinner with these popular and highly desirable wines from California.

  http://www.opusonewinery.com

• Silver Oak Cellars

  Since its founding in 1972, Silver Oak has devoted their efforts to the pursuit of a single wine with a style all its own, cabernet sauvignon. Winemaker Daniel Baron continues this commitment to excellence and will share several vintages of Silver Oak’s Alexander Valley and Napa Valley cabernets, as well as their Twomey Cellars pinot noirs and merlots.

  http://www.silveroak.com/

• Tres Sabores Winery

  Julie Johnson returns to showcase her boutique wines. Tres Sabores, located in Napa on the Rutherford Bench nestled in the base of the hills, produces elegant zinfandels along with other varietals. Chef Thomsen will utilize many of the ingredients found on Julie’s property to make this a truly a “vineyard to table” evening.

  http://tressabores.com/

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