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Quick lowdown on weekend of high notes at Mohegan Sun Jan. 26-29

Admission is not cheap in this shaky economy, almost no one wears a mask despite flu and COVID threats, and its definitely not aligned with the health considerations of "dry January." But the four-day, 14-event Sun Wine & Food Fest is still Mohegan Sun's premier weekend of adult fun and eats in Connecticut.

It's a  tonic itself, this Wine Fest (not Whine Fest). We'll call it part of a semi-dry January, just for this colorful outing in the great indoors. And many seem to agree. The fest is selling well, with some of its smaller events marked "sold out" weeks ahead of the Jan. 26-29 weekend in Uncasville.

Thursday, Jan. 26's two-seating TAO Japanese Whisky Dinner is sold out for its 5 p.m. pairing of a three-course meal at upscale TAO with Japanese whisky (spelling without the "e" in Japan). Another seating ($300 a seat) will be at 6:30 Thursday.

The same evening will bring a Todd English Experience at the celeb chef's Tuscany restaurant ($225 inside or $175 near the waterfall for day-of tickets). English will host a craft cocktail hour and seated dinner. To sweeten the deal, O.A.R.’s Marc Roberge and Loverboy’s Kyle Cooke will perform music during the event.

A Ferrand Cognac and Cigar Pairing will also take place Thursday at Clay Pipe Cigar Bar at 8 p.m. ($125 on the day of the event).

Come Friday evening, the crowds grow larger at the Uncas Ballroom and Earth Expo & Convention Center. A Sake and Dim Sum Pairing at TAO is sold out at 5 and 5:15 p.m. But you may be able to get into the Beam and Burgers event presented by Beam Suntory at 6 p.m. ($125) in the Earth Ballroom.

The big, BIG room -- Earth Expo Center -- hosts the Grand Tasting Preview from 8-10 p.m., where we not only sampled dozens of brands of tasty wine last year but we noticed many varieties of spiked seltzers, wine-related goods, books, sauces and other non-wine offerings splayed across the expanse of the convention site where food demos are held on a stage at one end.

New this year is the inclusion of small food bites being included in the ticket price in addition to larger food items for sale on the floor's perimeter. Admission is $125 day-of, which makes it a bargain compared to Saturday's version of the Grand Tasting.

Nyesha Arrington at a recent Sun Wine & Food Fest.

Another sold-out event will be Spirits & Cigars from 9-11 p.m. at Clay Pipe (including brands such as Bulleit Bourbon, Cruzan Rum and Patrón tequila).

At 9 p.m. in the eatery/night club novelle, you can check out a Toast with the Host event with Loverboy founders Kyle Cooke and Amanda Batula, stars of Bravo’s Summer House, as they host from behind the bar. Sponsored by Loverboy Sparkling Hard Tea and Premium Canned Cocktails. ($65)

Saturday brings the five-hour main event, the Grand Tasting, at the Earth Expo Center from noon to 5 p.m., featuring more than 1,000 varieties of wine, beer and spirits along with those included food bites and for-purchase larger food items. If you've never strolled the huge SWFF, it's something to see and experience. ($160 on the day of event.)

For those of you who order fine wine while dining out and who maintain wine cellars or fridges at your home, you will aspire to the annual Vintage Cru event, hosted this time by Chef Rocco DiSpirito and Chef Christian Petroni in the Earth Ballroom from 4-6 p.m. ($165). Where else can you sip a cab from a $95 bottle of wine at one table and a $58 Barolo from the next table? (You can sign up for case shipments to your house, too. Oh boy!) Tickets include a $50 iGourmet gift card.

Also Saturday at 6 p.m., the "exclusive" Pappy Van Winkle Tasting at the Clay Pipe is, alas, sold out. But the night's culinary standout is the excellent Celebrity Chef Dine Around ($275, above photo) from 8-10:30 p.m., when some 20 celebrity chefs team to pair a tasty small plate of food with a wine, beer or spirit. This is definitely one version of heaven for variety lovers, although it presumes you didn't go whole hog for the sips and gulps at the Grand Tasting earlier.

                       Chef Michael Symond in 2022 (Photos by Mohegan Sun.)

The celebrity chefs will be schmoozing afterward at a party from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Avalon nightclub (there's a cover charge, and surprise guests promised).

The Sunday event, also fun and also celebrity-hosted, will be the Bloodys & Brunch With Buddy (TV personality Buddy Valastro) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at novelle. But it is sold out, so all we can say is plan earlier next year. 

-- Joe Amarante