If you want to be one of the first to take part in a truly major event at Copia, the "Gourmet Experience Weekend" (yes, from Gourmet magazine) is scheduled to take place December 1 and 2. The agenda features cooking demonstrations and discussions by world-class master chefs, including Nobu Matsuhisa, Thomas Keller and Rocco DiSpirito. Ferran Adria will be flying in from El Bulli in Spain and Alain Ducasse will be arriving from Australia.

To add to the already exclusive nature of the weekend event, Gourmet's Editor in Chief, Ruth Reichl, will read from her best-selling memoir "Comfort Me With Apples." She will also take part in what is sure to be a lively dialogue with Chef Alice Waters and Marion Cunningham, author of the Fannie Farmer Cookbooks.

Members of the magazine's editorial test kitchen staff will be in attendance, along with an abundance of live music, wine seminars and, of course, tastings.
The $250 entrance fee covers all activities on both days. More information is available at (800) 401-4274 or www.virtuoso.com.