NATCHEZ — Natchezians’ spoons might have never scraped every delectable bite from a bowl of Chef Bingo Starr’s seafood gumbo if it weren’t for the annual Natchez Food and Wine Festival.

Starr came to Natchez as a guest chef for the festival in 2006, and he never really left. Now the Carriage House chef helps perpetuate the tradition by opening his kitchen to other visiting chefs.

“It’s what got me to move to Natchez,” Starr said. “It showed me great people and hospitality, and reminded me of New Orleans, where I’m from. This whole event is my favorite time of year.”

The festival kicks off Friday and continues through Sunday, ending with the champagne jazz brunch at the Carriage House.

Stratton W. Hall, who co-chairs the festival, said new chefs from New Orleans are participating this year, and a new, casual event has been added to the festival roster.

“Our new event is Brews, Blues and Burgers at Bowie’s Tavern,” Hall said. “Come have a high-end burger with really great toppings, like caramelized onions. We will have 15 different items to fix your own.”

The event will feature live blues and spotlight a libation that is growing in variety and style — beer.

“We will celebrate microbrew and craft beers,” Hall said. “It will be more casual atmosphere on the river.”

Hall said the festival is celebrating its 11th consecutive year, and she hopes locals and visitors alike will have a fabulous weekend.

“This (festival) brings people to Natchez,” Hall said. “The last weekend in July there is nowhere else but the Food and Wine Festival.”

Hall said Mae Holyoak and Friends’ lemonade stand is a perfect first impression for festival guests. Holyoak’s lemonade stand, which will be set up at the Natchez Convention Center Friday, raises money for the Natchez-Adams County Humane Society.

“Mae Holyoak is an 8-year-old girl — what a great ambassador,” Hall said. “(Her parents) Jenna and John will set up tables outside where Mae and 15 friends sell baked goods and lemonade. Every penny goes to the humane society, and people bring their pets.”

Hall handles marketing and promotions for First Natchez Radio Group, a facilitator of the festival. Country Roads is also sponsoring the events.

Hall said a scholarship is awarded to an individual every year for culinary arts. Seed money goes right back into the festival next year.

Starr said guests and chefs will get a taste of the Miss-Lou flavor at Sunday brunch with locally-grown produce and Louisiana seafood.

“We have fresh produce, locally grown from the Rand family at Pleasant Hill Farms,” Starr said. “We get mostly everything from them including zucchini, squash, eggplant, fresh new potatoes and greens will be kicking in soon. The Rand family will be the guests of honor at the Sunday brunch. We want to promote local produce and Louisiana seafood.”

Starr said the Louisiana Seafood marketing board will provide seafood to be served at the brunch.

Hall said Starr has embraced what the festival is built upon — broadening Natchez’s culinary horizon.

“I think it’s unbelievable that we have a festival like this in Natchez,” Starr said. “Selfishly, I get to see my old friends and show off my new town. August is a slow time, so they can get away (from their restaurants). It’s great to have them hang out and do different events.”

Starr said Sunday brunch will feature new chefs and familiar ones.

“Red Owens is a local celebrity,” Starr said.

“He’s been everyone’s principal or football coach. He will be smoking everything. And my uncle Doug Depp (of New Orleans) did a smoked beef tenderloin last year — people said they won’t come back unless they cook the meat. I will do the sides.”

Starr gave a friendly warning about guest chefs.

“Once we get them here, we’ve got them,” Starr said. “That’s what happened to me.”

Tickets can be purchased online at www.natchezpilgrimage.com or by visiting the Natchez Visitor’s Reception Center. Go to www.natchezfoodandwinefest.com for more information on each event. Or call 601-446-6631 for ticket information.

Natchez Food and Wine Festival Schedule:

FRIDAY

• Mae Holyoak and Friends Lemonade Stand for Humane Society

The lemonade stand will be in front of the Natchez Convention Center
from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Art, baked goods and lemonade will be sold as a fundraiser for the Natchez Adams County Humane Society.

• Tastings Along the River

Tastings Along the River will be from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Natchez Convention Center. Enjoy scrumptious creations of regional chefs and a variety of fine wines to the sounds of jazz and blues with Osgood and Blaque. Tickets $50 in advance or $65 at the door. A chef’s party will follow at Bowie’s.

SATURDAY

• Progressive Lunch

A progressive lunch will take festival-goers to three different private homes for a bite from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The appetizer course will be served at the Bigg’s House, located at 300 North Pearl St. The entree course will be served at the Stewart House, located at 304 North Pearl St. The dessert course will be served at the Dorsey House, located at 305 North Pearl St. Tickets are $45.

• Food is Art

Bring the kids and enjoy your favorite ice cream or icey frappe from 11:30 to 1 p.m. at Natchez Coffee Company while learning a thing or two about the art of food and artistic presentation. TLC’s extreme food sculptor David Leathers is a food works with sugar, bread, fruits and vegetables. Tickets are $15.

• Wine and Cheese Tasting

Enjoy what is known as one of the best events at the Natchez Food and Wine Festival — an elegant and delightful afternoon of wine and cheese tasting from 1:30 to 3 p.m. at The Castle Restaurant on the grounds of antebellum plantation house and great bed and breakfast, “Dunleith.” Tickets are $45.

• Mint julep tours and calliope concert

Tour the grounds of Monmouth Plantation, sip mint juleps and hear the unique sounds of the calliope at 3 p.m., 4 p.m. and 5 p.m.

• Brews, Blues and Burgers

Kick back and enjoy the afternoon and sunset with live blues music, memorable burgers and ice cold beer right on the bluff overlooking the mighty Mississippi River from 4 to 7 p.m. at the popular night spot — Bowie’s Tavern. Tickets are $35.

• An Invitation to the Natchez Table

This Natchez Food and Wine Festival event will be at 6:30 p.m., and feature fine dining with great chefs in any of three fabulous locations — Dunleith, Stanton Hall and Monmouth. Tickets are $85.

SUNDAY

• Champagne Jazz Brunch

This two-part Natchez Food and Wine Festival event will be 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. featuring Chef Bingo Starr. The menu includes Chef Bingo’s seafood gumbo, Carriage House shrimp and much more. A jazz combo featuring Cee Blaque will play. Tickets are $50.