Chef's COOKBOOK Recipes Wine Pairing Absolutely Chic Perfectly Easy by Yvonne Roberts In 1994, Yvonne Roberts was engaged by the luxurious, iconic Biltmore Hotel in Miami, Florida to develop and launch a distinctive, dues-based social membership called the Cellar Club, presenting specialty events, with a focus on food and wine-related venues. "You create a dining experience," she says, "with the knowledge that flavor is made up of not only taste, but all of our senses: what we see, hear, touch, and smell, and how every aspect of dining-from the color and shape of a plate to the music playing in the background-affects our perception of flavor."Through her passion to give, combined with her appreciation of food and wine, and her philosophy of "Water Separates the People of the World; Wine & Food Unites Them," Roberts became director and co-founder of the Biltmore International Wine and Food Weekend Festival, which raised more than $6 million for local charities. With over 20 years under her belt in the industry, Roberts was the recipient of prestigious accolades such as the James Beard Award nomination for "Outstanding Wine Service" in 2011 and Zagat's ranking as South Florida's top wine list in 2012. "Some of my most cherished memories are to have savored a bounty of exquisite, palatable flavors alongside some of the world's most talented star chefs and winemakers," says Roberts. Her collaborative experiences encompass the culinary talents of Alain Ducasse, Remi Krug, Todd English, Robert Mondavi, Norman Van Aken, Larry Maguire, Jean-Paul Jeunet, Anthony Barton, Bruno Cirino, Daniel Haas and Philippe Ruiz. All of whom represent a small sampling of the extraordinary and celebrated food and wine experts she has worked with throughout the years, and are the inspiration for this publication."