World-class chefs to conduct master classes at Fayetteville Roots Festival Aug. 23

Graham Elliot / Courtesy

Some of the best chefs in the country will be cooking at Fayetteville Roots Festival this year, and thanks to the Brightwater culinary school in Bentonville, locals will have an opportunity to learn a few tricks of their trade while they are in town.

Roots Festival officials this week announced the schedule of classes planned this year, which include instruction by chefs Graham Elliot, Merlin Verrier, Georgia Pellegrini, Deborah Vantrece, Asha Gomaz, Jennifer Booker, Logan Guleff, Jesse Griffiths, and others.

The master classes will take place on Friday, Aug. 23 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. in the Ozark Theatre, Culinary Kitchen, Seasonal Kitchen, Sage Classroom, Bakery, and Patio at the Brightwater School.

Classes will be open on a first-come, first-served basis, so those who’d like to participate in a specific class might want to get there early. Sign ups for individual classes will be available Brightwater on Friday beginning at 10 a.m.

Each class is a $20 suggested donation, and proceeds from the event will benefit the Roots Festival Brightwater Scholarship Fund.

In addition to the classes, there will be a Taste & Talk series taking place nearby at The Holler beginning at 11 a.m., a bean-to-bar chocolate tour and tasting and Markham & Fitz at 11 a.m., and live music by local musician Chooch at Bike Rack Brewing at noon.

A full schedule of classes is available in the graphic below.

Other opportunities to taste some of the food prepared by the visiting chefs include the Chef Dinner on Wednesday night, the Grand Tasting on Thursday, and the Roots, Food & Spirits event on Saturday.

Fayetteville Roots Festival is set for Aug. 22-25 at various locations in and around Fayetteville. Tickets to several events still remain. To purchase, visit the ticketing site.

Master Classes at Brightwater