PHOTOS: Food & Wine Classic wraps up 42nd year in Aspen

News | Jun 23, 2025

Austin Colbert

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Seattle-based chef Shota Nakajima, right, and Aspen chef Mawa McQueen share a laugh during their cooking challenge on the final day of the Food & Wine Classic on Sunday, June 22, 2025, inside the St. Regis Aspen. McQueen, the driving force behind Mawa's Kitchen and the Crepe Shack, was making her official Food & Wine seminar debut.
*Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times*

The 42nd annual Food & Wine Classic in Aspen wrapped up on Sunday with one more session of seminars and one final grand tasting at Wagner Park. For the second year in a row, FOOD & WINE magazine, which produces the event, will host a second Food & Wine Classic this coming November in Charleston.

Guests enjoy the final grand tasting at the Food & Wine Classic on Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Aspen.

Chefs Claudette Zepeda, left, and Andrew Zimmern lead a seminar on Mex-Italian cooking on the final day of the Food & Wine Classic on Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Aspen.

A glass from Flying Whale Wine in France is poured at the final grand tasting at the Food & Wine Classic on Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Aspen.

Guests chat during the final grand tasting at the Food & Wine Classic on Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Aspen.

The Food and Wine display is seen at the final grand tasting at the Food & Wine Classic on Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
An exhibitor chats with a guest at the final grand tasting at the Food & Wine Classic on Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
A glass of wine is held at the final grand tasting at the Food & Wine Classic on Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
Guests have their photo taken at the final grand tasting at the Food & Wine Classic on Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
An exhibitor chats with a guest at the final grand tasting at the Food & Wine Classic on Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
An exhibitor with Popwell chats with a guest at the final grand tasting at the Food & Wine Classic on Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
Guests enjoy the final grand tasting at the Food & Wine Classic on Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
Snacks from the MOLLIE Aspen are ready for consumption at the final grand tasting at the Food & Wine Classic on Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
Guests chat during the final grand tasting at the Food & Wine Classic on Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
A glass of wine is poured at the final grand tasting at the Food & Wine Classic on Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
An exhibitor chats with a guest at the final grand tasting at the Food & Wine Classic on Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
A glass from Flying Whale Wine in France is poured at the final grand tasting at the Food & Wine Classic on Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
Aspen Mountain provides the backdrop for the final grand tasting at the Food & Wine Classic on Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
Guests enjoy the final grand tasting at the Food & Wine Classic on Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
The Food & Wine display is seen at the final grand tasting at the Food & Wine Classic on Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
A neon sign reads “Girls call the shots” at the 21Seeds tequila booth at the final grand tasting at the Food & Wine Classic on Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
Work is done behind the scenes at the final grand tasting at the Food & Wine Classic on Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
An exhibitor enjoys a drink during the final grand tasting at the Food & Wine Classic on Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
Lemon sit at the ready during the final grand tasting at the Food & Wine Classic on Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
Aspen Mountain provides the backdrop for the final grand tasting at the Food & Wine Classic on Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
Guests enjoy the final grand tasting at the Food & Wine Classic on Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
Guests enjoy the final grand tasting at the Food & Wine Classic on Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
A refreshing drink from JUS Aspen awaits tired guests at the final grand tasting at the Food & Wine Classic on Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
Seattle-based chef Shota Nakajima, right, and Aspen chef Mawa McQueen share a laugh during their cooking challenge on the final day of the Food & Wine Classic on Sunday, June 22, 2025, inside the St. Regis Aspen. McQueen, the driving force behind Mawa’s Kitchen and the Crepe Shack, was making her official Food & Wine seminar debut.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
Aspen chef Mawa McQueen smiles toward the audience as she takes part in a cooking challenge on the final day of the Food & Wine Classic on Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
Aspen chef Mawa McQueen points toward her competition, chef Shota Nakajima (not pictured), as part of a cooking challenge during the final day of the Food & Wine Classic on Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
Chef Shota Nakajima, right, samples an ingredient during his cooking challenge with Aspen chef Mawa McQueen, left, on the final day of the Food & Wine Classic on Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
Chef Shota Nakajima, right, hugs Aspen chef Mawa McQueen prior to their cooking challenge on the final day of the Food & Wine Classic on Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
Chef Justin Chapple, right, the culinary director-at-large for FOOD & WINE magazine, introduces Aspen chef Mawa McQueen, who is holding up a copy of her book, “Unstoppable Ambition,” during a seminar on the final day of the Food & Wine Classic on Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
Chef Justin Chapple, the culinary director-at-large for FOOD & WINE magazine, makes introductions ahead of a cooking challenge between chefs Mawa McQueen and Shota Nakajima on the final day of the Food & Wine Classic on Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
Chef Shota Nakajima looks toward the audience on the final day of the Food & Wine Classic on Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
Aspen chef Mawa McQueen smiles toward the audience as she takes part in a cooking challenge on the final day of the Food & Wine Classic on Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
Chef Shota Nakajima takes part in a cooking challenge on the final day of the Food & Wine Classic on Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
Chef Andrew Zimmern teaches a seminar on the final day of the Food & Wine Classic on Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
Chef Claudette Zepeda teaches a seminar on the final day of the Food & Wine Classic on Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
Chefs Claudette Zepeda, left, and Andrew Zimmern lead a seminar on Mex-Italian cooking on the final day of the Food & Wine Classic on Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
Chef and baker Nancy Silverton, left, and claimed television writer Phil Rosenthal lead a seminar on the final day of the Food & Wine Classic on Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
Chef and baker Nancy Silverton teaches a seminar on the final day of the Food & Wine Classic on Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
Chef Nyesha Arrington teaches a seminar on the final day of the Food & Wine Classic on Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times