The 30th anniversary of the Lake Tahoe Autumn Food and Wine Festival included multiple days of of activities ranging from a hands-on mozzarella making to numerous farm-to-table dinners.

Leading up to last Sunday’s grand finale at Northstar was the Blazing Pans Mountain Chef Cook Off. Executive chef Jason Friendy of the Resort at Squaw Creek/Six Peaks Grille and executive chef Rob Wyss of Sunnyside competed in the hourlong competition, producing three-course meals with this year’s secret ingredient, beer. Friendy was awarded the title of Blazing Pans Mountain Chef champion.

Sunday’s Culinary Competition and Grand Tasting featured nearly two dozen restaurants paired with premium wines, craft beers or spirits. More than 60 wines were poured during the weekend along with a selection of handcrafted beverages.

The Judges Choice Award is granted to the winner of a blind tasting by a panel of industry experts including professional wine judges, professional chefs, culinary experts and food and wine pairing experts. The second competition, People’s Choice Award, is chosen by festival attendees’ ballot votes.

The winners were:

Judges’ Choice Awards

Best Pairing of Food and Beverage

• Gold: Northstar California Resort and Benziger Family Winery
• Silver: Six Peaks Grille – Resort at Squaw Creek and Alaskan Amber Brewing Co.
• Bronze: Granlibakken Resort and Emeritus Vineyards

Best Food

• Gold: Wolfdale’s Cuisine Unique Restaurant
• Silver: Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill
• Bronze: Moody’s Bistro, Bar & Beats

Best Red Wine

• Gold: Emeritus Vineyards
• Silver: Chappellet Winery
• Bronze: Veedercrest Vineyards

Best White Wine

• Gold: Gruet Winery’s Champagne
• Silver: ZD Wines
• Bronze: Lumen Wines

Best Beverage Other than Wine

• Gold: Charbay Distillery & Winery

People’s Choice Awards

Best Beer: Goose Island Brewery’s Seasonal Oktoberfest
Best Other Than Wine: Charbay Distillery & Winery
Best White: ZD Wines
Best Red: Orin Swift Cellars
Best Table Presentation: Northstar
Best Food: Campo Reno
Best Pairing: Northstar and Benziger Family Winery.