2018 Schedule of Events

MSU Billings Foundation’s Wine & Food Festival 2018

May 14-19, 2018
Tickets will go on sale April 9, 2018 at 8:00 am.


Monday, May 14

Guest Chef Dinner: Dinner with Roxanne Spruance Kingsley NYC

6:00PM – TEN at Northern Hotel | 19 North Broadway, Billings, MT 59101

Featuring Chef/Owner Roxanne Spruance of Kingsley Restaurant in New York City, New York and Executive Chef Peter Birk of the Northern Hotel in Billings, Montana.

Chef Roxanne Spruance entered the culinary world as a pastry chef in the highly regarded restaurant Blackbird in downtown Chicago. Working her way up in the Chicago industry, Roxanne was fortunate enough to work under chefs Koran Greiveson, Elissa Narrow, Shawn McClain, Dale Levitski and Christian Delouvrier. In 2010, Roxanne landed a coveted spot as chef de partie under worldrenowned Chef Wylie Dufresne at New York City’s WD~50, followed by a sous chef position at Blue Hill at Stone Barns under the guidance of Dan Barber. Following Blue Hill she consulted and opened Tallulah where she joined Alison Eighteen as executive chef in April 2013. In February of that year Chef Spruance won Chopped on the Food Network. In December of 2015 Kingsley was opened, where she is thrilled to bring her vision and passion to her guests.

We are pleased to have Chef Roxanne join us for our kick-off event of the Wine & Food Festival week. Collaborating with Chef Roxanne in this spectacular dining event is Executive Chef Peter Birk of the Northern Hotel. Two highly skilled and talented chefs together creating a dining experience you will never forget. The week of 2018 Wine & Food Festival events will begin with this unique and impressive feast. Don’t miss the opportunity to savor every morsel.

$150.00 per person

Sponsors: Northern Hotel, Sysco Montana, Inc., Dr. Joseph Howell, ISU Streeter Brothers Insurance, Lonewolf Energy, Inc. / Trent & Konnie Sizemore, Sullivan Miller Law PLLC


Tuesday, May 15

Home Cooking School: River Bank Picnic

11:00AM – Donna Yeargain residence | 5332 Green Teal Drive, Billings, MT 59106

Featuring Executive Chef Shawn Smith of Bighorn River Lodge in Fort Smith, Montana.

Chef Shawn grew up in Easton, Connecticut, a small suburb of New York City, where he started cooking at a young age. While attending the University of Utah he realized that cooking was his passion. He then enrolled at the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco.

Upon graduation, he returned to Salt Lake City and was chef de cuisine at Wild Grape Bistro and was later recruited to assist in the opening of the Michelin Starred Spruce restaurant in Park City, Utah. Following a stint in Bend, Oregon, Shawn’s love of the outdoors and fly-fishing led him to the Bighorn River Lodge in Fort Smith where he has been for four seasons.

$75.00 per person

Sponsors: Sysco Montana, Inc., Peterson Quality Office, Joe Dillard & Stella Fong


Home Cooking School: Moonlight Madness

6:00PM – Cliff and Susan Edwards residence, 4375 Laredo Place  |  Billings, MT 59106

Featuring Executive Chef Kathleen Moon of Laughing Horse Resort at Swan Lake, Montana.

For years while working in the corporate world, Kathleen Moon traveled worldwide. Ultimately, her days would end enjoying cuisine from around the globe and finding magic in restaurant kitchens. Foods were all about the cultures around her and was a way to savor life to its fullest.

Since 2000, food has provided endless inspiration for Chef Kathleen. The Laughing Horse Resort is a bed & breakfast and restaurant that Chef Kathleen describes as a place like a European road house. Her passion is food with style and rules. “You have to love what you cook. That allows me to be really creative. Never cook something you wouldn’t eat yourself.”

$75.00 per person

Sponsors: Sysco Montana, Inc., Goodrich & Reely, PLLC, Judy A. Williams & Malcolm Goodrich 


The Content Commands the Shape! Riedel Wine Glass Tasting Seminar

7:00PM – MSU Billings  |  Student Union Building Atrium, 1500 University Drive  |  Billings, MT 59101

Featuring Doug Reed, Regional Sales Manager, Riedel – The Wine Glass Company

Riedel, the world’s premier wine glass maker, knows that the pleasure of consuming wine starts with the glass. In this informative seminar, learn by doing hands-on comparisons how the shape of a glass can profoundly affect a wine’s bouquet and flavor. Join us for a session of learning and wine tasting that is sure to enhance your enjoyment of life’s most delicious beverage.

Doug Reed, Regional Sales Manager, will conduct the tasting – comparing a Cabernet, Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc and oaky Chardonnay in four different glass shapes. You will be amazed and delighted as you take part in the tastings and realize just how much the correct glass complements the wine you are drinking. You will become a believer.

Light appetizers included. Participants will receive a tasting kit consisting of four Veritas wine glasses.

$100.00 per person

Sponsors: ACES Brand Imaging/Tony & Kim Prill, Riedel – The Wine Glass Company, HGFA Architects


Wednesday, May 16

Home Cooking School: An Evening with Chef Jeff

6:00PM – Mike and Marti Miller residence  |  2929 Rugby Drive, Billings, MT 59102

Featuring Private Chef Jeff Brauer of Big Sky, Montana.

Chef Jeff’s interest in cooking started at a young age when his mother cooked a variety of classical French dishes. As an adult he furthered his hands-on culinary education by eating his way through Europe, North Africa, the Caribbean and South America. He graduated from the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts in Vancouver, British Columbia. Chef Jeff worked for Chuck Schommer, James Beard award-winning chef, and learned the “time and effort that goes into making gourmet Montana food.” He went on to work as executive chef at the Newport Syndicate in greater Cincinnati. Today Chef Jeff serves as a personal chef to fellow Montanans and visitors to the region.

$75.00 per person

Sponsors: Sysco Montana, Inc., Bill Brown & Amy Gibler Brown, Mike & Cara Schaer


Brewmaster Symposium

7:00PM – Billings Petroleum Club  |  27 North 27th Street, 22nd Floor  |  Billings, MT 59101

Featuring Tina Rulewicz of Founders Brewing Company in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with pairing menu by Executive Chef Jeremy Engebretson of the Petroleum Club.

Participants will enjoy an evening with Tina Rulewicz of Founders Brewing Company in Grand Rapids, Michigan. With the growing popularity of craft beers, this seminar will give beer lovers the opportunity to learn from Tina, sample Founders Brewing Company beers and taste the  characteristics that make their beers unique. Beer and food pairing will be a part of this class.

$75.00 per person

Sponsors: Billings Petroleum Club, Diamond Jubilee Casino 


Thursday, May 17

Home Cooking School: Pranzo con Marialucia

11:00AM – Bill and Laverne Royer residence, 2613 Westfield Drive  |  Billings, MT 59106

Featuring Marialucia Luongo, culinary educator, author and journalist of Perugia, Italy.

Marialucia is a native of Naples, Italy. She spent years as a journalist for many national newspapers, as well as women’s magazines, contributing to their fashion and lifestyles sections. In 2004, she published her first cookbook of ancient recipes and began cooking classes and seminars on the history of Italian cuisine. Today she lives in Perugia, Italy where she teaches cooking and Italian culinary traditions.

$75.00 per person

Sponsors: Sysco Montana, Inc., Bradford Roof Management, Cricket Clothing Company/Bill Royer – UBS Financial Services


Home Cooking School: Celebrating Spring with Roxanne Spruance

6:00PM – Jim and Timilynn Kisling residence, 6132 Arthur Avenue  |  Billings, MT 59106

Featuring Executive Chef Roxanne Spruance of Kingsley Restaurant in New York City, New York.

Chef Roxanne Spruance entered the culinary world as a pastry chef in the highly regarded restaurant Blackbird in downtown Chicago. Working her way up in the Chicago industry, Roxanne was fortunate enough to work under chefs Koran Greiveson, Elissa Narrow, Shawn McClain, Dale Levitski and Christian Delouvrier. In 2010, Roxanne landed a coveted spot as chef de partie under world-renowned Chef Wylie Dufresne at New York City’s WD~50, followed by a sous chef position at Blue Hill at Stone Barns under the guidance of Dan Barber. Following Blue Hill she consulted and opened Tallulah where she joined Alison Eighteen as executive chef in April 2013. In February of that year Chef Spruance won Chopped on the Food Network. In December of 2015 Kingsley was opened, where she is thrilled to bring her vision and passion to her guests.

$75.00 per person

Sponsors: Sysco Montana, Inc., Stacey Suydam, Drs. Randy & Lee Gibb, David Maplethorpe, Kisling Quality Builders


Winemaster Symposium

7:00PM – Northern Hotel  |  19 North Broadway, Billings, MT 59101

Presented by our 2018 winemasters Chad Johnson of Dusted Valley Vineyards in Walla Walla, Washington and Jeremy Leffert of Rabble Wine Company in Paso Robles, California with pairing menu by Executive Chef Peter Birk of the Northern Hotel.

Taste exquisite wines with the guidance of the experts who crafted them: our 2018 winemasters have carefully chosen wines, some seldom seen outside the wineries, to illustrate the subtleties of the winemaster’s art. Expand your knowledge of wine while enjoying superb wine and food in a relaxed setting. Food pairings by Northern Hotel Executive Chef Peter Birk.

$100.00 per person

Sponsors: Northern Hotel, Bill Brown & Amy Gibler Brown, ISU Streeter Brothers Insurance, Avitus Group, Archie Cochrane Motors


Friday, May 18th

Wine and Food Pairings under the “Grand” Tent

6:00 pm – In the tent on the campus of MSU Billings

Enjoy a relaxing evening of wine and food tasting, silent auction, wine store and private cellar.

$85.00 per person


Saturday, May 19th

The Fine Finish under the “Grand” Tent

5:30 pm – In the tent on the campus of MSU Billings

Relish the casual elegance of a champagne reception, gourmet dinner prepared by Executive Chef Jeremy Goldsmith, Sodexo, Gonzaga University, and live and silent auctions.

$125.00 per person