IT HAS to be a foodie's ultimate fantasy: Getting up-close-and-personal with a slew of superstar chefs while sampling some of their dishes.

But that's the reality that close to 700 people will experience tomorrow night as Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa stages "Savor Borgata," the annual event showcasing the Big B's high-end eateries and the celebrity cooks behind them.

This year's sold-out culinary orgy features food prepared, and appearances by, the likes of Bobby Flay (Bobby Flay Steak), Wolfgang Puck (Wolfgang Puck's American Grille), Michael Schulson (Izakaya), Michael Mina (Seablue) and Stephan Kalt (Fornolletto). It also features several changes from last year's bash.

First of all, "Savor Borgata" has been moved from Borgata to its sibling facility, the even more luxe Water Club hotel. The change, said a casino executive, is the result of a rethinking of the dinner's concept.

According to Dave Coskey, Borgata's vice-president of marketing, it was Nicolas Kurban, the casino's food and beverage veep, who suggested an alternative to last year's sit-down dinner format.

"Nicolas said, 'What if we take a different approach and bring in all our chefs, and we do the kind of event where people can move around and sample and taste?' " recalled Coskey.

That made sense, Coskey continued, but only if they did it at the Water Club, which has multiple spaces perfectly suited to such a game plan. As a result, he said, guests will get a wristband when they check in and a map to various food stations - three at the pool and six upstairs.

Because of the new strategy, the chefs, who last year were pretty much confined to the kitchen, will be able to man their respective stations. This will allow guests to share a few words with the stars.

Besides the chefs, there will be another boldface name in attendance: Figure skating legend Peggy Fleming will hype her Fleming Jenkins Vineyards & Winery imprint, one of several spirits makers whose beverages will be paired with the food.

For Schulson, whose 15-month-old, Japanese-pub-based Izakaya has become one of Atlantic City's top dining salons, "Savor Borgata" offers several opportunities, including an effective way to spread the word about his place.

"The way I look at it, there are 700 people [attending] who may not have been to Izakaya before, so let me do something that will blow them away, and make them want to come back," he said. He plans to serve a huge variety of sushi and related dishes.

But a potential marketing bonanza isn't the only benefit, added Schulson, the "Pantry Raid" star now seen on TLC's "Ultimate Cake Off." He noted that participating in the event allows him the too-rare chance to spend time with his fellow Borgata restaurateurs.

"We all have really good relationships," he said. "We text each other, we e-mail . . . but some of those guys you don't see all the time."

And when they are together in this kind of situation, he admitted, everyone brings his A-game.

"We take it very seriously," he said. "You don't want to put just any kind of food out. If you don't put out something nice and good and cool, you'll definitely hear about it!"

According to Coskey, the tickets, at $125 a pop, sold out in just five days. So why didn't they add a second night?

"This is the first time we're doing it in this particular format," he reasoned. "We wanted to make sure we pay attention to the experience. We want to make sure we work and get it right before we expand."

The Water Club, One Borgata Way, 7 p.m. tomorrow, sold out.

Ho, ho, ho!

 

Like it or not, the holidays are barreling toward us like a sleigh drawn by rocket-propelled reindeer. And Tropicana Casino and Resort is wasting no time getting into the swing of things.

Today, the IMAX Theatre at the Quarter - Tropicana's retail, dining and entertainment complex - debuts "Disney's A Christmas Carol," which, if the commercials are accurate, turns Charles Dickens' beloved tale into a computer-generated adventure flick.

But that's just the first part of the Trop's Yuletide strategy. Wednesday, the gaming hall will host its fifth annual Holiday Tree Lighting ceremony at Fiesta Plaza at The Quarter. The festivities begin at 1:30 p.m. and will include nibbles courtesy of Carmine's, the Quarter's Italian eatery, as well as a visit by some guy named Santa Claus.

And on Nov. 14, the Trop showroom curtain will rise on a musical version of the seasonal classic, "Miracle on 34th Street."

Chuck Darrow has covered Atlantic City and casinos for more than 20 years. Read his blog http://go.philly.com/casinotes.

E-mail him at darrowc@phillynews.com.

And listen to his Atlantic City report Saturdays at 1:25 a.m. with Steve Trevelise on WIP (610-AM).