Following a one-year hiatus caused by the pandemic, the Lehigh Valley Food & Wine Festival is returning in grand style June 3-12, both virtually and at participating restaurants.

Plans are in the works for a special online event featuring Chef Emeril Lagasse, the first-ever Lehigh Valley Food & Wine Festival Restaurant Week, and an in-person “sponsors only” event showcasing restaurant favorites from festivals past.

The virtual program will air on June 3, at 6:30 p.m., on lehighvalleyfoodandwine.com, and will feature an appearance by Chef Emeril Lagasse.

In addition, several local chefs will prepare their top recipes for viewers, including Christopher Heath, executive corporate chef for Paxos Restaurants.

Chris Cree, founder of Cree Wine Company, will provide insights on pairing the right wine with the right meal, and the Craig Thatcher Band will offer a special musical tribute to the festival.

A range of vineyard tours and a silent auction, allowing participants to bid on fine wines and travel experiences, will also be accessible on the festival website. Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits will provide virtual whiskey tastings featuring Maker’s Mark, Maker’s Mark 46, Knob Creek 9 year, and Basil Hayden’s.

Viewers can even take out a specially prepared meal from NCC’s Hampton Winds restaurant to dine on while watching the program.

The inaugural Food & Wine Festival Restaurant Week will begin June 4 and run through June 12.

Select restaurants in the region will be offering specials throughout the week, and will showcase food which has become the festival’s trademark. Participating restaurants include blue, Burgers and More by Emeril, Emeril’s Chop House, Melt, Top Cut Steakhouse, and Torre. More will be added.

This year’s reimagining of the Food & Wine Festival will focus on a special salute to the hospitality industry, especially those employees who have been so hard hit during the pandemic, while maintaining its commitment to raising funds for Northampton Community College student scholarships. Since the inception of the festival, more than $2 million has been raised to help students.

No tickets are necessary for the virtual program. Details about the event, will be shared soon on lehighvalleyfoodandwine.com.