If anywhere knows how to throw a food and wine festival, it's Aspen.

Five thousand attendees grabbed tickets to the sold out, hands-on event at $1,225 a pop (those who didn't have tickets were kicked out. Just ask New England Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker who was reportedly trying to crash a cooking event for an impromptu bachelor party).

Festival goers celebrated the decadent weekend with a "Last Bite" late night dessert party featuring star pastry chef Johnny Izzuni hosted by Top Chef judge Gail Simmons. Elvis Costello & The Blue Beguilers hosted a benefit concert featuring food by critically-acclaimed chefs, Food Network star Bobby Flay hosted a 5K charity run benefitting F&W’s Grow for Good initiative, chef cook-offs and a fun Q&A with Giada De Laurentiis.

Check out our recap from the 30th annual Aspen Food and Wine Classic below!

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  • Making Pre-Prohibition Cocktails at the 2012 Food and Wine Classic in Aspen

    Plum presents your All Access pass to the 30th annual Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, the nation's most prestigious festival of food, wine, and spirits. In this episode master mixologist Eben Freeman shows us how to make Pre-Prohibition era cocktails with a contemporary twist at Jimmy's, an Aspen institution. For more information on the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen visit: http://www.foodandwine.com/

  • Celebrating the 30th Annual Aspen Food and Wine Classic

    Plum presents your All Access pass to the 30th annual Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, the nation's most prestigious festival of food, wine, and spirits. Join us for exclusive behind-the-scenes foodie fun with superchefs Emeril Lagasse, Marcus Samuelsson, Mario Batali, Gail Simmons, Andrew Zimmern and Bobby Flay. In this episode learn what makes the Food & Wine Classic such an unforgettable experience.

  • Late Night Dessert Party at the Aspen Food and Wine Classic 2012

    Plum presents your All Access pass to the 30th annual Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, the nation's most prestigious festival of food, wine, and spirits. In this episode we indulge at the Food & Wine Classic's first ever Last Bite Late Night Dessert Party, hosted by superchef Gail Simmons and master pastry chef Johnny Iuzzini. It's an over-the-top dessert extravaganza!

  • Giada De Laurentiis answers questions during her "Giada At Home" seminar.

  • Ed Kelly, Christina Grdovic, Marcus Samuelsson and Dana Corwin at the welcome reception.

  • <em>Image via <a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150913076439213&set=a.10150913072904213.424255.54520869212&type=3&theater" target="_hplink">Facebook</a>. </em>

  • Grand tasting beneath the tents.

  • Jacques Pépin, Gail Simmons and Ming Tsai enjoy a glass of wine in the courtyard of the Grand Tasting Pavilion.

  • Mario Batali heats up the oil in his "Seafood of the Adriatic" seminar.

  • <em>Image via <a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150913074504213&set=a.10150913072904213.424255.54520869212&type=3&theater" target="_hplink">Facebook</a>.</em>

  • Michael Symon gives a talk to a packed room for his "New Greek At Home" seminar.

  • Food Network stars Mario Batali and Marcus Samuelsson raise a glass for the 30th Aspen Food and Wine Classic. <em>Image via <a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150491962774213&set=a.10150491962194213.378969.54520869212&type=3&theater" target="_hplink">Facebook</a>. </em>

  • There's not a bad table in the house.