American Airlines, Through BlackAtlas.com, to Host Exclusive Music, Food and Wine Tasting Event at Marcus Samuelsson's New Restaurant, Red Rooster Harlem

Registered Users of American's BlackAtlas.com Website Can Win Tickets to Meet Celebrity Chef and Sample Food and Wine at Pre-Opening Party on Nov. 15 Grand Prize Includes Trip for Two to New York City with Airfare, Hotel, $200 Gift Card and Tickets to Event

Press Release Source: American Airlines On Thursday October 28, 2010, 12:21 pm

NEW YORK, Oct. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- American Airlines, through BlackAtlas.com, the first online travel community for people interested in Black culture, will host a private music, food and wine tasting for some of its lucky members next month. Registered users of BlackAtlas.com will have the opportunity to join Travel Expert-at-Large Nelson George and celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson on Nov. 15 for a preview of his eagerly-anticipated restaurant, Red Rooster Harlem.

Award-winning chef and cookbook author Samuelsson is the youngest chef ever to receive two three-star reviews from The New York Times, the first in 1995 after just three months as Executive Chef and co-owner of Aquavit, and the second in 2001, also for Aquavit. He has received consecutive four-star ratings in Forbes' annual All-Star Eateries feature, was named one of the "40 Under 40" by Crain's, and has been hailed as one of The Great Chefs of America by the Culinary Institute of America.

Recently, Chef Samuelsson won out over 21 fellow chefs on the second season of the television competition "Top Chef Masters" on Bravo, and received $115,000 for the UNICEF Tap Project. A video of Chef Samuelsson exploring Harlem, the location of his new restaurant Red Rooster Harlem, can be found on BlackAtlas.com.

American Airlines and Chef Samuelsson will host a pre-opening dinner party at Red Rooster Harlem. The restaurant will celebrate the roots of American cuisine in one of New York City's liveliest and most culturally-rich neighborhoods. The event will consist of a four-course meal, prepared specially by Chef Samuelsson.

Each course will be paired with a South African wine, provided by Heritage Link Brands, the preeminent importer and distributor of wine produced by people of African descent throughout the world. A musical performance by American R&B and soul singer-songwriter Chrisette Michele will conclude the evening's activities.

"These unique BlackAtlas.com events in New York allow those of us at American Airlines to share and support our customers' interests and build a closer relationship with them," said Art Torno, American's Vice President for New York. "It also allows us to show our support for such beloved New Yorkers as Chef Marcus Samuelsson, a 'global citizen' whose new restaurant, Red Rooster Harlem, will represent the diverse tastes of American cuisine."

Currently registered members of BlackAtlas.com, and those who register between Oct. 27 and Nov. 4, will be entered to win a grand prize of one pair of tickets to the exclusive event, which will include round-trip Economy Class airfare for two to New York City on American from anywhere in the 48 contiguous united States, two-night hotel accommodations for two and a $200 gift card.

The grand prize winner will be announced on or around Nov. 5. In addition, 15 users of BlackAtlas.com who live in New York and New Jersey, who are currently registered or who register between Oct. 27 and Nov. 9, will also be entered for a chance to win a pair of tickets to the event. Local winners will be announced on or around Nov. 10. See www.blackatlas.com for full terms and conditions.

"BlackAtlas.com, has taken social networking to new heights for Black travelers," said Monte Ford, American's Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer. "The online community has become the resource for those looking to explore their passions and interests in Black history and culture worldwide. BlackAtlas.com has given Black travelers everywhere the opportunity to better plan their next trip and share their stories when they return."

BlackAtlas.com is the first-of-its-kind social networking site combining the best features of a travel site with the power of an online social network for travelers to share experiences unique to the Black community. Through video, commentary, photos, and blogs, BlackAtlas.com users can share content across social networks, create profiles, rate content, save content to Favorites, create downloadable travel guides and link to promotional fares on AA.com.

Content is categorized into destination/city-specific information and category-specific information, such as travel tips, restaurants, nightlife, culture, arts and museums, historic sites, beauty and barber shops, and places of worship. The Red Rooster Harlem Music, Food and Wine Pairing event is part of a series of events that American Airlines has been presenting exclusively for members of BlackAtlas.com in New York.

For more information on Black culture, the Red Rooster Harlem Music, Food and Wine Pairing and the BlackAtlas social network, please visit BlackAtlas.com.