Ah! To spend late September on the Mediterranean isle of Sardinia! Add a foodie event, and what better reason could there possibly be to book those plane tickets now? Chefs from both Italy and abroad will converge on Costa Smeralda, Sardinia, September 26 and 27, 2009, for the inaugural Porto Cervo Food Festival. This celebration of Italian and, of course, Sardinian, cuisine takes place at the Cervo Conference Center. It’s hosted by Starwood Hotels & Resorts in Costa Smeralda, including Hotel Cala di Volpe, Hotel Pitrizza and Hotel Romazzino (all part of Starwood’s Luxury Collection), and the five-star Sheraton Cervo Hotel. From 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. both days, Road Tripping Foodies can check out Italian honey, cheese, dried and smoked meats, bottarga, olive oil products, jams and sweets, and more — all are specialty products showcasing the best of Italy’s gastronomy and one-of-a-kind delicacies. In the evening, Hotel Cervo and Hotel Cala di Volpe will host chefs who will create original menus based on their particular culinary vision highlighting Sardinia’s abundance of local produce and ingredients.

(See also: Porto Cervo Wine Festival.)