With colorful plastic carrying trays at the ready, Beverly Coleman, Michelle Torrens and Tamiya Wilson came prepared for Saturday's Courier Journal Wine & Food Experience.

"The last time we came, three years ago, we had trouble balancing all the food samples and drinks, but we saw a guy with a little wooden tray, and we made it our mission to find trays for our next time," Coleman told the Courier Journal.

"Of course, we had no idea that the pandemic would hit, and it would be a couple of years before this event would be held again. But here we are, it's a beautiful day, we're with friends and our trays are full of food and drink ― it's wonderful."

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The food and wine experience had to be canceled because of COVID-19 in 2020 and 2021, so people were more than ready for its return in this year.

As the gates opened Saturday at Norton Commons' Oval Park, 1,200 hungry and thirsty ticketed guests flowed into the event space.

"Tickets sold out as soon as they went on sale," said Jared Bobkins, culinary director for the event. "We take this show to eight cities across the country, and Louisville sold out faster than any of them."

If you didn't snag a ticket, no worries, the popularity of the event should bring it back to Louisville in 2023. In the meantime, here's what you missed.

The event, part of an eight-city tour, featured small bites from dozens of local restaurants, including Malones, I Love Tacos, Louvino, Red Yeti and more.

Guests dined on goat cheese fritters with red pepper jelly at the Red Yeti tent. Wiesenberger cheesegrits and gulf shrimp with andouille gravy were served by Cask Southern Kitchen & Bar. Dreamy buttercream-frosted sugar cookies were available at the Tin Lizzie Baked Goods tent. Drake's served a popular buffalo chicken dip, and people couldn't stop talking about Harry's hot baked crab dip.

Guests sampled wine, spirits and beers from more than a dozen purveyors. Guinness beer also served up a new Zero alcohol-free beer which tasted just like the real thing. Also serving samples were: Delicato Family Vineyards ,E&J Gallo Wines,WX Brands ,Brush Creek Distillery , Huber Winery and Starlight Distillery,Brown Forman wine and bourbon, New Riff Distilling and Down One & Jockey Silks.

Chef Jared Bobkin, who competed on two seasons of Gordon Ramsay's "Hell's Kitchen," chose the restaurants and wine, beer and spirits vendors who took part in The Courier Journal Wine & Food Show. He said curating a culinary show is a piece of cake compared to cooking for Ramsay.

"Hell's Kitchen" is way harder. It's so stressful, and you never know what you are going to walk into," he said. "With this event, I have had months to plan and prepare."

There were three cooking demonstrations on the cooking stage for guests to enjoy in between sampling food and drinks. Bobkin demonstrated how to make delicious dumplings, Swizzle restaurant was a contributor, and Malone's showed guests how to make American Wagyu meatballs with herbed marinara.

For those who wanted a jump start on the afternoon, VIP tickets allowed early entry to the event. Guests got an extra hour of food and drink on a beautiful Saturday afternoon.

Bobkin said he plans to return in 2023 with more restaurants and a bigger space, so more tickets can be sold.

Reach features reporter Kirby Adams at kadams@courier-journal.com.