On Saturday, May 15, at 10:30 a.m., The Essex: Vermont's Culinary Resort & Spa, will host a special Restaurant Week panel discussion, featuring local luminaries such as James Beard award winning author Rowan Jacobsen and cheese expert Jeff Roberts, author of The Atlas of American Artisan Cheese.

They will be joined by Kristin Kimball, co-owner of Essex Farm in New York, which boasts a unique CSA model, and Chef Rob Evans. Evans is the owner of Hugo's and Duckfat in Portland, Maine, and the recipient of the 2009 James Beard Foundation award for the Best Chef Northeast.

The participants will talk about how American foodways are changing and evolving in the 21st-century, and Vermont's role in that process.

Stick around after the panel for a localvore luncheon (not included in ticket giveaway). For an additional $35, you can continue the conversation over lunch with the panelists!

The menu is:

• Spinach salad with sliced red onion, Vermont goat cheese and warm bacon vinaigrette
• Misty Knoll chicken with sage and cheddar polenta, ramps, fiddleheads and baby carrots
• Chocolate-caramel tart with housemade salted caramel ice cream

Enter to win 2 tickets to the panel below: