Lake Tahoe’s first-ever Restaurant Week, scheduled for September 5-12, will showcase High Sierra fine dining, giving local food aficionados and visitors an opportunity to enjoy the best in mountain cuisine from around the region.

There are no passes, tickets or coupons needed to take part in Lake Tahoe Restaurant Week. Instead guests simply visit participating restaurants and enjoy three-course, prix-fixe menus for $20, $30 and $40 per person. Both new and established eateries and bistros throughout the Lake Tahoe region are slated to take part.

“Lake Tahoe Restaurant Week was designed to put the spotlight on the stellar chefs and charming restaurants that make up the Tahoe-Truckee dining scene,” said Lake Tahoe Restaurant Week Event Producer Pettit Gilwee. “Many are located in historic venues and provide menus based on local, organic and seasonal cuisine."

According to Gilwee, she anticipates 30 restaurants participating in this year’s event, approximately 15 in South Lake Tahoe and 15 in the North Lake Tahoe-Truckee region, growing to 50 to 60 restaurants over the next few years.

"The event is also geared to hit home Lake Tahoe’s idyllic fall season," said Gilwee. "Tahoe's spectacular foliage and warm weather makes for fantastic hiking, kayaking, mountain biking and other outdoor activities.”

Lake Tahoe Restaurant Week is intended to give visitors another reason to extend their vacation plans or to visit during a non-traditional time of year to take part in something we all love to do – eat fantastic food!”

The Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority, Lake Tahoe South Shore Chamber of Commerce, North Lake Tahoe Visitors Bureaus and the North Lake Tahoe Chamber of Commerce are onboard as presenting sponsors of the event. The Tahoe City Downtown Association is an event Community Partner.

Gilwee is also working with other tourism bureaus, organizations and chambers of commerce throughout the region to secure sponsorships and grants. Tahoe Quarterly Magazine and Lake Tahoe Traveler Touch Tour are Media Partners of the event, as is the Sierra Sun, North Lake Tahoe Bonanza, Chow and Lake Tahoe Action.

Lake Tahoe officially got on the foodie map 25 years ago with the inception of the Lake Tahoe Autumn Food and Wine Festival, a three-day event that provides cooking seminars with celebrity chefs, private wine tastings and a gourmet marketplace. This year, the annual event is scheduled for the later part of Lake Tahoe Restaurant Week, September 10-12, outside at the Village at Northstar. The food fare continues into October with the Truckee Wine, Walk & Shop (October 2), Passport to Dining (October 7) in Kings Beach and the Tahoe Chocolate Festival (November) in Crystal Bay.

To learn more about Lake Tahoe Restaurant Week, a list of participating dining establishments and menus, sponsorship opportunities, and how to take part, visit www.TahoeRestaurantWeek.com or call Pettit Gilwee Public Relations at 530-583-2138.