Looking for a gift idea for your favorite DC Foodie?  Whether you're looking for holiday inspiration or hoping to get a jump on your Valentine's Day shopping, the 10th annual International Wine and Food Festival could be just what you're looking for.

Taking place on February 14th and 15th this year, the festival is an annual opportunity to taste your way through wines from 200 wineries and an array of prepared and retail-ready foods.  But this is more than just your average "Taste of..." event; it is two days of rubbing elbows with your fellow foodies as well as representatives of all aspects of the food and wine trade, from vintners to sommeliers to celebrity chefs.

One of this year's top draws is likely to be Barton Seaver, formerly of Hook.  Seaver's focus remains on sustainable seafood, but he is no longer working in a restaurant kitchen so this is a rare opportunity to see him in action.  Other high-profile chefs scheduled to demonstrate their craft include Patrice Olivon of L'Academie de Cuisine and Christina Pirello of PBS' "Christina Cooks."

The Festival takes place in the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center downtown (located at 14th and Pennsylvania Avenues, NW) and is open to the public from 2 PM to 6 PM each day, and there's a special "Grand Cru Wine Lounge" that will be open on Saturday for those with a taste for reserve wines and other upscale offerings at an additional cost.

Tickets are $85 per day before February 9th or $140 for a two-day pass.  After that date, the prices rise to $95 per day and $160 for both.  Tickets for the Grand Cru Lounge are currently $125 per person, and they will rise to $150 after February 9th.  But the folks at the Festival have invited readers of DC Foodies to save $10 when you purchase your tickets.  Just enter promo code "09FO10" when buying your tickets between now and December 31st, and you'll save $10 on the cost of a ticket.

This is one of the biggest events in Washington for food and wine lovers, and it just keeps getting bigger every year.  Take a look at the website and see if it's right for the DC Foodie in your life.  Talk about a great way to kick off your Valentine's Day celebration!