Michael Voltaggio will be participating in the first annual Pacific Wine & Food Festival (Sept. 2-5)
August 23: David Kinch at MelisseThis summer, Josiah Citrin, chef owner of the Michelin starred Melisse in Santa Monica, called on several of his buds at other Michelin starred restaurants across the country to join him in the kitchen. Tonight, David Kinch of Manresa in Los Gatos joins Citrin in the kitchen. Ray Garcia, chef at Fig, also in Santa Monica, will prepare the evening’s amuse bouche. A portion of proceeds will be donated to the Special Olympics. $150 per person. 310.395.0881.
September 2-5: Food & Wine Presents Taste of Beverly Hills
Though officially called “Taste of Beverly Hills,” this first annual event, courtesy of Food & Wine, aims to celebrate food and restaurants throughout Los Angeles. Home base for the festivities and eating will be the parking lot next to the former Robinson’s-May department store at Wilshire and Santa Monica. But several events, including a “Taco Tryst,” will take place at other locales. 877.434.TOBH (8624) or www.thetasteofbeverlyhills.com
September 5: Los Angeles Times Celebration of Food & Wine
Today marks what will surely become an annual occasion: Celebration of Food & Wine from the Los Angeles Times. You know this one is going to draw a lot of the biggest name local chefs along with a flotilla of food trucks. The event runs all day at the Paramount lot and will include wine seminars, spirits tastings, editorial panels and demos along with the big draw: good eats aplenty. www.latimes.com
September 5-11: Lucky Devil’s Celebrates National Waffle Week
Break out the powdered sugar and maple syrup. It’s National Waffle Week! (What, you hadn’t realized?) In honor of the occasion, Lucky Devil’s in Hollywood is offering specials on their Belgian Liege Waffles. It’s your excuse to carbo load. 323.465.8259 or www.luckydevils-la.com
September 17-19: Pacific Wine & Food FestivalSome of the best known T.V. chefs, including Guy Fieri, Cat Cora and Michael Voltaggio, are participating in the first annual Pacific Wine & Food Festival taking place at the Los Angeles Convention Center and L.A. Live! Over 400 exhibitors are expected and there will be three stages for cooking competitions, demos and lectures. The weekend also features a gala on Friday evening. And Saturday night is a ticketed wine tasting and silent auction. Both evening events benefit a trio of worthy causes: Share our Strength, Los Angeles Regional Food Bank and Westside Food Bank. www.pacificwineandfood.com
September 24: Bistro Garden 20th Anniversary
A deal and a good cause? We likey. That’s exactly what you’ll find at The Bistro Garden in Studio City tonight in honor of their 20th anniversary. Four menu items inspired by the original bistro menu will be offered at the original prices. In addition, 20% of the evening’s profits will go to the Concern Foundation for Cancer Research. So order a soufflé or two. It’s for charity after all. 818.501.0202 or www.bistrogarden.com
September 25: The 28th American Wine & Food FestivalLos Angeles is blessed with lots of great food events. But for sheer foodie dazzle, the annual American Wine & Food Festival might win the grand prize. (Wolfgang Puck and his now ex, Barbara Lazaroff, started the event, a fundraiser for Meals on Wheels, back in 1982.) Apparently when Wolfgang Puck or his people call, chefs listen, because some of the best in the country, both local and far flung, participate. The party takes place at the Universal Studios Backlot. $300 per person. www.awff.org
September 26: American Wine & Food Festival Chefs Grand Tasting DinnerThink of tonight as the intimate VIP follow-up to the prior evening’s blowout foodie fest at Universal Studios. A lucky few will gather at Spago for what is sure to be the dinner of the year. Puck brings in several other big gun chefs who pull out all the stops. There will be some very good wine poured as well as a live auction. $750 per person. 310.385.0880.
October 4: Music, Food & ImprovisationGuest chef Paul Caneles of Oliveto Restaurant in Oakland cooks at Royal/T tonight. Caneles’ muse for the evening will be pianist Myra Melford and her ensemble Be Bread who will be entertaining guests (in addition to inspiring dinner). The evening will also feature an art auction benefiting Angel City Arts. 310.559.6300 or www.royal-t.org
October 9: Riboli Family Winemaker’s Dinner
If you’ve never been to the San Antonio Winery, an historic working winery with a popular Italian restaurant in downtown Los Angeles, tonight’s Riboli family winemaker’s dinner seems a fine reason to check it out. (The Ribolis own and operate the winery.) Co-hosted by Anthony Riboli and Michael Papalia, who manages the in-house retail shop, the four course dinner promises to be educational and delicious. After all, the winery has come a long way since its days as a maker of sacramental wines. $78 per person. 323.223.1401 or www.sanantoniowinery.com
October 24: Los Angeles Magazine’s The Food Event
Los Angeles Magazine’s annual food event, called, refreshingly, The Food Event, takes place this afternoon, at the picturesque Saddlerock Ranch in Malibu. Expect some of Los Angeles’ most celebrated restaurants and plenty of good drink from host winery Malibu Family Wine and others. www.lamag.com
