Summer’s can’t-miss food festival, Los Angeles Food & Wine (LAFW) returns August 22-26, 2018 with its 8th annual all-star chef lineup including Curtis Stone, Antonia Lofaso, Tiffani Thiessen, and more. Featuring a dynamic blend of Los Angeles’ most-celebrated restaurants, the festivities include tasting events, dinners, lunches, seminars, cooking demonstrations, and special events bringing some of the country’s top chef talent to downtown Los Angeles, Santa Monica and beyond.
This year, expanding to four nights and five days of tastings, lunches, dinners, cooking demonstrations and more, some of the festival’s marquee events include:
Wednesday, August 22
A brand-new Kick-Off Dinner Series begins the festivities this year, taking place at beloved Los Angeles restaurants.
Thursday, August 23
The first downtown marquee event of the festival is Ultimate Bites of L.A. Hosted by Alvin Cailan & Antonia Lofaso, the event brings together an abundance of the city’s most celebrated restaurants, battling for the title of Los Angeles’ “Ultimate Bite”.
Friday, August 24
The returning Power Lunch Series presents exceptional cross-country chef collaborations the kitchen.
Friday, August 24
Replacing the traditional Night Market in Downtown Los Angeles is an all-new Heat on the Street on Grand Avenue, hosted by Robert Irvine, Susan Feniger, Mary Sue Milliken, and Aarón Sánchez. This “Friday Fiesta” brings all the nuanced flavors of Latin cuisines to the plate, serving ceviche, tacos, carne asada, nopalitos, and more, with perfectly paired cervezas, tequila, and delectable wine.
Saturday, August 25
Hosted by Curtis Stone & Tiffani Thiessen, the marquee tasting event features a lineup of can’t-miss star chefs, stellar wines, craft beers and cocktails, and more, along with music spun by DJ Questlove.
Saturday, August 25 & Sunday, August 26
The Lexus Grand Tasting at The Barker Hangar on Saturday, August 25 and Sunday, August 26 afternoons is a Westside strolling event featuring more than 25 celebrity chefs and 200 wines. In addition to endless bites and sips, guests have access to book signings and photo opportunities with some of the weekend’s biggest celebrity chefs, including Curtis Stone, Lexus Culinary Master Michelle Bernstein, and Alex.
By Kinya Claiborne, STYLE & SOCIETY
