The 6th annual Los Angeles Food & Wine festival arrived with a splash featuring tastings, dinners, lunches, and special events located across Los Angeles with main events directly in front of the iconic Walt Disney Concert Hall and The Broad museum in Downtown August 25-28. Presented by Coastal Luxury Management and founding partners FOOD & WINE and Lexus, the celebration included an all-star lineup of entertainment, culinary rising stars and nationally accomplished celebrity chefs including Hugh Acheson, Duff Goldman, Tyler Florence, Elizabeth Falkner, Rick Bayless, Stephanie Izard, Antonia Lofaso, Aarón Sánchez, Fabio Viviani, Jet Tila, Brian Malarkey, Bruce Kalman and Jon Shook.
The festival kicked off with Amazon “Eat the World” hosted by Emeril Lagasse, who shared his globe-trekking adventures from his new show streaming on Amazon Prime, such as reuniting with fellow chef Aarón Sánchez who joined him on the Cuba episode over a nosh of Emeril’s Fried Chicken. Other highlights included bites of Corn Agnolotti with Truffle from Chef Ian Gresik’s (Drago Centro); Chef Ryan Denicola’s (Chi Spacca) unforgettable Charcuterie Board; and Chef Gregg Wiele (Patina) shaving fresh truffles as the aroma permeated several blocks of Grand Avenue.
The following evening, Eater Night Market featured ice cream sandwiches held snugly in cookies baked by Jon and Vinny served from Sweet Lucie’s Ice Cream truck; delectable sushi handrolls from Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill; Paul Lee (Patina) serving frozen foie gras with strawberry jam & candied pistachio; BadMaash’s sizzling lamb burger with spiced mayo on brioche bread; and Andrea Borgen (Barcito) serving “Smoking Young Gun” cocktails which was a hit among the imbibers.
Tyler Florence (Wayfarer Tavern) dished up scrumptious Shrimp and Grits during LIVE on Grand. The evening featured Nguyen Tran (Starry Kitchen) who donned his best banana suit while serving up Tofu Balls; Dakota Weiss (Sweetfin Poke, Estrella) who delivered fresh poke that flew off of the table alongside a summery and zingy Tomato Gazpacho; and Chef Fernando Darin (Ray’s & Stark Bar) who rolled out fresh spaghetti alla Chitarra, all before hip hop artists De La Soul were introduced by MC and festival founder, David Bernahl, as they took the stage electrifying the crowds.
Culminating in delicious last courses at the Lexus Grand Tasting, the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica was transformed as chefs including Bruce Kalman (Union, Knead & Co. Pasta Bar + Market) turned out mouthwatering bites of Grilled Octopus with chick pea conserva, housemade yogurt and dukkah; Chef Mark Mollica (La Vecchia Cucina) cooked up deep earth flavors of Portabello Mushroom and Truffle Raviolo; Halibut with Pineapple and Rice Noodle from Charles Phan (Slanted Door Group); and a decadent and over-the-top dessert bar from The Peninsula Beverly Hills complete with Habanero Honey Dew shooters.
