LOS ANGELES FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL RETURNS FOR ITS EIGHTH YEAR OF EXTRAORDINARY EPICUREAN EXPERIENCES

Are you ready!?

Expanding to five days, the city’s most anticipated culinary event features renowned chef talent personalities, including Curtis Stone, Antonia Lofaso, Tiffani Thiessen, Aarón Sánchez, Mary Sue Milliken & Susan and more, with a live DJ set by Questlove

Presented by founding partners FOOD & WINE and Lexus, Los Angeles Food & Wine returns August 22-26, 2018 with its 8th annual all-star chef lineup and exclusive programming. Featuring a dynamic blend of nationally-acclaimed star chefs as well as Los Angeles’ most-celebrated restaurants, the festivities include tasting events hosted by culinary luminaries along Downtown’s Grand Avenue, afternoons at the Lexus Grand Tasting at The Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, as well as an exclusive Kick-Off Dinner and Power Lunch series, bringing some of the country’s top talent to the city of angels. Voted Southern California’s #1 Food, Wine & Hospitality Event for the past six years by BizBash, Los Angeles Food & Wine is this summer’s highly anticipated, can’t-miss food festival.
Featuring four nights and five days of unparalleled tastings, lunches, dinners, cooking demonstrations, and more; some of the festival’s marquee events and talent this year include:

Wednesday, August 22

A brand-new Kick-Off Dinner Series begins the festivities this year, taking place at two beloved Los Angeles restaurants, including:

Lasa – FOOD & WINE’S “Best New Chef” Jon Yao (Kato Restaurant) joins chef Chad Valencia at his highly touted “Best New Restaurant” winning spot.
Big Boi – Widely loved for her desserts, Barb Batiste (B Sweet Dessert Bar) teams up with Alvin Cailan at her new fast-casual Filipino concept on the Westside

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:

Named Eater L.A.’s “Most Exciting New Restaurant and Lounge,” the highly- anticipated DAMA at City Market South in Downtown’s fashion district hosts Antonia Lofaso (Black Market Liquor Bar, Scopa Italian Roots) as she teams up with New Orleans’ Aarón Sánchez for a four-course lunch.

Enjoy an exclusive luncheon hosted by James Beard-nominated chef Casey Lane at Breva’s Gran Sala, alongside the creative and talented Joey Elenterio of Paligroup and King of Caviar Michael Passmore of Passmore Ranch.

At local hangout and can’t-miss tourist hot spot Rose Café in Venice, chef Jason Neroni keeps to what the community knows and loves. He’s excited to welcome FOOD & WINE’S Best New Chef Jon Yao of Kato and Seattle’s James Beard Award-winning Brady Williams for a laid-back afternoon on the patio and good vibes, great food, and a perfect summer playlist from Neroni himself.

Indulge at one of the city’s top Italian dining destinations, Rossoblu, where chef Steve Samson creates a memorable lunch inspired by summers spent in Bologna, Italy. Samson joins James Beard Award winner for Best Chef Southwest, Denver’s Alex Seidel, who is soon to open a new fast-casual rotisserie chicken concept, CHOOK.

Chef Michael Reed, helming from Osteria Mozza and Michelin-starred Sona, teams up with Food Network’s Robert Irvine for a quintessential, breezy-beachy lunch at the adored Viviane in the Avalon Hotel Beverly Hills. With these two powerhouse chefs, there’s no limit to what kind of magic this dynamic duo will whip up in 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, known for his Grammy Award-winning band The Roots, as well as his role on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.”

The Lexus Grand Tasting at The Barker Hangar on Saturday and Sunday afternoon 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 Seidel.

LAFW.com for updates and details on the full programming of events, chefs, wineries, sommeliers, and mixologists participating at the 8th Annual Los Angeles Food & Wine festival.

When:

Wednesday, August 22 through Sunday, August 26, 2018

Headquartered in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles, with main events taking place directly in front of the iconic Walt Disney Concert Hall and The Broad museum (with closures along Grand Avenue, between 1st and 3rd street), the 8th annual Los Angeles Food & Wine festival features tastings, dinners, lunches, seminars, cooking demonstrations, and special events located across parts of greater Los Angeles, including Downtown, Venice, Beverly Hills, Hollywood, and more.

On sale now, tickets for individual events range from $125-225, with additional package and VIP options, and are available to purchase by visiting LAFW.com or by calling 855-433-LAFW (5239)