Los Angeles Food & Wine Celebrates Citywide Success

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- This weekend, more than 15,000 guests enjoyed nearly 70 events at the first annual Los Angeles Food & Wine, which gathered 100 celebrity chefs and 300 world-class wineries for a four-day epicurean celebration, headquartered at the internationally renowned L.A. LIVE sports and entertainment district as well as locations throughout the city, including Santa Monica and Beverly Hills.  

Highlights from the inaugural event included:

Red Carpet Premiere

To kick-off the debut of Los Angeles Food & Wine, all-star talent in culinary and entertainment walked the red carpet at Nokia Plaza L.A. LIVE including Adam Taki, Alana Curry, Bai Ling, Ben Spungin (Bernardus; Carmel, CA), Bill Corbett (Absinthe; San Francisco), Bradley Ogden, Brandon Johnson, Craig Von Foerster, Daniel Boulud, Dave Bautista, David Myers (Comme Ca; Los Angeles), Debi Mazur, Donald Wressell, Eduardo Xol, Elizabeth Falkner (Citizen Cake; San Francisco), Eric Stonestreet, Giada De Laurentiis, Grace Valerie, Graham Elliot, Hiro Sone, Hubert Keller (Fleur de Lys; San Francisco), Iqbal Theba, Jesse Williams, Joachim Splichal (Patina; Los Angeles), John Lechleidner, John Sedlar (Playa, Rivera; Los Angeles), Jonathan Grahm, Josh Sussman, Josiah Citrin (Melisse; Santa Monica, CA), Kari Whitman, Kathy Griffin, Kent Torrey, Kerry Simon (Simon LA), Kyle Richards, Lydia Shire, Mary Sue Milliken (Border Grill; Los Angeles), Megan Logan, Michael B. Jordan, Michael Cimarusti (Providence; Los Angeles), Michael Ginor (Hudson Valley Foie Gras), Michael Mina , Nona Sivley, Ricardo Zarate (Picca; Los Angeles), Robert Del Grande, Sam Choy (Kai Lanai; Hawaii), Sara Johannes, Sharon Lawrence, Susan Feniger (STREET, Border Grill; Los Angeles), Tim Love (The Lonesome Dove; Dallas, TX), and Tony Esnault (Patina; Los Angeles).  Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, celebrated chef Wolfgang Puck and GRAMMY® award-winning producer and American Idol judge Randy Jackson took the stage to launch the festivities.  Jackson made his debut appearance as a DJ, in addition to a live performance by The Canyons.

For images: LAFW Red Carpet Premiere

Lexus 'LIVE on the Plaza'

The ultimate pairing of dining and entertainment, Lexus 'LIVE on the Plaza' featured signature dishes from 30 top chefs and 200 wines and drew celebrities including Kyle Richards, Santino Rice and acclaimed chefs such as Wolfgang Puck, Masaharu Morimoto, Scott Conant (Scarpetta), Nancy Silverton (Mozza), Nobu Matsuhisa, Christopher Kostow (Meadowood; Napa, CA) and Paul Prudomme.  Guests enjoyed an extraordinary concert from multi-GRAMMY® award-winning, platinum-selling artists, TRAIN.  

For images: Lexus 'Live on the Plaza'

Guy Fieri's Brew B'Que on the Santa Monica Pier

Food Network star Guy Fieri joined forces with rock and rap rock musician/songwriter Uncle Kracker and DJ Cobra for the first Brew B'Que on the famed Santa Monica Pier.  Guests including Kathy Griffin and Dana Delaney enjoyed barbeque creations from chefs Tim Love (The Lonesome Dove; Dallas, TX), Chris Cosentino (Incanto; San Francisco), Roy Choi (Kogi,  A-Frame; Los Angeles, CA), and Charles Phan (The Slanted Door; San Francisco) in addition to selections from local and international breweries.

For images: Please inquire about photos from this event

Decadence - LA's Sweetest After Party

America's best pastry chefs, joined by Los Angeles' queen of desserts Sherry Yard (Spago), hosted the white-hot after party, Decadence on the Event Deck at L.A. LIVE, with lively beats courtesy of drummer, DJ, music journalist and record producer Questlove.  The evening was sinfully sweet thanks to chefs Elizabeth Falkner (Citizen Cake; San Francisco), Duff Goldman (Food Network's Ace of Cakes), Gina DePalma (Babbo; NYC), Johnny Iuzzini (Top Chef Desserts), Claudia Fleming (Gramercy Tavern; NYC) and more.

For images: Please inquire about photos from this event

Wolfgang Puck's Sunday Brunch & Charity Auction

On the final day of the inaugural Los Angeles Food & Wine, Wolfgang Puck hosted an exclusive brunch at the newly reopened Hotel Bel-Air to support St. Vincent Meals on Wheels, raising approximately $400,000.  Guests including Les Moonves, Julie Chen, Sidney Poitier, James Caan, Paul Anka, and more attended the sold-out Sunday brunch created by acclaimed chefs Nobu Matsuhisa, Paul Bartolotta, Michel Richard (Citronelle; Washington, DC), Joachim Splichal (Patina), Rory Herrmann (Bouchon), Douglas Keane (Cyrus; Healdsburg, CA), Craig Von Foerster (The Post Ranch Inn; Sierra Mar), and pastry chefs Francois Payard and Sherry Yard (Spago).

For images: Please inquire about photos from this event

Please contact Vanessa Vega, [email protected], for additional images and video content.

Headquartered at the internationally renowned L.A. LIVE sports and entertainment district as well as locations throughout the city, including Santa Monica and Beverly Hills, Los Angeles Food & Wine set the stage as the country's first crossover culinary event that matches personalities from television, film, music and sport with celebrity chefs.  A portion of the proceeds benefits St. Vincent Meals On Wheels, raising awareness for the culinary community with the extraordinary talent provided by Coastal Luxury Management, dick clark productions (dcp) and AEG.  For more information, go to www.lafw.com or call 1-877-234-8425.

Media Contacts:
Baltz & Company for Coastal Luxury Management
Vanessa Vega/ 646-387-1749/ [email protected]
Jessica Kumins/ 212-982-8300/ [email protected]

dickclark productions, inc.
Lynda Dorf/ 424-645-4620/ [email protected]
Brian Rubin/ 310-225-4602/ [email protected]

AEG
Michael Roth/ 213-742-7155/ [email protected]
Cassandra Zebisch/ 213-763-7712/ [email protected]

SOURCE Los Angeles Food & Wine