The Divine Dish

LA Food & Wine Festival Kicks Off

Posted on Aug 22, 2013 under Archives, Los Angeles | No Comment

Over 120 chefs and 200 wineries will converge beginning tonight for four days and nights for the third annual Los Angeles Food & Wine Festival taking place along Grand Avenue, in Santa Monica and in Beverly Hills.  Tastings, seminars, cooking demos and live music are all part of the city’s largest epicurean gathering.

The festivities kicked off tonight with Giada’s Festa Italiana. Hosted by the Food Network star along the cultural hub of LA on Downtown’s Grand Ave., guests enjoyed the flavors of Italy by some of the city’s most renowned chefs including Gino Angelini (Rivabella), Fabio Viviani (Café Firenze), and Ori Menashe (Bestia), and vintners that include Barrymore Wines, while serenaded by a pop-up performance from the Los Angeles Opera’s Josh Guerrero.

Members of the press (that’s me) got to enter a half hour early.  Here is what I sampled and saw:

Most of the wine booths were down the middle of the red carpet with the food booths on the side.

Wolfgang Puck even had a wine.  And that’s Chef Gino Angelini (Rivabella) hanging out before the crowds came in.

Along with lots of wine, there was plenty of great Italian food.

Sponsors The Cosmopolitan and Jenn Air had a lounge and a big booth.

And lots of chefs, restaurants and food.

Chef Justin Smillie from Il Buco Alimentari & Vineria brought some fresh tomatoes.

The Bouchon booth was very crowded and Chef Thomas Keller did not want to take a pic by himself, so he obliged me and jumped up next to one of his chefs.

Chef Conant was amongst the crowd.

Looking forward to trying the new Bucato in Century City.

Tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday there are many more events for foodies to enjoy lots of great food.  To see the schedule and buy tickets, go to www.lafw.com,