The upcoming Manhattan Beach Food & Wine Festival kicked off with a preview event at the Westdrift Manhattan Beach hotel on Monday September 30, 6:30pm.
Participating chefs and wineries shared their excitement with a preview of their Festival offerings. The featured delicacies included an heirloom tomato salad, a mushroom crostini, carne asada on a homemade tortilla, breaded pork and shortrib on Romesco sauce, a tuna poke from the Strand House, and a gingery, more Japanese take on the same dish served in a cone from Wolfgang Puck catering.
Desserts included meringues, macaroons and assorted chocolates flavored with botanicals like rose and lavender. Of course, there were plenty of libations from wineries, distilleries and non-alocolic beverages to wash it all down.
The inaugural Manhattan Beach Food & Wine Festival is planned as a spectacular two-night strolling culinary extravaganza with an Opening Night celebration on Friday October 11, and a Grand Tasting on Saturday October 12. The festival will showcase the industry’s top tastemakers and connoisseurs to celebrate an all-star lineup of chefs, restaurants, wineries, spirits, cocktails, breweries, and non-alcoholic beverages, along with live entertainment.
The culinary extravaganza will feature a lineup of 50 of the Best Chefs representing not only the local cities of Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, El Segundo, Los Angeles, but state-wide from Solvang, Palm Springs, San Francisco and beyond – from across North America, from Denver, New York, New Orleans, Vancouver, and Mexico.
The venue is a 40,000-square-foot outdoor space in Manhattan Village located at the end of the Veterans Parkway Greenbelt Path. The venue features a beautifully landscaped trail that runs through Manhattan Beach to Hermosa Beach.
The iconic waterfront dining destination Parkers’ Lighthouse in Shoreline Village, Long Beach is celebrating its 40-year anniversary.
Established in 1984 with a focus on fresh grilled fish, Parkers’ Lighthouse with breathtaking views of the Queen Mary and the Long Beach skyline, the restaurant has been a beloved Long Beach fixture, popular with both locals and visitors.
The restaurant’s unique dining spaces include a wrap-around outdoor deck, a lively bar and lounge as well as an elegant main dining room with balcony seating. Known for its fresh seafood, with a focus on fresh grilled fish, innovative dishes and exceptional service, the restaurant underwent significant renovations in 1999 and 2010, transforming its atmosphere and expanding the menu to include a variety of culinary offerings beyond seafood.
Inspired by the Pacific Ocean, the menu reflects the Southern California lifestyle, featuring shareable appetizers, sushi and sashimi, mesquite grilled fish, steak and homemade desserts. The bar offers award winning wines, beers, spirits and specialty cocktails.
The Queensview Steakhouse located at the top of Parkers’ Lighthouse with a spectacular 360° view of the waterfront offers a supper club dining experience with live music and an upscale menu that includes prime steaks, chops, lobster and freshly grilled fish.
The restaurant is now celebrating its big anniversary with the introduction of new throwback menu items designed to take diners back on a nostalgic culinary journey.
Each month through the end of 2024, the restaurant will feature a rotating selection of popular dishes from its storied past, so guests can enjoy new appetizers, entrées and desserts that harken back to the restaurant’s early days. These specials will be available for a limited time each month.
The August specialsfeatured appetizers Tuna Poke Nachos, Crispy wontons topped with Wasabi Aioli, Toasted Sesame Seeds, Wakame Seaweed and Curly Scallions that were served in 1999. Entrées included Penne with Rock Shrimp served in 1999 served with a Creamy Rossa Sauce, Basil and Parmesan. And dessert featured a decadent Mud Pie from 2010.
The throwback menu items are a tribute to our history, giving customers a chance to savor the flavors that have made the restaurant a cherished Long Beach destination for four decades, and the restaurant’s thank you to the guests who have supported it through the decades, bringing back memories and creating new ones.
The LA Chapter of Information Systems Security Association will host ISSA LA Summit 2024 & Women in Security Forum at the Annenberg Beach House on Wednesday, October 9 from 9am – 6pm at the Annenberg Beach House.
Billed as the biggest and most important gathering of information security professionals in Southern California, the all-day Summit will feature opening and closing talks, keynotes, panel discussions and speakers in multiple tracks to get you updated by world-class speakers on the latest Information Security trends and solutions. There will be a Vendor Expo, Career Center, networking opportunities with up to 8 CPE Credits.
The talk Golden Age of Dystopia will provide a critical analysis of key events and trends that have led to the current state, exploring how commercialization, mass surveillance and the rise of big data analytics have contributed to the erosion of digital privacy & security.
The once clear-cut world of cybersecurity is now a complex maze of data breaches and privacy regulation that has caused a surge in litigation and enforcement.
The explosion of valuable data and information is of enormous value in marketing and advertising, medical care, banking and finance, hospitality, and product development and what data is collected, stored and secured, used, and disposed of is currently under scrutiny by regulators, governments, and litigators, creating enormous pressure to protect sensitive data from misuse and theft. Talks will arm you with the latest strategies and skills that must be adopted to survive the courtroom.
With a nod to the election year comes a talk Cyber Threats Targeting Elections: Disinformation Campaigns, Ransomware Attacks, and the Rise of Political Extremism and Violence. With US democracy at risk from foreign enemies wanting to disrupt and derail the democratic process, the presentation explores various dimensions of cyber threats targeting elections such as disinformation campaigns and ransomware attacks to exploit the rise of political extremism and violence so you can better navigate the political information landscape.
Insights about how data, systems and technology either can promote or undermine legal defensibility, so speakers will share basic principles and strategies for designing and using technology for data handling to help advance legal goals and defensibility with compliance, contracting, audit, investigations, governance, incident management and response, and dealing with government and other investigations.
Contextual entitlements concept to access and process rights and privileges that users, services or groups have within specific contexts or situations can vary based on the environment, the role of the user or group, device trust, and legal or regulatory frameworks for cloud and on-premise access and differs from traditional static and binary sign-on platforms, so learn to identify and analyze the issues that influence contextual entitlements.
The talk, In-Depth Analysis of a Phishing Email case study provides an example of the kinds of analysis that goes into responding to a phishing email. This includes an in-depth technical analysis of the email, its attachment, and the websites the victim would interact with to show the kinds of digital forensics and online investigation skills when responding to a targeted phishing campaign.
Information Systems Security Association Los Angeles is a member-supported organization of information security professionals and practitioners. It provides educational forums and peer interaction opportunities to enhance the knowledge, skill and professional growth of the Cybersecurity and IT Community. ISSA-LA’s mission is to be the premier catalyst and information source in the Los Angeles community for improving the practice of information security.
For more information and tickets, please visit https://issala.org
The Los Angeles edition of America’s beloved, live-fire, open-air culinary experience Heritage Fire will take place at Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites in Los Angeles on Sunday, October 6 at 4:15pm, with an early VIP access at 3:30pm.
The all-inclusive, walk-around tour will feature a lineup of local chefs grilling globally inspired, heritage-breeds al fresco. The offerings include a wide array of meats and heirloom vegetables from the region’s top family farms and local purveyors to educate consumers and offer hands-on experience with ethically sourced food sourced straight from the farm to the table. The feast will be complemented by a variety of beverages from local wineries.
The all-star cast of top chefs from Los Angeles and beyond will include Phi Martin of Black Cat BBQ, Ben Diaz of Cork Fire Kitchen, Javier Lopez of 71Above, Uyen Le of Bé Ù, Marcos & Nayomie Mendoza of Cuernavaca’s Grill, Alex & Elvia Garcia of Evil Cooks, Daniel Castillo & Nick Echaore of Heritage Barbecue, Owen Jay Hankle of Smoke&Ashes, Robert Liberato of STK Steakhouse, Jackson Kalb of Jemma Hollywood, Lucy Haro of Qusqo, and more.
Free-flowing drinks will be available from Two Times Oak, Clink Different, El Jimador Tequila, Franciscan Estate, Freemark Abbey Napa Valley, Frey Ranch Farmers + Distillers, Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, Westward Whiskey, Garrison Brothers Distillery, Glenfiddich, J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines, Polemonium Wines, Diplomatic Rum, Rums of Puerto Rico, and Una Vodka. Non-alcoholic drinks include of LaCroix Sparkling Water. The event will also feature permanent jewelry by Link x Lou and a produce stand by Farm Lot 59.
Tickets include unlimited curated dishes, beverage pairings, live entertainment and more. The evening culminates with guests voting for the ‘Best Bite of the Day’ and the announcement of one Heritage Hero champion. Attendees must be 21+ to attend.
Project by Project will hold its annual fundraiser Plate by Plate at the Wallis Annenberg at California Science Center in Los Angeles on Saturday September 14, 6 – 10pm.
Asian American community’s top chefs, restaurants, leaders, beverage and culinary brands, leaders and influencers will gather to celebrate 24 years of philanthropy and service within the Southern California Asian American community.
The general admission ticket will include samples of signature dishes from over 25 restaurants. They include Marco Polo, Wildwonder, Kazu Nori, Brique, Farmhouse Kitchen, Masarap cafe, Yoboseyo Suprette, Emporium Thai, Jemma Hollywood, One Hot Minute, Sunmerry Bakery cafe, Yoju, Turok’s Cheesecakes, 626 Hospitality, Flouring, Alexander’s Steakhouse, Chubby foods, Meet Fresh, Easy Tomorrow, Carasau Restaurante, Rakkan Ramen, Intercrew LA, Banh Khot Lady, Mochima, and Cafe Dulce.
Drinks include Suntory, Pacific International Liquor, Krikori Rice Whiskey, Asahi, The Plug, Only Hydration, and Matchako.
A VIP ticket will include one hour of early access to the event, as well as an exclusive VIP-only lounge access.
Live entertainment to amp up the fun include peformances by violinist Jessica Chen and Cellist Henry Chen, lyra performers Ruby and Shelbee, dance by Miss Shu Mai, a magic show by Anna DeGuzman, and caricatures by James.
A silent auction will invite bids on gift cards from museums, entertainment parks, restaurants, and liquor brands.
And if you want still more fun, you can attend the highly celebrated after-party.
The theme for this this year’s event is Food Insecurity in AAPI Communities, highlighting the issue’s impact on access to healthy, culturally relevant food. Event proceeds benefit this year’s beneficiary partner Thai Community Development Center.
The three local chapters of Project by Project in Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco select a local AAPI non-profit partner annually to develop a year long partnership to consult, raise awareness and funds. For the past 26 years, PbP has championed philanthropic endeavors and partnered with over 50 AAPI non-profits in the three local communities with outreach, public awareness, and fundraising efforts in 19 campaign themes – from mental health, domestic violence, sustainability, homelessness, to even voter engagement and education access. The annual tasting benefit is one of PbP-LA’s signature events of the year.
For more information and tickets, please visit https://www.projectbyproject.org/ and https://www.platebyplate.org/los-angeles
The Omni Hotel downtown is offering a Jazz Brunch at its Grand Café on Sundays 10 AM – 3 pm.
They say you eat with your eyes as much as with your mouth, and that is part of the allure of buffets, and this bountiful Omni brunch spread certainly accomplished that.
For starters, there is large platter of assorted cheeses. A Greek yogurt parfait topped with fruit and granola was one of my favorites. The yogurt was so creamy, I was sure it had added cream, but the server assured me it didn’t.
Time to move on to fruit and vegetable salads.
Now come hot chafing dishes of your traditional breakfast items: bacon, sausages, scrambled eggs with roast potatoes, and egg white frittata, and French toast. You could also ask the chef to make you a fresh custom omelette.
The star of the buffet is a platter of chilled seafood that included peeled shrimp, fresh oysters, crab legs, and lox, all set up in a show stopping – or rather line stopping presentation.
And if that much seafood wasn’t enough, there was also another platter of grilled seafood that also included crawfish with corn and potatoes. Had I eaten crawfish before, I wondered. Hmm, couldn’t recall, so if I had, it must have been quite a while ago.
Now, it was time to move on to more substantial entrees. There was southern fried chicken with biscuits and gravy. There was also salmon, and another station with sliced prime rib and roast vegetables.
For the finishing touch, to fill up any nooks and crannies still remaining in your appetite, there were trays of an extensive assortment of desserts, and to wash it all down were drinks, including a mimosa flight of orange, pineapple, or cranberry. And of course, there was coffee and tea brought to you by attentive servers.
When we visited, Los Angeles was under a record heat spell that weekend, and the brunch had been temporarily moved from its usual Grand Station restaurant to its sister restaurant Noe, also at the Omni.
On a cooler day I would have definitely used the venue to put in a few more steps towards my daily quota walking around the Plaza, and also work off some of the calories that were probably outside the daily quota. I would have definitely ventured down a level below to the beautiful outdoor stage venue with its fountain backdrop that is home to Grand Performances, the free outdoor summer concert series. It never fails to bring back fond memories of some of the spectacular past performances there.
Or, I could have made a fuller day out of it by continuing on to the adjacent Museum of Contemporary Art, the Central Library, or The Broad or Walt Disney Concert Hall, all within walking distance.
But on this hottest day of the season in the city, it was just nice to be able to get out and spend a few hours just staying inside keeping cool, not doing anything more strenuous than sipping on the mimosa, looking out onto the outdoor patio and its sculptures beyond.
The Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills will present a special performance of the Chinese Acrobats of Hebei on Friday September 27.
The spectacular production combines Chinese traditions of incredible acrobatics, stunning costumes, and traditional props, all set to a fast paced soundtrack to keep things moving. The
acts combine various traditional skills of acrobatics, martial arts, bungee jumping, pole vaulting, hand balancing, and body contortion to evoke jaw dropping awe and delight.
The acrobats’ young and agile, age ranges from 19 – 25 and trained from childhood to become superbly skilled and highly accomplished marvels of what the human mind and body can accomplish as they flip, jump and dive through multiple hoops, and contort their bodies while in motion.
The comical Chinese Lion performance is a highlight that features costumed performers creating the antics of the Lion’s playfulness.
The Chinese pole climbing tradition goes back centuries, documented in drawings over 1000 years old, but has evolved with new movements such as jumping from one pole to the other with swift descent.
The jar in the jar juggling was originally a grain containerused by the peasants to perform various feats celebrating a harvest. Later, it was adapted by acrobats to show off steadiness with simplicity.
Contortionism was a favorite of Chinese emperors, especially the delicate balancing of a multitude of fish bowls, wine glasses, candles, or crystal glasses.
Chair Stacking involves common household items becoming props in the hands of talented acrobats. Performed solo and in groups, a stack of chairs can reach over two stories high with acrobats balanced precariously on top.
Hat Jugglers are fast paced and precise in a comedicl choreography.
Plate Spinning performed by female performers in a graceful ballet as they balance numerous bamboo sticks that have plates spinning on top.
Various kinds of Martial Arts, with or without weapons involve grappling and blows using hands and elbows as a percussion.
The troupe has performed internationally – in South Africa, South Pacific, Korea, United Kingdom, and now debuts in the United States. In case you miss the performance at Saban, you have another opportunity to see it on 9/28 at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center.
The Los Angeles Times will again host Food Bowl, its annual culinary festival celebrating Southern California’s evolving food scene at the Paramount Pictures Studios Backlot. Cookbook authors and renowned chefs from hundreds of restaurants will delight foodies with cooking demonstrations, cookbook signings and unlimited tastings from top restaurants, with libations from wineries, breweries and distilleries, against a backdrop of live music and DJ sets.
Friday, Sept. 20, 8 – 11 p.m, with VIP early entry at 7 p.m kicks off the weekend celebration. Food Bowl will honor The Times Restaurant of the Year, Baroo, and Gold Award honoree, Mariscos Jalisco, with a special awards presentation hosted by The Times Food team. Baroo and Mariscos Jalisco will also serve special bites for VIP ticket holders, prior to general admission entry. The L.A. Times Food Stage will feature talks, demonstrations and cookbook signings by award-winning chefs and social media food stars, including Josh Scherer, of The Mythical Cookbook and Tue Nguyen of Di An. The VIP lounge will feature exclusive tastings from Michelin-starred chef Jordan Kahn of Meteora and James Beard award-winning chef Dave Beran of Pasjoli and cocktails from Level 8 by Beverage Director Melina Meza.
Participating restaurants include Amiga Amore, Azizam, Ban Ban Burger, Baroo, Bee Taqueria, Cento, Chao Krung & Tuk Tuk Thai, Checker Hall, Crudo e Nudo, East Side Cheesecakes, Evil Cooks, Guelaguetza, Guzzu Bento-ya, Hatchet Hall, Holey Grail Donuts, HomeState, III Mas Bakery & Deli, Jitlada, Luv2eat Thai Bistro, Mariscos Jalisco, McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams, Mírate, Paradise Dynasty & Le Shrimp Noodle Bar, Perilla LA, Pink Taco, Rita’s Deluxe, Ronan, Saltie Girl, Saucy Chick Goat Mafia, Si! Mon, SoulPhil, Spoon & Pork, Sushi Nikkei, Villa’s Tacos and Wife and the Somm.
Saturday, Sept. 21, 7 – 10 pm,with VIP early entry at 6 pm. Saturday’s festivities will include unlimited tastings from more than 40 restaurants, demos and cookbook signings from Tamron Hall and Lish Steiling of A Confident Cook and Owen Han of Stacked: The Art of the Perfect Sandwich, plus a cooking demo from William Tew of Cathay Pacific and Adrienne Borlongan of Wanderlust Creamery Presents: The World of Ice Cream, with a signing to follow, presented by Cathay Pacific & Hong Kong Tourism Board. Saturday’s VIP lounge will honor the top two restaurants on The Times 101 Best Restaurants of 2023 list, with bites from Michelin-starred chef Jon Yao of Kato and James Beard-award winning chef Justin Pichetrungsi of Anajak Thai, plus specialty cocktails from the Mírate bar by Beverage Director Maxwell Reis.
Participating restaurants include 626 Hospitality Group, Bar Chelou, Baroo, Bistro Na’s, Borekas Sephardic Pastries, The Brothers Sushi, Budonoki x Mini Kabob, Burritos La Palma, Chichén Itzá, Cobi’s, Donna’s, DulanVILLE, El Ruso, Evil Cooks, Fluffy McCloud’s, Heng Heng Chicken Rice, Holbox, Holy Basil, Hui Tou Xiang, Jeff’s Table, LaSorted’s, Lei’d Cookies, Little Fatty & Fatty Mart, Love & Salt, Moo’s Craft Barbecue, OyBar, Pizzana, Poltergeist, Ponchos Tlayudas, Steep LA, Stella, Trophies Burger Club, Tsubaki, Wanderlust Creamery and XUNTOS.
Sunday, Sept. 22, 12 – 3 pm, with VIP early entry at 11 am. Food Bowl’s finale will feature an afternoon of tastings, music and live demos for all ages, including cookbook signings and demonstrations by award-winning chefs Nancy Silverton of The Cookie that Changed My Life, and Sara Kramer and Sarah Hymanson of Kismet: Bright, Fresh, Vegetable-Loving Recipes, plus author and social media star Yumna Jawad of The Feel Good Foodie Cookbook). Sunday VIP guests will also enjoy bites from chef Drew Rosenberg of CUT Beverly Hills and chef Jesus “Chuy” Cervantes of Damian with specialty cocktails from Level 8 by Beverage Director Melina Meza.
Participating restaurants include All About the Cinnamon, Amphai Northern Thai Food Club, Apollonia’s Pizzeria, Ayara Thai, Baar Baar, Baroo, Brique French Toastery, The Brothers Sushi, Camphor, Ceci’s Gastronomia, Cha ReDefine, Dino’s Famous Chicken, DOMESTIC, El Ruso, Evil Cooks, Grá, Hamasaku, Janté Cheesecakes, LaSorted’s, Lucky Bird, Lustig, Maison Matho, Mayura Indian Restaurant, Ocean Prime Beverly Hills, OyBar, Petit Trois, Petramale Pizza, Pop’s Bagels, Socalo, Steep LA, Stir Crazy, Tacos 1986, Voodoo Vin and The Waterfront.
L.A. Regional Food Bank is returning as the charity partner of Food Bowl. VIP tickets, provide early entry, access to exclusive food and drink offerings in a VIP lounge and onsite parking.
For more information and tickets, please visit lafoodbowl.com.
