Chefs

Time to Plan Your Plate!

The much anticipated two-night culinary celebration 3rd Annual Manhattan Beach Food & Wine will return to its new home at westdrift Manhattan Beach on Friday, September 25 and 26 at 7pm, with a Delta VIP early entry pass at 6pm.

Each evening will feature  a Grand Tasting with an all-star lineup of 23 top chefs and restaurants, wineries, premier spirits, handcrafted cocktails, craft breweries, and non-alcoholic options;  live entertainment and brand activations add to the fun.  Both Tastings begin at 7pm, with a Delta VIP early entry an hour earlier at 6pm.

The Greater Los Angeles chef roster includes event host Neal Fraser (Redbird • Vibiana), Vartan Abgaryan (Momed), Kasra Adjani (Google), Yoshiyasu Aiba (Sushi Roku in Manhattan Beach), Deau Aprapornnoparat (Holy Basil), Jose Baca (westdrift in Manhattan Beach), Brendan Collins (BOA Steakhouse in Manhattan Beach), Shaun Dry (Rock’N Fish in Manhattan Beach), Susan Feniger (Alice B. • Border Grill • Socalo), Marco Gagliardi (Josephine), Ray Garcia (Broken Spanish Comedor), Jeffray Gardner (Marsatta Chocolate in Torrance), Anthony Greco (Porto’s Bakery), Joel Hammond (Uchi West Hollywood), Ray Hayashi (Ryla in Hermosa Beach), Imran Khan (Fitoor), Ludo Lefebvre (Petit Trois), David LeFevre (Fishing with Dynamite • MB Post • The Arthur J • Ryla • AttaGirl in Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach), Lord Maynard Llera (Kuya Lord), Christy Lucchese (Wife and the Somm), Raphael Lunetta (Lunetta), Alice Mai (AttaGirl in Hermosa Beach), Jayro Martinez (Top of the V in Anaheim), Chris Park (The Strand House in Manhattan Beach), Wendy Pomerantz (Bertha Mae’s Brownie Co.), Michael Reed (Poppy + Rose • Poppy & Seed), Ligia Rossi (République), Steve Samson (Rossoblu), Alan Sanz (Mirate • Daisy Margarita Bar), Frank Ryan Saporito (Wife and the Somm), Rudy Suazo (Maple Block Meat Co.), John Sungkamee (Emporium Thai • Emporium Thai Market), Oscar Torres (Verse), Dustin Trani (J. Trani’s • The Majestic • Trani’s Dockside Station), Sherry Yard (Bakery by the Yard in Manhattan Beach), and Culinary Careers Students (C•CAP).

Talent from outside California includes Dean Fearing (Fearing’s in Dallas, TX), Ben Robinson (Bravo’s Below Deck in Fort Lauderdale, FL), Aarón Sánchez (Johnny Sánchez in New Orleans, LA), and Alex Seidel (Mercantile Dining & Provisions in Denver, CO).

Wineries include Accolade Wines, Ascension Cellars, Au Bon Climat Winery, Bianchi Winery & Tasting Room, Cambria Winery, Cantara Cellars, DeLiese Cellars, Eberle Winery, Four Brix Winery, Giessinger Winery, Halter Ranch Vineyard, Mystic Hills Vineyard, Navarro Vineyards, Opolo Vineyards, Rancho Ventavo Cellars, Vinemark Cellars, and Wedell Cellars. 

Poured alongside will be small-batch spirits like Jackson McCrea Whiskey and an array of craft brews, and cocktails by regional mixologists, and non-alcoholic innovators. 

The event  will be held at its new home at westdrift Manhattan Beach that sits on 26 acres, a convenient three miles from LAX.  The 393-room luxury resort features a nine-hole golf course, a  resort-style pool, CrossFit-inspired fitness center, and the JUTE Coastal Bar + Kitchen.  

Although the hotel provides self and valet parking options along with street parking, guests are encouraged to use transportation services as the event serves alcoholic beverages.  The hotel will be offering event packages, inviting guests to stay, sip, savor for a memorable weekend.

The event beneficiary is C•CAP, a workforce development nonprofit that provides underserved teens pathways to pursue careers in the restaurant and hospitality industry. Long co-chaired by chef Marcus Samuelsson,  C•CAP operates in 186  schools across the United States.

This year’s event partners  include Delta Air Lines as the official  Airline, westdrift Manhattan Beach as the official host hotel, San Pellegrino as the official water, Chef Works as the official hospitality apparel, Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Cove as the official kitchen appliance, and Southern California Restaurant Design Group as the official commercial kitchen designer.

For more information on this year’s 2026 Hotel Packages  www.ManhattanBeachFoodandWine.com.

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The inaugural Hollywood on the Coast Food & Wine will land at the iconic Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows in Santa Monica below its iconic Moreton fig tree  on Saturday June 13, 2026.  The one-night-only strolling culinary celebration  is expected to draw some 750  guests from across the entertainment industry and Los Angeles’ thriving food and beverage community.  Hollywood on the Coast Food & Wine brings an opportunity to experience an all-star lineup in a coastal setting.

The inaugural All-Star Chef Lineup includes: Host Chef Neal Fraser of Redbird and Vibiana in Downtown Los Angeles, Chef Josiah Citrin of Mélisse and Citrin in Santa Monica,  Chef Ben Ford of Galerie on Sunset in West Hollywood, Chef Govind Armstrong of The Lobster in Santa Monica, Chef Raphael Lunetta of Lunetta in Santa Monica, Chef Tal Ronnen of Crossroads Kitchen in Los Angeles, Chef Dustin Trani of Trani’s Dockside Station in San Pedro,  Chef Frank Ryan Saporito of Wife and the Somm in Los Angeles, Chef John Sungkamee of Emporium Thai and Emporium Thai Market in Los Angeles,  Chef Sandra Cordero of Xuntos in Santa Monica, Chef Sonnie Gomez of Calabra in Santa Monica, Chef Joseph Cook of FIG Restaurant in Santa Monica, and Chef Jennifer Naylor of Jennifer Naylor Catering & Special Events in Malibu.  More chefs are expected to be added to the roster.

Beverage offerings include notable wineries Fun Mom Wines, Grosso Kresser Vineyard, Patiné Cellars, Saracina, and Taub Family Vineyards; top spirits Luna Nueva Tequila, El Negocio Tequila and SKORPIOS 1618; Handcrafted Cocktails Knox & Dobson and Rancho La Gloria; non-alcoholic craft brewery RationAle; as well as  a selection of top non-alcoholic beverages. 

The evening will also feature live entertainment and immersive experiences.

All proceeds from the evening will benefit two top entertainment industry charities –  Variety’s The Children’s Charity of Southern California, which provides critical support and resources to children with special needs and their families, and the Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation, which has providing financial assistance and services to industry professionals for over 90 years. 

Partners include Delta Air Lines, Universal Pictures, KTLA, Focus Features, Santa Monica Travel & Tourism, Melissa’s Produce, Dolby, Southern California Restaurant Design Group, IVY Capital Management, iHeartRadio, Ice Bulb, KFI AM 640, KOST 103.5 and Los Angeles magazine.

Regular Admission hours are 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm, with a Delta VIP ticket one hour earlier at 6:00 pm. For more information and tickets,  please visit www.HollywoodontheCoast.com.

With the much anticipated culinary festival Masters of Taste 2026 on Sunday, April 19 approaching fast, the lineup of participating Masters and Restaurants keeps getting more impressive and building up the excitement!

Heading the lineup are 2026 Event Hosts Chef Vanessa Tilaka Kalb & Chef Thomas Tilaka Kalb of Agnes Restaurant and Cheesery in Pasadena. 

Joining them are:  Alexander’s Steakhouse Chef Edgar Reyna of  Pasadena, Palo Alto, San Francisco, Cupertino,  Angelenos’ Wood Fired Pizza Chef Carmen Samaniego of Highland Park, Arth Bar + Kitchen Chef Mihir Lad of Culver City,  Ayara Thai Chef Vanda Asapahu & Chef Cathy Asapahu of Westchester, Bianca Sicilian Trattoria Chef Michele Galifi of Downtown Los Angeles, BOA Steakhouse Chef Brendan Collins of West Hollywood, Santa Monica, Manhattan Beach, Austin, Bone Kettle Chef Erwin Tjahadi of Pasadena, Casa Cordoba Chef Eric Zeda of Montrose, Celestino Ristorante Chef Calogero Drago of Pasadena, Chaaste Family Market Chef Christian Esteban of Pasadena, City Club Los Angeles Chef Armando Quiroz of Downtown Los Angeles, Descanso Restaurant Chef Rob Arellano of Los Angeles, Costa Mesa, Dorasti Caviar of Los Angeles, Emporium Thai & Emporium Thai Market Chef Jane Sungkamee & Chef Gina Sungkamee of Westwood, Los Angeles, Fat Boys Chef Michael Gray of Pasadena, Los Angeles, Fitoor Santa Monica Chef Imran Khan of Santa Monica, San Jose, Granville Pasadena Chef Marc Dix of Pasadena, Burbank, Studio City, West Hollywood, North Hollywood, Harold & Belle’s Chef Ryan Legaux of Los Angeles, Le Shrimp Noodle Bar Chef Eddie (Boon Chun) Foo of Glendale, Costa Mesa, Irvine, Love & Salt Chef Chris Feldmeier of Manhattan Beach, Lunasia Dimsum House Chef Han Fu Lee of Pasadena, Alhambra, Cerritos, Torrance,  Mama M Sushi Chef Supachai Paengkariya of Pasadena, Maple Block Meat Co. Chef Rodolfo Suazo of Culver City, Marina Chef Sandro Hernandez of Pasadena, Mercado Chef Jose Acevedo of Pasadena, Hollywood, Manhattan Beach, Paloma Chef John Parker of Santa Barbara, Paradise Dynasty Chef Joe Chan & Chef Hoi Kin Li of Glendale, Panda Inn Chef Aiguo Yang of Pasadena, Pez Cantina & Pez Coastal Kitchen Chef Bret Thompson of Downtown Los Angeles, Pasadena, Poppy + Rose Chef Michael Reed of Downtown Los Angeles, Porto’s Bakery & Café of Pasadena, Northridge, Buena Park, Burbank, Downey, Glendale, West Covina, Ramen Tatsunoya , Chef Ryuta Kajiwara of Pasadena, Costa Mesa, Rice Balls of Fire Chef Jorman Herrera of Arieta, STK Steakhouse Chef Dennis Cruz of Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Topanga, StopBye Café of Lynwood, Sushi Roku Chef Tetsu Terashima of Pasadena, Santa Monica, Manhattan Beach, Newport Beach, Palo Alto, and Thai Mex Cocina of Los ngeles,  The Exchange Restaurant Chef Narita Santos of Downtown Los Angeles, The Italian Deli Co. Chef Lalo of Pasadena, The Second Wind Chef Theo Shio of El Segundo, Truffle Brothers Michael Pietroiacovo & Marco Pietroiacovo of Los Angeles, Ubatuba Acai Chef Daniela Demetrio of Pasadena, Melrose, Santa Monica, Koreatown, Silverlake, Studio City, UCHI West Hollywood Chef Joel Hammond of West Hollywood, Union Station Homeless Services Chef Marisa Gamboa of Pasadena, Wife and the Somm Chef Frank Ryan Saporito of Glassell Park, Yakiya Chef Hualing Zhang of Pasadena, and Zira Uzbek Kitchen Chef Azim Rahmatov of West Hollywood.

The Sweet Masters lineup includes: All About the Cinnamon, Bertha Mae’s Brownies, deliciously scrumptious scratch baked custom cakes from Cakes By Chanté, Delight Pastry, Hello You’re Welcome, ID-Éclair, Läderach Switzerland, cupcakes from Lark Cake Shop, Magpies Softserve, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Pazzo Gelato, Perlas Ice Cream, Porto’s Bakery & Café, Rico Rico Snack Carts, and The Pink Cookie by The Pink Everything.

Participating Beverage Masters include Bars & Spirits: Above Board Liqueurs, Broda Vodka, Broken Shaker at Freehand Los Angeles, Burden of Proof (Non-Alcoholic Bottle Shop & Market), Dulce Vida Tequila, Empress 1908 Gin, Knox & Dobson, La Bay Gin Distillerie Californienne, Lyre’s (Crafted Non-Alcoholic Spirits), Mario’s Hard Espresso, Nosotros Tequila & Mezcal, Old Hillside Bourbon Company, Savage Rabbit Distribution, Shelter Distilling, Shinju Japanese Whisky, Smoke Lab Vodka, Subourbon Life, The Raymond 1886, Ventura Spirits and Xoloitzcuintle Tequila.

The Brewmasters lineup includes All Season Brewing, Arts District Brewing Company, Boomtown Brewery, Bücha Whole Fruit Hard Kombucha, Pasadena’s Cerveceria Del Pueblo, HOP WTR (Non-Alcoholic, Zero-Calorie, and Carbonated Beverage), Arcadia’s first Microbrewery Mt. Lowe Brewing Co., Paperback Brewing Co., and San Fernando Brewing Co.

Wine and Sake Masters showcasing their varietals include Akagisan Sake premium boutique winery Ascension Cellars, Clif Family Winery & Farm, CRŪ Winery, LMA Wines, Meadows Estate Vineyard & Winery, Anderson Valley’s Navarro Vineyards, Sake High!, San Simeon Wines, and Warson Wine Company.

Non-Alcoholic Beverage Masters include Exclusive Water Master PepsiCo, refreshing Bawi Agua Fresca, Fever-Tree, Pucker Up Lemonade Company, boba milk tea from Sunright Tea Studio, and Good Intentions Coffee.

The Masters of Taste event will be open  4:00 pm to 7:00 for General Admission, with a VIP Hour one hour earlier from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm.  Every dollar raised at the 2026 Masters of Taste event will benefit the work of Union Station Homeless Services fighting to end homelessness, raising over $3.5 million over the last seven years.

For more information and tickets, you can download the official Masters of Taste App on the AppStore or Google Playplease, or visit https://mastersoftastela.com/tickets.

Los Angeles’ much anticipated food and beverage festival Masters of Taste will return for its eighth annual edition to the  Pasadena Rose Bowl Stadium  on Sunday, April 19, 3:00-7:00pm.  It is expected to attract over 3,000 food and beverage enthusiasts.

The festival will feature tastings from over hundred Culinary Masters and desserts by Sweet Masters, with a long lineup including:  Agnes, Alexander’s Steakhouse, All About The Cinnamon, Ayara Thai, Bertha Mae’s Brownie Co., Bianca Sicilian Trattoria, BOA Steakhouse, Cakes By Chante, Casa Cordoba, Celestino Ristorante, Chaaste Family Market, City Club Los Angeles, Delight Pastry, Descanso Restaurant, Dorasti, Emporium Thai, Fitoor Santa Monica, Harold & Belle’s Restaurant, ID-Eclair, Knox & Dobson, Lark Cake Shop, Love & Salt, Lyre’s, Magpies Softserve, Marina Restaurant, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Paradise Dynasty,  Paloma, Pazzo Gelato, Perlas Ice Cream, Pez Coastal Kitchen, Poppy + Rose, Porto’s Bakery & Cafe, Ramen Tatsunoya, Rico Rico Snack Carts LLC, Sushi Roku, STK Steakhouse, The Exchange Restaurant (Freehand LA), The Italian Deli Co, The Raymond 1886, The Second Wind, Truffle Brothers, Uchi West Hollywood, and Zira Uzbek Kitchen.  More are expected to be added on. 

Beverage Masters will offer signature handcrafted cocktail tastings from over 25 spirit brands and top cocktail bars, wineries, local craft breweries, cold-pressed juices, and cold brew coffee.  The list includes Above Board Liqueurs, Akagisan Sake, All Season Brewing Company, Arts District Brewing Company, Broda Vodka, Broken Shaker, Bücha Whole Fruit Hard Kombucha, Burden of proof, Empress 1908 Gin, Fever Tree, Good Intentions Coffee, La Bay Gin Distillerie Californienne, Laderach, Meadows Estate Vineyard And Winery, Navarro Vineyards, Old Hillside Bourbon, Paperback Brewing, Paloma, Paperback Brewing, Pucker Up Lemonade Company, and Sake High! 

This year’s host chefs are acclaimed husband-and-wife team Chef Thomas and Chef Vanessa Tilaka Kalb of Agnes Restaurant & Cheesery who are known for their ingredient-driven approach and for their impact on Pasadena’s dining scene and have earned a devoted following.

All event proceeds directly benefit Union Station Homeless Services, a non-profit organization that for over 50 years has provided  homeless housing and services.  Over the last seven years, Masters of Taste has raised over $3.5 million, helping countless families and individuals find a secure place to call home, along with supportive services.

General Admission is from 4:00-7:00 pm, with a VIP Hour from 3:00-4:00 pm. For more information and tickets, please visit https://mastersoftastela.com/tickets.  You can also  download the official Masters of Taste App on the Apple Store or Google Play.

Emporium Thai launched its 26th anniversary celebration on Monday, March 16, 2026 marking  over two decades of bringing the bold, vibrant flavors of Southern Thailand to L.A.’s Westside dining scene.

Founded by John and Jane Sungkamee on March 16, 2000, Emporium Thai has grown from a neighborhood eatery into a cornerstone of Los Angeles’ Thai dining scene, earning widespread recognition. It holds Thai Select certification from the Royal Thai Government and has been named among the Top 100 Best Thai Restaurants in the United States.   

Over the past 26 years, the family run restaurant has also become a gathering place for West Los Angeles locals, visiting chefs, celebrities, and Thai food enthusiasts.  They come for the  Southern Thai signature dishes like Phuket Wings, Pad Thai Prawn, Crispy Honey Duck, Thai Crab Curry with Jasmine Rice, Drunken Noodles, and the celebrated Thai Crab Omelette. Other dishes pay homage to celebrity fans, including Akon Salad, Blackpink’s Lisa Meatballs, and the Cardi B Mango Sticky Rice.

To commemorate this milestone, Emporium Thai will be offering a Two-Course Prix-Fixe Lunch Menu ($26 per person) and a Two-Course Prix-Fixe Dinner Menu ($36 per person), available Monday, March 16, 2026, through Sunday, March 29, 2026, alongside other celebratory specials highlighting the restaurant’s most loved signature dishes.

Beverage Director Honeybee Sungkamee, brings creativity and cultural flair to every pour. Drawing inspiration from Thai herbs and flavors, she has crafted a lineup of signature cocktails that are both inventive and balanced.  They include the Lemongrass Gimlet, Thai-Tea-Ni, and Thai Basil Mojito. Her extensive collection of signature mocktails have become  crowd favorite, offering vibrant, flavorful alternatives. 

As it celebrates Emporium Thai’s 26th anniversary, the Sungkamee family in January took another bold step launching a sister restaurant  Emporium Thai Market,  on bustling Sawtelle Boulevard nearby. 

Here’s wishing the family many more anniversaries to come!

The Los Angeles Wine & Food Festival returns for its second year with three sessions over the weekend of Friday, November 7 – Sunday, November 9. Friday and Saturday will feature Grand Tasting events while Sunday will conclude with The Final Bite: Peroni’s Italian Affair, an Italian-themed celebration hosted by Peroni, the official beer partner of The Los Angeles Wine & Food Festival. 

The 2025 Los Angeles Wine & Food Festival will bring together a star-studded lineup of notable chefs from across the nation and Southern California including culinary icons and rising stars shaping the future of LA dining.  Each of the three sessions will feature over thirty chefs presenting their signature bites along with  beverage selections from top regional and

 award-winning wineries, and craft cocktails from top mixologists at  walk-around tastings that will also include other immersive pop-ups and brand  installations.  Live entertainment will include top DJ sets will round out the experience.  

Featured chef personalities include Stephanie Izard, Gabe Bertaccini, Antonia Lofaso, Giorgio Rapicavoli, Brooke Williamson, and brother duo Michael and Bryan Voltaggio. appearances from Ludo Lefebvre of Petit Trois, Michael Symon of Lola, Claudette Zepeda of Leu Leu, Rashida Holmes of Bridgetown Roti, Avner Levi of CENTO Pasta and Raw Bar, and Jazz Singsanong of Jitlada. AWFF is produced by a21, the team behind some of the country’s top culinary festivals. 

This year’s event will be co-hosted by Tastemade, known for its leading food and lifestyle brand engaging audiences on major social and streaming platforms.  

The Los Angeles Wine & Food Festival is proud to support Event Zero Inc., a non-profit organization to help make the festival more sustainable.

Guests can choose between General or VIP admission. VIP pass holders enjoy early entry one hour before general admission and access to exclusive lounges offering exclusive bites and cocktails.  A special weekend pass maximises savings by offers access to all three days.  

For tickets and more information, visit https://www.lawineandfood.com/.