Tickets are on sale for the Third Annual Newport Beach Wine and Food Festival. This year’s festival introduces Taste Around Town – a series of exclusive tasting experiences with celebrity chefs and master sommeliers at intimate restaurant settings around Newport Beach. Taste Around Town will take place on Thursday and Friday, September 29-30, followed by the return of the critically acclaimed Daytime Festival on Saturday and Sunday, October 1-2 at the Newport Beach Civic Center.
On Thursday, September 29, from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m., guests will kick off this year’s events with the Opening Night Dinner at Ritz Prime Seafood. A cocktail reception will be followed by a five-course land, sea and truffle tasting menu prepared by Celebrity Chef Rick Moonen in collaboration with Ritz Prime Seafood Executive Chef Phil Kastel. Each course will be perfectly paired with fine wine tastings led by Master Sommelier Michael Jordan. The evening will conclude with a meet-and-greet and book signing with Chef Moonen. Tickets: $295 per person.
A Private Luncheon with Nancy Silverton will be held on Friday, September 30, from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m. at one of Newport Beach’s most celebrated Italian restaurants, Pizzeria Mozza. Guests will join Chef Silverton, a James Beard Award Winner and “Top Chef Masters” star, for an intimate five-course tasting menu with fine Italian wine pairings led by Master Sommelier Michael Jordan. Guests will also enjoy a meet-and-greet plus book signing with Chef Silverton. Tickets: $150 per person.
The evening of Friday, September 30, from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m., will feature a very special Alsatian French Dinner & Conversation with James Beard Award Winner and “Top Chef Masters” Finalist Hubert Keller. Chef Keller will be joined by local French masters, The Winery’s Yvon Goetz, Pelican Hill’s Jean-Pierre Dubray and Orange County favorite Pascal Olhats, to prepare a five-course tasting menu, interactive dessert course and fine French wine pairings with each dish. Tickets: $295 per person.
DAYTIME FESTIVAL – Saturday, October 1 & Sunday, October 2 (2:00 to 6:00 p.m. each day)
The impressive Grand Tasting Pavilions, the epicenter of the Daytime Festival grounds, will showcase 20 different restaurants each day. Award-winning Orange County executive chefs will fill the white-peaked tents serving signature cuisine from their restaurants. Returning restaurants include RED O, Mastro’s, The Winery, Oak Grill, Andrea, Aqua Lounge, Pelican Grill, Driftwood Kitchen, True Food Kitchen, Selanne Steak Tavern, Twenty Eight, Filomena’s Italian Kitchen, Montage Laguna Beach, Slapfish, Roy’s, Five Crowns, A & O Kitchen + Bar, Honda Center, Tackle Box OC and B.CANDY. Restaurants new to this year’s lineup include Pizzeria Mozza (with Nancy Silverton serving), Vaca, Broadway, Ritz Prime Seafood, Waterline Newport Beach, Provenance, AVEO at St. Regis Monarch Beach, Watertable, Tanners Huntington Beach, Café Beau Soleil, Le Pain Quotidien, Sushi Roku, Tanner’s Huntington Beach, Maggiano’s, Café Bistro Nordstrom, Sam & Harry’s and Nothing Bundt Cakes.
In the center of each Grand Tastings Pavilion, will be tastings from over 200 boutique, cult and world-renowned wines. Winemakers, proprietors and winery owners will mingle with guests, instructing them how to taste, sip, pair and simply enjoy. Visit the festival website to view this year’s winery lineup.
VIP EXPERIENCES – Saturday & Sunday Daytime Festival (12:00 to 1:30 p.m. each day)
The Festival is enhancing this year’s VIP experience with four all-new private tasting events taking place at the Civic Center before doors open for General Admission guests.
Master Sommeliers Michael Jordan, Steven Poe, Sur Lucero and Thomas Price
On Saturday, in the Festival’s Glassed-Walled Arena, VIP guests will enjoy a Hundred Acre 100-point Wine-Tasting Experience led by Proprietor of Hundred Acre and Founder of Duke Spirits Chris Radomski and Master Sommeliers Chris Miller and Steven Poe. This intimate 24-person event will begin with a meet-and-greet with the masters, followed by tastings of a world-class Napa Cabernet, an extra-aged Barossa Valley Shiraz, exquisite single vineyard Pinot Noirs from the renowned regions of Northern California and a rare single vineyard all-Cabernet Napa Valley port made from a single vineyard aged Napa brandy. Charcuterie and imported cheese plates will be served. Tickets are priced at $295 and include access to all programming at the Daytime Festival, as well as early entrance at 1:30 p.m.
Taking place at the same time, over at the Fisher & Paykel & DCS Appliances demo stage, Master Chef Rick Bayless will conduct a cooking demonstration complemented by a fine wine tasting with Master Sommelier Michael Jordan. The event will begin with hand-passed signature cocktails and hors d’oeuvres from RED O, along with a meet-and-greet with Chef Rick Bayless and Master Sommelier Michael Jordan. Guests will receive a special VIP culinary swag bag that includes a $25 gift card to RED O. Tickets are priced at $250 and include access to all programming at the Daytime Festival, as well as early entrance at 1:30 p.m.
On Sunday, in the Festival’s Glass-Walled Arena, guests will experience an exclusive Champagne and Caviar Tasting. Samplings of five world-class champagnes including Dom Pérignon, Moët Vintage, La Grande Dame, Piper-Heidsieck Rare and Billecart-Salmon will be paired with five different bites from Petrossian Caviar. A panel of Master Sommeliers Michael Jordon and Chris Miller, along with Petrossian Caviar’s Christopher Klapp and renowned Chef Allan Greeley, will discuss the nuances of the tastings. As a bonus, Chef Greeley will prepare additional bites featuring caviar and teach guests how to shuck seasonal oysters. Tickets are priced at $295 and include access to all programming at the Daytime Festival, as well as early entrance at 1:30 p.m.
Also on Sunday, at the Fisher & Paykel & DCS Appliances demo stage, a VIP cooking demonstration and pairing hosted by Master Celebrity Chef Hubert Keller will delight guests. The experience will start with hand-passed champagne and hors d-oeuvres, and meet-and-greet with Chef Keller and Master Sommelier Peter Neptune. Guests will enjoy a 45-minute cooking demo, tastings from Chef Keller’s signature cuisine and fine wine pairing led by Master Sommelier Peter Neptune. Tickets are priced at $250 and include access to all programming at the Daytime Festival, as well as early entrance at 1:30 p.m.
For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit Newport Beach Wine and Food Festival.
Check out my recap of last year’s festival to see what you’re missing! Rick Moonen’s Salmon Chilly Chili and What You Missed at NBWFF.
At press time, VIP tickets to the Saturday Daytime Festival are SOLD OUT, as are the following VIP experiences: Friday’s Alsatian French Dinner, Champagne & Caviar, Hundred Acre 100 Point Wine Tasting and the Rick Bayless Cooking Demonstration. So, you better head over there and buy your tickets asap!
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