Wolfgang Puck at AWFF 2010. Photo by Elise Thompson.
Wolfgang Puck’s annual benefit for Meals on Wheels has undergone a few changes this year, most notably a name change from AWFF to LA Food and Wine. This year the festival combines the usual feasting and wine tasting with entertainment to create four days of memorable events between October 13-16.
Instead of the Universal backlot, the festival will be headquartered at L.A. Live. Demonstrations, seminars, dinners, and dedicated after-hours events will be taking place all over the city, from Santa Monica to Hollywood and Beverly Hills.
Events overlap, and most of the ones for which tickets remain happen on Friday, so review carefully to make the best use of your time.
A few of our picks – not sold out at press time – are:
FRIDAY
Lunch at Patina with Daniel Bouloud, Jonathan Waxman, and others
While we’ve never tried his stuff, just watching the “ooh, aah” responses given to Waxman by the respected judges on Top Chef, we’re VERY anxious to do so.
The Italian Table – Lunch At Mozza
It’s a rare treat to eat at Mozza any day of the week, but to have passed hors d’ouvres, bubbly and wines along with a four-course lunch especially prepared for you is a meal not to be missed
California Clambake With Tom Colicchio
Judge not, lest ye be judged. The tastes we have enjoyed from Craft at various food events have proven that Tom Colicchio deserves to have an exclamation point after his name.
Daniel Boulud – Tribute To A Culinary Master
Sounds like a culinary cover band, and an intriguing possibility. Michelin-star collector Daniel Boulud will be properly feted by chefs such as the Montage’s creative Gabriel Ask and Bouchon’s master chef and hottie Rory Hermann, with sweet delights always expected from Richard Ruskell.
SATURDAY
Guy Fieri’s Brew B’Que On Santa Monica Pier
Admission includes a live performance from Uncle Kracker, which I immediately believe is Guy Fieri’s favorite band. Fieri has a serious following of fans who LOVE him in a Grateful Dead kind of way. Though we have yet to try his food, he is a serious showman who can keep a live audience riveted.
This is the grand event of the festival, 30 celebrity chefs and 200 wines in what figures to be a spectacular tasting plaza. VIP holders that plunk down five bills are the only ones to see Puck himself give a cooking demo, as well as late admission to Sherri Yard’s very-sold-out Decadence party. It also features the band Train, and hopefully, earplugs.
Tickets for Los Angeles Food & Wine events are available at www.lafw.com or call 1-877-234-8425 for further information.
