Perhaps you are familiar with Pebble Beach Food & Wine? It is the fanciest food event of the year, taking place in the most beautiful location of all, on the majestic California coast. More than 100 chefs and 250 distinguished winemakers will be providing gourmet tastes and pours for the four-day bacchanal. But that long drive from LA is such a bummer! And some of the best events are invitation only! No problem, we can totally hook you up.
Imagine “flying to Pebble Beach on a private jet while indulging in an intimate charter soirée together with LA’s most celebrated chefs, sipping champagne paired with sumptuous small bites and bumps of caviar.” That was caviar, people. Any other bumps are on you.
Thursday, March 31, hop aboard a luxury flight in LA where you can share gum and fight for space in the overhead compartment with notable chefs Walter Manzke (Republique), Neal Fraser (Redbird), Rory Herrmann (Sprout Restaurant Group), Jason Neroni (The Rose), Michael Voltaggio (ink.), and Tim Hollingsworth (Otium, Barrel and Ashes). I know these chefs, and they are all supercool and fun to hang out with. Especially Neal and Rory.
That trip alone sounds fantastic, right? But that is just the beginning of your VIP weekend. Upon arriving in Pebble Beach, a chauffeured Lexus will be waiting on the tarmac to whisk you away. The Lexus sounds kind of crowded with Walter and Neil and Rory and Jason and Michael and Tim, so you probably get a private car. You also get a VIP, all-inclusive four-day pass, ground transportation on-site at the festival (provided by Lexus), and access to exclusive private parties and events.
Over the weekend you will be treated to an exclusive luncheon with LA’s trailblazing heroes, Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo, have dinner specially prepared for you by LA’s doyenne of baking, pizza, and all things good, Nancy Silverton and Chef Ryan Denicola of chi SPACCA, and take a virtual trip through Burgundy via an upscale wine tasting experience.
You can attend a panel focusing on wine and women (but puzzlingly not song), a seminar on “Cult Cabs,” a retrospective tasting of Bollinger’s top cuvée, “Grande Année,” “sample the “Tête de Cuvées,” or finest blends, from an array of Champagne producers,” plus four nights of “unbridled indulgence at after hours celebrations with “celebrity chefs, winemakers, sommeliers, and industry influencers who dance quite literally until dawn.”
The pièce de résistance is two days at the Lexus Grand Tasting (Saturday and Sunday), “the most spectacular opportunity for maximum culinary indulgence.” Nosh on plates prepared by 30 top celebrity chefs, while sampling pours from over 300 wines from top-notch producers from around the world. VIPs (like you!) enter the event 30 minutes early, so you don’t have to battle the rabble for the most popular bites.
These four days of pure indulgence are priced at a mere $5,000. Some of you spend more than that for a night of bottle service. You know who you are. Call 1.866.907.FOOD (3663) for all details including flight times, ticketing departure and arrival details and to reserve your seat. Accommodations are not included in the price and can be reserved separately from official festival partners at www.PBFW.com or by calling 1.866.907.FOOD (3663) But you will be dancing all night long with chefs and sommeliers, so maybe you don’t even need a room!
For the rest of us, tickets to one of the Grand Tastings can be purchased for $225. Dozens of events are being presented over the four day event, so check out the website.
