Galleries of rustic luxury furniture lined the modern grounds of the Newport Beach Civic Center flank stunning displays of fine food and drink at the Grand Tasting Pavilions, reserved only for the person devoted to sensual enjoyment of the Third Annual Newport Beach Wine & Food Festival, September 29 to October 2, 2016. The sounds of wine bottles popping open in harmony with the smells of some of the best food sampling from Celebrity Chefs and alike filled the ocean air in Newport Beach. It was official, the popular, luxurious, epicurean weekend has commenced.
The extravagant experience kicked-off Thursday and Friday with Taste Around Town events at Ritz Prime Seafood, Pizzeria Mozza Newport Beach, and The Winery Newport Beach. Festival foodies schmoozed with celebrity chefs of the likes of Nancy Silverton, Rick Moonen, Rick Bayless, and Hubert Keller and were treated to tastings of exquisite fare paired with and sips from the California coast. The next two days included daytime festivals with live cooking demonstrations with Bravo TV’s Top Chef Masters & Top Chef winners and alums, wineries pouring over 250 different varietals in Grand Tasting Pavilion, and tasting from 40 of Orange County’s best restaurants and bakeries.
If you desire delectable cuisine surrounded by highly attractive sights and smells then Orange County chefs will fancy your cravings.
Take in a spoonful of citrus-cured Hamachi cuddled beneath layers of Radish, Fennel Pollen, Aji Amarillo Emulsion, Dill and Oregano and you will think you tasted a bit of tropical paradise full of freshness and tang. Chef Luke Tupin of Pelican Hill served up a refreshing bite of tropics on a spoon, perfect to enjoy in the Newport Beach coastal breeze.
Enjoy a bite of the very evocative “Mozza Caprese” from Executive Chef Nancy Silverton and you will be reminded of the leader of the creaminess of butter. This masterpiece was not only at it’s maximum of freshness but the drizzle of fresh pesto, micro-greens and tomato was a true treasure to savor.
One scrumptious bite of Sweet Lady Jane’s Brown Sugar Delights and it will be a guarantee you will be sneaking these sweet bites off your friend’s plate. Every splendid bite of the rich caramel filling fills your mouth with tastes of almonds, coconut and Belgian dark chocolate covering a butter shortbread.
Savor a bite of the blissfully brown, fall-apart tenderness bite of a Braised Short Rib topped with a dollop of creamy Smoked Gouda Fondue and you will be craving a whole bowl of this comforting, beefy deliciousness. Executive Chef Joshua Severson of Selanne Steak Tavern did it again with his unbeatable richness of taste and flavors.
Send your taste buds on a luxurious island getaway with a bite of Baja Octopus & Shrimp Ceviche by the fabulous Executive Chef Rob Wilson of Montage Laguna Beach. Did I mention there was a Rum Foam float on top? The sun-kissed bite included tastes of Charred Yellow Peppers, Red Onions, Avocado, Mango, Spiced Coconut Rum Foam and Micro Cilantro all to awaken your palate and drift you away to the beach-life.
Taste a mouthful of Executive Chef Marco Criscuolo’s Saffron-infused Gnocchetti Sardi and you will feel as though you were transplanted directly to Southern Italy. The beautiful golden color of the Gnoccetti is achieved with a saffron infusion and to make the dish out of this world she added Truffle Sausage in a Norcina Sauce. Incredibly delicious.
Swirl your fork into a delicious, 100% organic plant-based fork-full of “Liberated” kelp noodle pasta from Café Gratitude and you will have a new addiction. Executive Chef Dreux Ellis of Café Gratitude blew me away this “pasta” which was screaming with flavor of pesto, olives and heirloom cherry tomatoes.
With wineries pouring over 250 different varietals in Grand Tasting Pavilion the festival boasted tastings from some of the finest wineries and still wish you had time to taste more. The sips that I would love to taste again are Seabold Chardonnay, Montery 2013, Sangler, Piont Noir 2013, Block Clarot 2009, The Paring Red 2012, Wrath Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands 2013, Matazas Creek Winery Sauvignon Blanc 2015, Nellcote Rose of Malbec & Syrah 2014 and William Sellyem Pinto Noir 2014. The festival also hosted six of the leading Master Sommeliers in North America who share their wine passion and expertise during the daytime festivities.
This festival was nothing short for your taste-buds. If tasting grapes doesn’t fancy you, you can sip your way through a variety of beer samplings from Stella Artois or perhaps you desire handcrafted cocktails made with Hornitos Tequila and Courvoisier or you could saddle up with a sip of Duke Kentucky Bourbon and if you are lucky, The Duke’s son himself, Ethan Wayne might be there to share in the fun.
This is the festival to go to if you want to be surrounded by approachable Celebrity Chefs and rub elbows with some of the biggest Orange County epicurean creators and sip amazing wines.
A epicurean event that should not be missed.
For more information about this event, visit Newport Beach Wine and Food.
Jenn Delekta is a freelance writer, working mom, animal lover, social influencer, life-stylist for travel and dining.