Ever wish you could eat your way through L.A., or America for that matter? Well now you can in just four days. Next week is a big one what with all the food festivals, including the mutha of all, the American Wine and Food Festival. Yup, that’s a lot of food, but would it make you feel better to know that it’s all for a good cause? The following upcoming foodie events benefit various L.A. charities.
Taste of Downtown Burbank
Eesh, a food festival with chain restaurants? Interesting. Here you’ll probably feel like you’re in a super mall’s food court as you pick your way through 30 such restaurants offering tastings. Hmm, which will it be? Hot Dog on a Stick? Fuddruckers? Or are you gonna do Macaroni Grill? But it all benefits the Burbank Community YMCA scholarship fund. Did I mention the Gordon Biersch Brewery-hosted beer garden?
- Thursday, September 27 from 5:30 to 9:30pm. Advance prices: $25, food only; $35, food and beer garden. Event day prices: $30, food only; $40, food and beer garden. Located outdoors on San Fernando between Magnolia and Orange Grove. (map)
James Beard Foundation Taste America
In a nationwide celebration of the James Beard Foundation’s 20th anniversary, a special dinner hosted by Providence‘s chef Michael Cimarusti (who will be working alongside Chef Michel Richard) at Providence will feature a six-course tasting menu. Cost is $150 per person or $200 with wine pairings and a portion of proceeds will benefit Meals on Wheels programs in L.A. FYI, the food festival continues the following day in Beverly Hills’ Williams-Sonoma with a cooking demo and booksigning by co-owner of Osteria Mozza and Pizzeria Mozza, Nancy Silverton.
- Friday, September 28 at 5:30pm in Providence, 5955 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles. (map) Saturday, September 29 from 10am-4pm in Williams-Sonoma, 339 N. Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills. (map)
Red Hot @ Red Seven
An add-on event to the 25th American Wine and Food Festival is this hot evening of libations, music and…beef (?). That’s right, savory cuts from Craftsteak, CUT and sidebar and Lawry’s as well as NYC’s Shake Shack and SW Steakhouse Wynn, Las Vegas. And you’ll be able to wash down all that meat with drinks provided by the likes of Patron Tequila, Moet & Chandon and Johnnie Walker Scotch. All this for Meals on Wheels.
- Friday, September 28 from 7-11pm. Tickets: $155. Red Seven in the Pacific Design Center, 700 N. San Vicente Boulevard, West Hollywood. (map)
25th Annual American Wine and Food Festival
40 celebrated chefs from around the world, a Moet & Chandon Lounge, 70 fine wine and spirits purveyors — all contained on the Universal Studios Back Lot in celebration of the 25th Annual American Wine and Food Festival. Presented by Wolfgang Puck to benefit the L.A. chapters of Meals on Wheels, this foodie’s paradise is not to be missed. Yeah, I know $300 a person is quite a bit but I had to mention this event even if only for that champagne lounge alone. Not only does it have M&C and a blues band, but a selection of pastries from some top pastry chefs.
- Saturday, September 29 from 6-11pm. Tickets: $305. Universal Studios Back Lot, 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City. (map)
Taste of Los Feliz 2007
This 2nd annual food festival, sponsored by Hope-Net to support its food pantries for the homeless, will feature the yummies from 20 local restaurants — Alcove Cafe and Bakery, Delilah Bakery, and Vermont to name a few. Enjoy the shops, food and music while promenading hip Vermont Avenue.