The South Bay culinary festival moves to westdrift Manhattan Beach with unlimited tastings from an all-star roster of chefs, wineries, breweries and spirits producers. The proper strategy for Manhattan Beach Food & Wine requires comfortable shoes, an empty stomach and friends willing to divide and conquer.
Returning Sept. 25-26, the third annual culinary festival will gather 46 acclaimed chefs and restaurants for two nights of unlimited tastings, flowing drinks, live entertainment and DJ-driven energy. This year also marks the festival’s debut at a larger new home: westdrift Manhattan Beach.
Festival founder and producer Shelby Russell and culinary curator and host chef Neal Fraser are bringing together a lineup that reaches from Manhattan Beach and downtown Los Angeles to Dallas, Denver, New Orleans and Fort Lauderdale.
Each evening will feature a different roster of at least 20 chefs, wineries, spirits producers and breweries. That means Friday and Saturday are separate culinary experiences—and a respectable argument for attending both.
Two Nights, Two Different Tastings
Opening Night begins Friday, Sept. 25, setting the weekend in motion with chef-driven tastings, premium wines, spirits, cocktails, beer and nonalcoholic beverages. Saturday’s Signature Night returns with a new group of participating chefs and restaurants.
Both Grand Tastings run from 7-10 p.m. Delta VIP pass holders receive early entry at 6 p.m., providing an extra hour to explore before regular admission begins. All attendees must be 21 or older.
The format is built for wandering. There are no fixed dinner reservations or debates over who ordered the wrong entrée. Guests can move between tasting stations, meet participating chefs, compare pours and strategically circle back to anything that deserves a second visit.
An All-Star Chef Lineup
Fraser, the chef behind Redbird and Vibiana in downtown Los Angeles, will serve as the festival’s host chef. The wider lineup combines nationally recognized personalities with many of Southern California’s strongest culinary voices.
Scheduled participants include Susan Feniger of Alice B., Border Grill and Socalo; Ludo Lefebvre of Petit Trois; Aarón Sánchez of Johnny Sánchez; Ray Garcia of Broken Spanish Comedor; Steve Samson of Rossoblu; Lord Maynard Llera of Kuya Lord; and “Below Deck” chef Ben Robinson.
Manhattan Beach and the South Bay will be well represented by David LeFevre of Fishing with Dynamite, MB Post and The Arthur J; Chris Park of The Strand House; Yoshiyasu Aiba of Sushi Roku; Brendan Collins of BOA Steakhouse; and Sherry Yard of Bakery by the Yard.
Other participating chefs include Deau Arpapornnopparat of Holy Basil, Marco Gagliardi of Josephine, Joel Hammond of Uchi West Hollywood, Michael Reed of Poppy + Rose and Poppy & Seed, Ligia Rossi of République, John Sungkamee of Emporium Thai and Dustin Trani of J. Trani’s and Trani’s Dockside Station.
A New Home at Westdrift + Supporting Future Culinary Talent
Located about three miles from LAX, the 393-room hotel includes a nine-hole golf course, resort-style pool and JUTE Coastal Bar + Kitchen. Special hotel packages allow visitors to turn the tasting into a full weekend and, more practically, put their room within walking distance of the festivities.
Manhattan Beach Food & Wine benefits the Culinary Careers Program, known as C•CAP. The workforce-development nonprofit provides underserved teenagers with culinary education, mentorship, scholarships and pathways into restaurant and hospitality careers.
For guests, the weekend offers two lively nights of tasting without committing to a single restaurant or cuisine. Come hungry, pace the wine and remember where the dessert stations are. By the second lap, that information becomes important.
For more information about the restaurant visit manhattanbeachfoodandwine.com
Address: 1400 Parkview Ave., Manhattan Beach
VIP admission: 6 p.m.
Regular admission: 7-10 p.m.
Age requirement: 21 and older
Photo credits: Photo courtesy of Manhattan Beach Food and Wine
