Great Taste Magazine

Old Ranch Country Club
3901 Lampson Ave,
CA-90740
9496773404
www.ocfwc.com

CuisineType : Continental, Winery, Other

On Saturday afternoon, April 21st, Guests will spend a Saturday afternoon sampling premium wine and delicious hors d’ouvres. Purchase wine tasted at special prices. Enjoy a beautiful afternoon on the fabulous grounds of Old Ranch Country Club. Sunday evening, April 22nd, a dining extravaganza takes place, with 15 leading Orange County Chefs & Restaurants. Guests will savor a sumptuous five-course gourmet meal paired with fine wines, prepared tableside by one of our premier chefs. The event also includes musical entertainment (Sam Curo and Inferno) and an extensive upscale live and silent auction, showcasing rare & exotic wines and featuring adventures throughout the world.

Las Vegas Convention Center
3150 Paradise Road,
NV-89109
866-692-2066
www.ncbshow.com

CuisineType : Other

Like a bartender tapping a fresh keg of a beloved brew, registration has begun for all features (education, workshops, tours, expo hall, and parties) of the 27th annual Nightclub & Bar Convention and Trade Show (www.ncbshow.com), America's biggest and most important bar, nightclub and beverage event of the year.

Each year the event brings more than 31,000 industry professionals together to meet with suppliers, network, learn and have fun. The 2012 event will run March 12-14 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

The Nightclub & Bar Show will feature its signature events including the Welcome Kick-Off Party at Caesars Palace, three Platinum Parties this year planned at XS, Marquee (venue for the NCB Top 100 Party exclusively sponsored by Malibu Rum) and 1OAK, the Shake It Up bartender competition, the club pass offer, celebrity appearances and so much more. New in 2012 are happy hour club specials each night of the show, tasting sessions in the classrooms and new conference tracks including sports marketing.

Attendees will have the opportunity to network with more than 600 companies representing the hottest new products, spirits, beers, wines, POS and inventory control systems, games and other innovations. Companies and brands including Heineken, MillerCoors, Pernod Ricard, Malibu, Coca-Cola, TurboTap USA, AMI Entertainment Network, Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, Modern Line Furniture and many more are participating.

Those interested in attending the Nightclub & Bar Show can register at www.ncbshow.com.

Anaheim Convention Center
800 West Katella Avenue,
CA-92802
866.458.4935
newhope360.com/events/tradeshow

CuisineType : Gluten Free Items, Healthy

(Jan. 2012) Natural Products Expo West is where new products turn into record profits, relationship building and ROI is always high and brand awareness builds momentum with each better business practice. Join in an experience with over 3000 exhibits from over 1,800 different companies showcasing the newest products in natural and specialty foods, organic, health and beauty, natural living, supplements and pet products.

Nowhere else can you get your products in front of so many buyers within the natural and organic products industry.

Join over 58,000 professionals and peers in an experience guaranteed to help your business grow.

Being part of the world’s largest natural and organic products tradeshow is the best investment your company can make. Transform your business by generating new sales leads and acquiring new customers at an event where doing business just comes naturally.

Long Beach Convention Center
300 East Ocean Boulevard,
CA-90802
203-878-2577
www.latravelshow.com

The 7th Annual Los Angeles Travel & Adventure ShowTM Packs Heat with an International Fiery Foods ChallengeNew demos and competitions at the Culinary Stage announced Any travel experience would be far from complete without exploring the destination’s cuisine. Accordingly, the Los Angeles Travel & Adventure Show TM, taking place at the Long Beach Convention Center on January 14-15, will feature delicious, interactive demonstrations at the Culinary Stage. The International Fiery Foods Challenge invites guests to take their taste buds to the limit, sampling mouth-watering recipes from around the world. Guests can also participate in a high-stakes cooking competition and learn travel tips for foodies.

The International Fiery Foods Challenge brings together local chefs representing destinations found at the show. From familiar cuisine to the exotic, all dishes will have a delightful kick. The demonstrated foods are Frikadelle (a sort of German meatball), Spicy Tequila Marinated Prawns, Rendang Padang (Indonesian Caramelized Beef Curry), and Medjool Dates with chorizo, mascarpone and Tunisian harissa (a chili sauce). Participating chefs are Kai Loebach of CurryWurst, Amir Thomas of Duo Dishes, SriAdriani 'Jenny' Martono of Indonesia Tourism, and Tracey Augustine of Cashmere Bites. After tasting, guests can vote for their favorites and take home the recipes to recreate them.

The Mark DeCarlo Interactive Cooking Class and Competition will follow the Fiery Foods Challenge. Three lucky audience members will be picked from a drawing to prove their kitchen skills right on the spot, recreating a dish of Mark’s choosing. The audience will vote for the best cook, who will win an all-inclusive Yucatan vacation. The Culinary Stage has good eats for Sunday’s show-goers as well. The Taiwan Tourism Bureau will hold a “Taiwan Popcorn Chicken” demonstration with Chef Frances Lee of the Mighty Boba Truck. Then, Ventura based Chef Jason Collis will host “Farm to Table—Luscious Lemon and Avocado Taste Sensations from 120-year-old, Sustainable Limoneira Ranch.” And, see a top Herradura Tequila ambassador demonstrate Tequila pairing tips. Following this demo, attendees can meet the brand ambassador and taste samples at the Herradura Tequila bar next to the Los Angeles magazine booth. Also not to be missed is “Travel for Foodies – Tips, Trends, and Tools for the Culinary Traveler,” with food and travel experts Michael Cervin, Linda Kissam, Dr. Kathy Gruver, and Chef Allan Cragg.

In addition, the Los Angeles Travel & Adventure Show will feature talks by some of the world’s most beloved travel personalities, including Samantha Brown, Andrew Zimmern, Peter Greenberg, Pauline Frommer, Mark DeCarlo, and Patricia Schultz. Attendees can enjoy cultural performances and participate in a variety of activities including scuba lessons from Beadiver.com, a 25’ rock climbing wall, zip line, and children’s activities area. The five-acre show floor will be packed with more than 400 destinations, tour operators and travel professionals providing one-on-one consultations on visiting destinations as near as Catalina Island and as far as Indonesia.

The 2012 Los Angeles Travel & Adventure Show’sTM Presenting Sponsor is the Taiwan Tourism Bureau. Supporting Sponsors include Air Berlin/Visit Berlin, Guam Visitors Bureau, Indonesia Tourism, Turkish Culture and Tourism Office. Los Angeles Magazine, NBC4 LA, Los Angeles Consortium of Online Travel (LACOT), Press-Telegram, KABC-AM and KLOS-FM are the flagship Media Sponsors. The event, produced by Unicomm, LLC, will take place at the Long Beach Convention Center Saturday, January 14th and Sunday, January 15th, 2012, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; travel trade may enter the show on Saturday, January 14th at 9:30am for an advance preview or attend during regular show hours. Tickets are $12 at the door or $9 online in advance with Promo Code: LAPR; children age 16 and below admitted free with paid adult. Ticket purchase information, a current schedule of speakers and more details are available at www.latravelshow.com.

(Dec. 2011) Every Wednesday Food Truck Fare – After Dark.

5:30 pm to 9:00 pm

Offering food trucks and a cash bar. Event features a rotating roster of gourmet food trucks, free parking and entry, ample seating and restrooms. Food prices vary per truck. Trucks subject to change. Enter through gate 1 off of 88 Fare Drive, Costa Mesa CA.

Dec 28 trucks:

• Baconmania
• SOHO Taco
• The Burnt Truck
• Dogzilla
• Spudrunners
• Panfiniti
• Piaggio on Wheels

OC Fairgrounds
88 Fair Drive,
CA-92626
714.708.1500
ocfair.com

CuisineType : Food Trucks

The 2012 Taste of Huntington Beach

When: Sunday, April 29, 2012 from 12 Noon to 4 PM

Where: HB Sports Complex; 18100 Goldenwest (at Talbert) across the parking lot from the HB Public Library

Why: Proceeds benefit the Children's Department of the HB Public Library

Questions? Email info@TasteHB.com
 
What to do : For one all-inclusive ticket price, you can:
Feast on unlimited tastes of food from your favorite local eateries
Sip on samples of wine and beer from premium California wineries and craft breweries
Meet new people and catch-up with fun-loving old friends!
Bid on silent auction baskets filled with goods and services from local businesses
Listen and dance to our top-notch live entertainment all afternoon
Buy tickets to win one of our great raffle prizes
Stop by the sponsor and vendor booths and talk to our Taste supporters
 
Since 2002, The Friends of the Children's Library and the HB Restaurant Association have helped the Taste raise over $300,000 for the HB Children's Library!

Taste of Huntington Beach
18100 Goldenwest,
CA-92646
www.tastehb.com/index.html

Sexy Burger, Various Food Trucks
88 Fair Drive,
Ca-92626
(714) 708-1500
ocfair.com/blockparty

CuisineType : American, Burgers, Food Trucks

OC New Year's Eve Block Party

The OC Fair New Year's Eve Block Party will feature a variety of gourmet food trucks to keep party goers rocking and rolling all night long, including:

• Bacon Mania
• The Greasy Winner
• Calbi
• Sexy Burge

rFor more information visit: ocfair.com/blockparty

New Years Eve Celebration (Saturday, December 31)

Ring in the New Year in three time zones while enjoying food stations featuring culinary delights from around the world. A live orchestra playing rock & roll to Broadway classics will be on hand and a Champagne toast is included in the $85 per person cost. For reservations call (949) 729-1144.

Newport Dunes Resort
1131 Back Bay Drive,
CA-92660
949-729-3863
www.newportdunes.com/

CuisineType : Eclectic, Sm Plates

THE WINERY RESTAURANT & WINE BAR PRESENTS ITS INAUGURAL TRUFFLE WEEK!

The Winery Restaurant’s Executive Chef Yvon Goetz Kicks Things Off with Decadent DinnerThe Winery Restaurant will allow guests to indulge in one of the world’s most treasured foods during its inaugural TRUFFLE WEEK celebration November 17th through 23rd.

Executive Chef/Partner Yvon Goetz will offer a special three-course menu of dishes featuring truffles, including a decadent dessert ($80 per guest, excluding tax and gratuity).

The Winery Restaurant
2647 Park Avenue,
CA-92782
714.258.7600
www.TheWineryRestaurant.net.

CuisineType : Fine Dining

The Laguna Beach Visitors & Conference Bureau will host its second annual culinary event, ‘Laguna Beach a la Carte – A Food & Wine Experience,’ Thursday–Sunday, March 8-11, 2012. Guests will experience world-class cuisine, prix-fixe menus, chefs tables, educational seminars, cooking demonstrations, food & wine pairings and special offers by local restaurateurs … taking place at various locations over four special days.

"Laguna Beach has recently welcomed several new restaurants to town, which will add to our already impressive culinary offerings,” said Judith Bijlani,President & CEO of the Laguna Beach Visitors & Conference Bureau.This event is a culmination of food and wine experiences throughout town, and is anchored by the signature event on Saturday, March 10: a three-hour celebration on the Festival of Arts grounds, benefitting CHOC Children’s Hospital. Wine tastings presented by Laguna Culinary Arts and vintners from regions throughout California, culinary samplings from many Laguna Beach restaurants, live entertainment, and an art exhibitare all part of the festivities planned. This event is expected to draw 1,000+ people.

“We will showcase the best-of-the-best with a four-day celebration, by bringing people together to enjoy inventive cuisine paired with superb wine offerings," saidKaryn Philippsen, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Laguna Beach Visitors &Conference Bureau.

Detailed information to come at www.lagunabeachfoodies.com.

We want to celebrate with you the bounty of harvest with good food, music and new wine releases. This is a party not to be missed!

WHEN: November 19th, 2011 5pm-9:30pm

WHERE:Coquelicot Estate Vineyard Red Barn Solvang, CA

Advance reservations and ticket purchases required: $79 per person

Coquelicot Estate Vineyard Red Barn,
CA-93463
805-688-1500
www.coquelicotwines.com

CuisineType : BBQ

MALAYSIAN CUISINE IS THE STAR AT NOVEMBER’S ART WALK IN DOWNTOWN LA

Come this Thursday, November 10th, to Makan-Makan at Downtown LA Art Walk, presented by Malaysia Kitchen Los Angeles!

"Makan-Makan" is Malay for "let's eat!" Malaysian food is a reflection of Malaysian culture – a vibrant mix of ethnic Malays, Chinese, and Indian, all together in one big melting pot. Malaysians take enormous pride in their cuisine, reveling in its interesting potpourri of spicy, sweet, and tangy flavors.Together with Art Walk, Malaysia Kitchen LA shines the spotlight on this delicious cuisine, pairing Southern California’s top Malaysian and Asian fusion restaurants with several art galleries, creating a unique “foodie plus art” experience in one. Make sure to include a visit the Art Walk Lounge at the MALDEF Building (634 S Spring Street) for food and drink samples from Yeo’s, fun photo opportunities with your friends, prize giveaways (while supplies last), and surprise screenings every 30 minutes, starting from 7:00 PM.

Grab an Art Walk gallery map to navigate your way to our delicious food sampling locations. Plus, collect stamps from at least three partner galleries to enter to win a trip for two to Malaysia! The trip prize includes roundtrip airfare between Los Angeles and Kuala Lumpur (provided by Malaysia Airlines), two nights stay at the Gardens Hotel & Residences (provided by Cititel Hotel Management), three nights stay at MiCasa All Suite Hotel (provided by Cititel Hotel Management), breakfast, and tours

Participating restaurants include:

• Belacan Grill at Robert Reynolds Gallery
• Starry Kitchen at White Gloss Gallery
• The Spice Table at Gloria Delson Contemporary Arts
• Mutiara at Norbertellen Gallery
• Yazmin at Spring Arts Tower
• Satay Place at Spring Arts Tower
• Mama’s Food Truck at Spring Arts Tower

If you can’t make it to Art Walk this Thursday evening, you can still sample Malaysian cuisine through the Makan-Makan food truck this month, and Malaysian Restaurant Week in December.

Visit MalaysiaKitchenLA.com for all the latest updates. You can also follow Malaysia Kitchen on Facebook (http://facebook.com/MalaysiaKitchenLA) and Twitter (@CraveMalaysian).

CuisineType : Malaysian

Kuleto Wine Tasting
Thursday, November 17th
6:30pm – 9:00pm
$24.95 Per Person
$19.95 ATGC Members

Featuring:
Zinfandel, Napa Valley, 2007
Syrah, Napa Valley, 2005
Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, 2004

Live Entertainment:
Howard Westbrook

Blind Tasting Contest
Challenge the Chef, Jeff Platt in our Brown Bag Contest

O'Neill's Bar & Grill
26772 Avery Parkway,
CA-92692
949.305.5100
arroyotrabuco.com/specials.aspx

Season’s Eatings Food Truck Fundraising Event for the Memorial Care Breast Center at Long Beach Memorial

Eat, drink and be merry at the “Heart of the Heights” community event on Thursday, Nov.10 in support of the MemorialCare Breast Center. Food trucks are participating in this free neighborhood fundraising event, to raise money for cancer treatment and support programs at Long Beach Memorial. Enjoy trucks featuring salads, sandwiches, soul food and ice cream sandwiches Crepes and more. Some of ZAGAT'S best 10 food trucks in LA will be there.

Check out the facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=213880795349531

Please call Sidney Cramer (310) 980-6064 for more information.

Thursday, Nov. 10 from 4-8 p.m.
Heights Village Shopping District
Intersection of Broadway and Redondo
Long Beach, CA 90803

Complimentary Thanksgiving Tasting

Saturday November 12th, 12:00p.m-3:00p.m.

Not sure what to serve for Thanksgiving? Join us for our annual Thanksgiving Holiday Tasting and try many dishes offered from our Holiday Menu including Turkey, Stuffing, Mashed Potatoes & Gravy, Creamed Corn & Spinach, and much more!

Whole Foods Market
7881 Edinger Ave,
CA-92647
657-200-4200
www.wholefoodsmarket.com/huntingtonbeach

N/A
1245 N. Spring Street,
CA-90012
(310) 305-7169
truckitfest.com/

CuisineType : American

A music festival featuring nine great L.A. bands and a DJ, 40-60 food trucks and about 250 tented vendors.

Wyndam Hotel Costa Mesa
3350 Avenue of the Arts,
CA-92626
714-7515100
www.ocweekly.com/microsites/decadence/

Join us for Decadence 2011 – a swanky evening filled with the best food and drink Orange County has to offer!This event will be held Waterfront at the Wyndham Hotel in Costa Mesa and will feature close to 40 restaurants sampling some of their most delicious dishes, plus wine, beer and spirits purveyors pouring their finest sips.

Don’t forget the live band – they’ll be playing music all night for your dancing pleasure!Pre-sale tickets will be offered for just $15, and the price will be raised to $20 at the door. To purchase tickets, click the following link: http://www.brownpaperticke​ts.com/event/185326. This is sure to be a fantastic event to attend with a group of your friends. Enjoy a fabulous Southern California Summer evening while you nibble, drink and dance on the waterfront. Ages 21+ only, please.

Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort
1131 Back Bay Drive,
Ca-92660
(949) 729-3863
www.lobsterfestatnewportbeach.com/

CuisineType : Seafood

Enjoy All You Can Eat Whole Main Lobster, crab claws, shrimp and mussels served buffet style. The menu also includes Tri-Tip, drawn butter, rolls, red potatoes, corn on the cob and a brownie.Tickets start at $75 for adults. There is also a $25 menu for kids. For details and to purchae tickets, please visit the official event website at www.lobsterfestatnewportbeach.com

1880 Academy Dr,
Ca-90012
www.bastilledaylosangeles.com/home.shtml

CuisineType : French

Come join in the fun and experience what thousands of people have been enjoying for the past nine years, making this annual celebration one of the most well-attended community festivals in Los Angeles.Entertainment includes: * A true Provencal Petanque Tournament under the pine trees * A Parisian Waiters Race * Street performers * Comedians, singers, artists * French Market vendors * Fun prizes for all races * Fabulous raffles including a trip to Paris!! * Famous French food, wines and gastronomic delights!Entrance Fee: $5 – Free for children (under 13)NO ATM ON SITE – PLEASE BRING CASH

Fast Forward Events

Del Mar Fairgrounds
2260 Jimmy Durante Boulevard, Del Mar,
California-92014
www.thegourmetexpo.com

CuisineType : American

Indulge your inner gourmand with The Gourmet Experience, a cooking and entertaining showcase that features over 250 exhibitors showcasing the best in appliances, culinary solutions, travel and home products, and specialty food.

Held October 8-9, 2011 the event features 10 specialty pavilions highlighting the latest epicurean trends, including:• That’s the Spirit! Beer, Wine & Spirit Pavilion• Bounty of the County• Sweet Discoveries• Olive Oil Tasting Pavilion• Cheeses of the World• Charcuterie Pavilion• Spice Alley• Culinary Solutions Center• Grilling & Outdoor Entertaining• Kids Cook! Activity Center.

In two action-filled days, you can: test out new products for your kitchen, get up close culinary instruction from some of San Diego’s most celebrated chefs, sip luxury wines and spirits, taste California and domestic olive oils and cheeses, and much, much more!

Single day passes for The Gourmet Experience are $25 in advance and $30 at the door; weekend passes are $40 in advance and $45 at the door. Children 12 years of age and under are admitted free.

Munchathon
5305 Santiago Canyon Road,
CA-92676
www.munchathon.com

CuisineType : Other

Munchathon is a 5K food-themed obstacle course/fun run and a gourmet food truck festival! Dash and devour along the race course and then afterward get your grub on with dozens of gourmet food trucks. Race participants will devour sample-size items from Fresh Fries, KIND Bars, Meringue Bake Shop, Front Porch Pops and beverages mix1, 8th Continent Soymilk and Kern’s Nectar, while enduring obstacles and challenges.

Encore / Happy Sushi’s
2640 Cushing Road,
California-92016
www.SanDiegoUkeFestival.com

CuisineType : Asian

UKERS JAKE SHIMABUKURO AND JAMES HILL HIT THE SAME PARTY!The San Diego Ukulele Festival Comes to Town Finally!

On July 14th through July 16th, 2011, the inaugural San Diego Ukulele Festival is coming to town at Ingram Plaza, Liberty Station in the newly renovated NTC McMillan shopping center of Point Loma area in San Diego! Xceptional Music Productions and the Amigo Bros. Event Management are proud to bring this event to this fantastic new venue; a venue that many San Diegans do not even know about yet, and should!

Featuring both infamous ukulele aficionados Jake Shimabukuro and James Hill at the same Festival is quite a feat in itself! Jake, from Maui, will be opening the Festival on Thursday, and James, from Canada, will be closing the Festival Saturday night. These two men have been known to do some amazing and magical things with this small musical instrument underdog; making their ukuleles literally sing as their fingers fly! It’s a sight to be seen and heard, and well worth the concert cost! Fantastic front row VIP table dinner concert seats will be available.

It is said of Jake…“It’s rare for a young musician to earn comparisons to the likes of Jimi Hendrix and Miles Davis”…“Yes, the ukulele, in the hands of Shimabukuro, the traditional Hawaiian instrument of four strings and two octaves is stretched and molded into a complex and bold new musical force.” The San Francisco Gate recently posted: “The sounds the boyish 33-year old wrings from his ukulele…are unlike anything else in the history of the instrument.”

The rest of the Festival in between Thursday and Saturday nights will have tons of free Polynesian themed fun and entertainment for the public! Including ukulele biggies like Hawaii’s Derick Sebastian, Los Angeles’s Ukulele Bartt, and San Diego locals Fred Thompson and Sarah Maisel. There will be other well-known performers from all over as well, a beer and wine garden right in the middle of the fun, Polynesian hula and fire dancer shows, tropical art, food and merchandise to partake in! You will feel like you are on the Islands, without having spent the airfare!

Sponsors are stepping up to join in on the tropical fun like Ohana Ukulele, Kanile’a Ukulele, Kimo Ukulele, Komoa Ukulele, Kala Brand Music Company, Aquila Corde Armoniche Strings, Ballast Point, Constellation Wine, Svedka Vodka, Oggi’s Liberty Station, Encore Catering, Tarantino’s Meats, with more coming! The San Diego Ukulele Festival is looking for a qualified charity to give their Beverage Garden proceeds to. The Polynesian drums are stirring excitement and rumblings about this event; that looks to bring in 1000s from all over the USA, to San Diego for this 3-day Festival.For all information and tickets, go to the website – www.SanDiegoUkeFestival.com .If you’d like more information, please call Fred Thompson at 619-296-4435 or email at Ukulelefred@cox.net .

Expo Comida Latina

San Diego Convention Center
111 W. Harbor Drive,
Ca-92101
www.expocomidalatina.com

CuisineType : Mexican

North America’s only Hispanic/Latino food & beverage trade event focused on authentic, specialty, gourmet and mainstream products from around the globe. Expo Comida Latina is co-located with Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo.For more information or to register, visit: www.expocomidalatina.com

Whole Foods Market Huntington Beach
7881 Edinger Ave,
Ca-92647
wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/huntingtonbeach/store-calendar/

Join us for an afternoon of summer fun! Feast on all you can eat true Santa Maria BBQ (tri-tip, chicken, baked beans, coleslaw and much more) and taste over 20 wines from around the world! Presale tickets are only $19.99 per person, door tickets will be $24.99 per person.