Palm Desert Food & Wine
The 8th annual Pacific Sales Kitchen & Home’s Palm Desert Food & Wine presented by Agua Caliente Casino Resort and Spa, organized by Palm Springs Life has tastings from the nation’s leading chefs, breweries, and wineries; live cooking demos; cookbook signings with celebrity chefs; and other exclusive dining experiences. Situated in the El Paseo shopping district in Palm Desert, CA, the event is a weekend of the best food and wine in the Coachella Valley and from across the country. The festivities begins with “An American Kitchen with an Indian Soul” at Toscana Country Club featuring Author, TV Host, and Chef Aarti Sequeira and Executive Chef of Toscana Country Club and Cookbook Author Eric Wadlund. This event begins with wine and two hours in the kitchen assisting the chefs as they prepare the gourmet meal, followed by a cocktail reception, and then a four-course Indian dinner. You can also join in the “James Beard Four-Course Gourmet Luncheon” hosted by culinary expert, and dynamic television personality Gail Simmons. You will enjoy dishes from Cheese Expert and James Beard Award–winning Author Laura Werlin; Chef, Restaurateur, and James Beard Award–nominated Author Richard Blais; Chef, Restaurateur, and Cookbook Author Fabio Viviani; and Pastry Chef and Pastry Director of Craveable Hospitality Group Zac Young. The festival will also host cooking demos in addition to the Grand Tasting events, which highlight samples from over 40 restaurants; tastings from over 60 premium wine, craft beer, and spirit producers; and intimate interactions with chefs and vintners. Through Sunday; Palm Desert
¡Latin Food Fest!
This sixth annual Hispanic culinary celebration has of a festival kickoff party, “Chefs Night Out,” and its signature event, “Gran Tasting,” featuring food, wine, spirits and beer tasting tents; demos by chefs Aarón Sánchez, Marcela Valladolid and Enrique Olvera; live music; a michelada bar; and a spirits expo. $19-$99, VIP $149 (early entry); Friday, 6:30 pm & Saturday, noon; Santa Monica Beach, Pacific Coast Hwy, Santa Monica, CA
Vegan Street Fair
The largest vegan event in the world returns to the city of angles for another delicious year. Visit a mile’s worth of activities and music while you try samplings from 200 plant-based vendors. Returning vendors include Trejo’s Tacos, Bling Bling Dumpling and Donut Friend, plus The Federal hosts a beer garden featuring craft brews, margaritas, mimosas and games. Free; Sunday, 11 am-7 pm; 11223 Chandler Blvd, North Hollywood, CA
Milk Bar Pop Up
If you love Thai street food or have an insatiable sweet tooth, you’ll want to be in the Venice for this foodie event. Milk Bar will be parked outside Night + Market Sahm in their tricked-out airstream serving up cookies, truffles, pies, and limited-edition swag. Friday, 7-11 pm; 2533 Lincoln Blvd, Venice, CA 90291
Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Simply diVine Finds New Home
The Los Angeles LGBT Center’s 13th annual Simply diVine, the premier food and wine event for LGBT people and their allies, will feature food and drinks from L.A.’s most popular restaurants, food trucks, wineries, distilleries, breweries, and more. All proceeds support the Center’s life-changing and life-saving programs and services. Wineries, craft beers, spirits, specialty coffees and juicers include Classic Wines, Common Cider Company, Equality Vodka, Health-Ade Kombucha, Henry Wine Group, Hollywood Hot, Jardesca, JFC International, Le Grand Courtage, Middlebar, Mosaic Wine Alliance, Mulholland Distilling, Nosotros Tequila, Planet Wine, Riboli Family Wines, Southern Wine & Spirits, and Treasury Wine Estates. In addition to Feniger, Simply diVine will be helmed by returning co-chairs David Bailey (HGTV’s Selling L.A. and Keller Williams Beverly Hills)—who also serves on the Center’s Board of Directors—and Laurie Deddens, beverage steward at Pavilions West Hollywood. Jory Burton from Sotheby’s International Realty returns as this year’s Host Committee Chair. Looking for a more intimate experience? Get a one-hour exclusive early entry to the main event with a VIP Lounge ticket offering private bartenders from The Chapel at the Abbey; tastings of rare wines and Tito’s Handmade Vodka; entertainment by Rachel Sorsa Band; magic by Bill Bailey (from Magic Castle); celebrity chef experiences with Susan Feniger (Border Grill) and Mary Sue Milliken (Border Grill Restaurants & Truck); and more. $150, $500/VIP (parking included); Saturday, 5 – 6 pm/VIP, 6 – 9 pm/General Admission; Hollywood Forever, 6000 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90038
Spring Celebrates Traditional Persian New Year with five-course Nowruz Tasting Menu by Executive Chef Tony Esnault & Shamsi Katebi
Yassmin Sarmadi and Executive Chef Tony Esnault will be celebrating Nowruz, the Persian New Year, with a traditional Five-Course Nowruz Tasting Menu prepared and curated by Executive Chef Tony Esnault and Partner, Yassmin Sarmadi’s mother Shamsi Katebi, to be accompanied with a live performance by an Iranian Classical Trio during each dinner. The menu includes Kuku Ye Sabzi, “Frittata” of herbs, walnut and egg topped with barberries and served with “sangak” bread and house-made yogurt; Sabzi Polo Ba Mahi, Basmati rice cooked with herbs and garlic, duo of smoked and pan-seared white fish, served with house-made pickled vegetables; Reshteh Polo Ba Mahiché, Basmati rice with toasted wheat noodles, dates & raisins, slow-braised lamb shank, served with fresh herbs, green onion and radish; Bastani, house-made pistachio, saffron & rose ice-cream; and Chai Va Shirini, Samovar brewed black tea served with baklava, marzipan “toot,” “nokhodchi” cookie. $95, $36/optional wine pairing; Friday, 6-10 pm, Saturday, 5-10 pm; 257 South Spring St, Los Angeles, CA 90012; 213.372.5189 (Photo Credit: Emi Rose Photography)
Brennan’s Brunching
Starting this weekend, join Brennan’s for weekend brunch, featuring 9 am classes on the patio – Saturday’s Hula Hoop Dance Class & Sunday’s Yoga Class. For $15 you can get a spot in the morning class and a beverage of your choice after class to start brunch off right! Menu highlights include This Morning’s Bread, French Butter, seasonal house-made fruit preserve; Breakfast Sandwich, English muffin, Neuskies bacon, fried egg, American cheese, roasted tomato, avocado, harissa aioli, and breakfast potatoes; Poblano Chorizo Hash (Vegan)made with roasted poblano, grilled onion, soyrizo, and avocado; Avocado Toast (Vegan) on grilled sourdough with harissa aioli, pickled red onion, breakfast radish, tomato, and sea salt; Almond Ricotta Toast (Vegan) made with Kite Hill almond ricotta, blackberries, almonds, balsamic, and mint; Crispy French Toast (Vegan) made with Corn Flake crusted, berries, ‘honey-mascarpone’ crème, and maple; Smoked Trout Benedict made with English muffin, poached eggs, hollandaise, and breakfast potatoes; Bacon Benedict made with English Muffin, Neuskies bacon ‘steak’, poached eggs, hollandaise, and breakfast potatoes; Breakfast Pizza (Vegan/Non-Vegan) made with fresh cream, Mozzarella, Fontina, braised greens, soft eggs, pork or Impossible sausage; Bat Frittata made with 3 eggs, bacon, Gouda, roasted tomatoes, and avocado. Saturday & Sunday, 10 am-3 pm; 4089 Lincoln Blvd, Marina del Rey, CA 90292; 424.443.5119
Orange County Beer and Music Festival
Join in the Orange County’s craft beer festival that has live music and samples from over 70 brweries. This year’s music lineup features an Offspring cover band & a pop-punk cover band. Participating breweries include 2 Towns Ciderhouse, 10 Barrel Brewery, Elysian Brewery, The Dudes’ Brewing Company, Left Coast Brewing, Legacy Brewing, and more. $35-$50; Saturday, 6-10 pm; Downtown Santa Ana, 602 N Flower St, Santa Ana, CA 92703
Waffles and Beer Festival
Chow down this weekend plans with sweet and savory waffles, cold brews, mimosas and live music in downtown’s Pershing Square. $5/pre-sale, $7/day-of; Saturday & Sunday, Noon-8 pm; 532 S. Olive St, Los Angeles, CA
La Carretera Show
View luxurious vehicles from the 50s, 60s and 70s at this gathering inspired by the La Carrera Panamericana races in Mexico. DJs will be spinning both American and Mexican tunes from the 50s and 60s era. Enjoy BBQ, coffee, beer and more refreshments too. 100% of the profits will be donated to L.A.-based charity Para Los Ninos. $12; Sunday, 11 am-7 pm; Arts District, Los Angeles, CA
Trancas Country Market for Easter
Join in a day of family-friendly Easter activities in Malibu. You can enjoy an in-store Easter egg hunt with 25 coupon-filled eggs while kids participate in a traditional Easter egg hunt on The Green. Crafts, kid art classes, a new spring tasting menu from Vintage Grocers are all part if the day. Free; Sunday, 11 am-5 pm; Trancas Country Market, 30745 Pacific Coast Hwy, Suite 24, Malibu, CA
The Nue Shop
The Nue Group, one LA’s top celebrity-loved boutique PR agencies, is opening their doors to you. The stylist showroom will be transformed into The Nue Shop, a curated pop-up shop highlighting must-have fashion styles (starting at $20)from some of Australia’s leading women’s fashion labels: ready to wear and accessories. Brands including boho jewelry label 8 Other Reasons, fashion lines StyleStalker and The Jetset Diaries, and trend-driven footwear brand Sol Sana. Friday-Sunday, 10 am-5 pm; 316 N. La Brea, Los Angeles, CA 90036
For Love & Lemon Warehouse Sale
This L.A.-based brand serves up their biggest sale of the year with 50 to 75% off clothing and accessories. Cash or credit accepted. Saturday & Sunday; ROW DTLA, Old American Apparel Retail Space, 747 S. Alameda St, Los Angeles, CA
Ipsy Gen Beauty
ipsy Gen Beauty is where we get to bring our passion for self-expression and unique beauty to life! Meet the creators you love to follow, and all the brands that fill up your Glam Bags and makeup drawers in one energizing, glamorous space. Snag a ticket that grants you admission to both days of the event and a goodie bag full of amazing beauty products. For ipsy Gen Beauty 2018, you have the option to purchase additional add-on perks or experiences to your general ticket. Early Access, Lightning Pass, and ipsy Beauty Lab add-ons will be available in limited quantity. $99; Saturday, 11 am-5 pm, Sunday, 11 am-3 pm; LA Convention Center, Halls G & H, 1201 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90015
LA International Women’s Film Festival
Celebrate the cinematic achievements of women both behind and in front of the camera at this 14th annual fest. Natalia Beristáin’s The Eternal Feminine (Los Adioses) opens the festival which hosts four days of narrative and documentary features, short films and panels. Through Sunday; L.A. Live Regal Cinemas, 1000 Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA
Mermaid Museum
Capture both the beauty and mystery surrounding mermaids at this pop-up inspired by Freeforms’ new show Siren. Drift in an underwater garden, submerge in a 360-degree animated underwater projection complete with an ethereal soundscape, plus interact with a live mermaid. Through Sunday; Goya Studios, Stage C, 1541 N. Cahuenga Blvd, Los Angeles, CA
The Pacific Food & Beverage Museum (PacFAB)
This new cultural destination in San Pedro shines a light on the rich culinary traditions from California and the Pacific Rim, with a special emphasis on the contributions immigrants and indigenous people. Opening exhibitions include: The Age of Elegance on Victorian-era food and drink artifacts; Shakers, Knives, and Irons spotlighting bartender and chef tattoos; and Stirred, Shake, Still highlighting cocktail artifacts. Th-Su noon-5 p.m. Admission is by donation.Opens Saturday; 731 S. Pacific Ave, San Pedro, CA
