After a 16-Year Hiatus, the Taste of Orange County returns next weekend, June 16 and 17, to the Verizon Ampitheatre in Irvine. This premier food, wine, and entertainment festival is set to feature 50+ restaurants, wineries, and is expected to draw crowds of more than 20,000 food and wine lovers.
Chef demonstrations, restaurant tastings, art, wine and tequila tastings and top entertainment make it worth-your-while to put this event on your plans for Father’s Day weekend, but one event in particular caught my attention… the Great OC Farm to Table Dinner on Saturday, June 16 from 6pm to 8pm.
Great OC Farm to Table is more than just a dinner collaboration of Orange County’s top chefs. Set on the Verizon Ampitheatre stage, Great OC Farm to Table Dinner is a bold step forward to demonstrate to diners that supporting your local farmers and fishermen is the healthy and flavorful way to dine.
Helmed by organic chef and Culinary Liberation Front founder, Paddy Glennon, Great OC Farm to Table features 9 chefs serving 7 family-style courses to 175 people on the Verizon Ampitheatre stage. The entire 7-course meal is comprised only of ingredients produced within 200 miles of Orange County. These local, sustainable ingredients go beyond local produce and seafood including local wines, vinegars, sea salt… every ingredient used in these dishes can be found within 200 miles of Orange County.
Who are the leading chefs participating in this local, sustainable Great OC Farm to Table Dinner extravaganza? Take a peek:
*Chef Paddy Glennon, Santa Monica Seafood
Founder, Culinary Liberation Front
*Executive Chef Rob Wilson, Montage Laguna Beach
*Chef Craig Connole, K’ya Bistro and House of Big Fish, Laguna Beach
*Chef Paul Buchanan, Primal Alchemy Catering
*Chef Ryan Adams, 370 Common
*Chef Justin Monson, The Vine and St Roy Chefs Pub
*Chef Adam Navidi, Future Foods Farms
*Chef Michael Doctulero, Scott’s Seafood
*Chef Pascal Olhats, Pascal Restaurants
Wines featured by Master Sommelier, Certified Wine Educator Michael Jordan of the Ranch Restaurant and Saloon
**Michael Jordan is one of only 15 people in the world to hold both a master sommelier and certified wine diploma
Tickets: $149 per person includes pre-dinner appetizers, 7-course Chef-studded menu, wine pairing with each course highlighted by Master Sommelier Michael Jordan. Dinner purchase includes FREE admission to the Taste of OC for each Saturday and Sunday
Other featured Chef demos and events during Taste of OC Saturday, June 16 and Sunday, June 17, 2012:
Chef Pascal Olhats, Pascal Restaurants
*Chef Demo “French Style Braising” Sunday, June 17 7pm
Executive Chef Michael Rossi, The Ranch Restaurant & Saloon (Anaheim)
*Chef Demo “Easy Luxury Hors d’oeuvres Tricks & Tips” Saturday, June 16 4pm
Chef Kevin Jerrold-Jones of Cory Martin Events
*Chef Demo “Classic Favorites Fresh Ideas” Saturday, June 16 4pm
*Chef Demo titled, “Cooking for Friends and Family” – June 17 at 6pm
*Special guest chef at the OC Ultra Lounge™ on June 16 from 7pm to 10pm.
Chef Shachi Mehra of Tamarind of London, Newport Coast
*Chef Demo “Modern Indian Cuisine” Saturday, June 16 2pm
*and Tasting Booth
Chef Louis Jocson of Red Table
*Chef Demo “New Twist on American Classics” Sunday, June 17 1pm
*and Tasting Booth
Chef Matt Briggs of Mastro’s Ocean Club
*Chef Demo “Choosing and Cooking Steaks” Sunday, June 17 2pm
*and Tasting Booth
Chef Greg Daniels, Haven GastroPub and Taco Asylum
*Chef Demo “Wild on Pork” Sunday, June 17 5pm
*and Tasting Booth
**Chef Demo Host: Chef Jamie Gwen of KFWB News Talk 980
Chef Demos: Saturday, June 16 2pm-5pm
Sunday, June 17 2:30pm-5:30pm
A portion of the proceeds benefit the Orange County Food Bank and The Culinary Liberation Front, a fast-growing group of Southern California Chefs supporting organic, sustainable local farmers and fishermen with a goal of educating the public on the importance of supporting these local entities. The Culinary Liberation Front also helps educate the less fortunate on good health through nutrition.
Participating Chefs with booth tastings:
ü Chef Jonathan Blackford, A Restaurant
ü Chef Scott Brandon, LinX and Europa
ü Chef Andrew Gruel, Slapfish
ü Chef Jenny Ross, 118 Degrees
ü Chef Lindsay Smith, Rosales, Nirvana Grille
ü Chef Louis Chien, Sweet Lilikoi Patisserie
“How to Taste Like a Sommelier” with Master Sommelier Michael Jordan
*with wine tasting
Saturday, June 16 1pm
Sunday, June 17 3pm
Participating Restaurants: 118 Degrees, A Restaurant, A Market, Clay Oven, Cory Martin Events, Famous Dave’s, Haven GastroPub, House Of Big Fish, Hunter Steakhouse, K’ya Bistro, Katsuya, Europa Sausage/LinX, Mastro’s Ocean Club, Mastro’s Steakhouse, Montage – Laguna Beach, Mr. P’s Espresso Italiano Caffé, Mustache Mike’s Italian Ice, Nirvana Grille, Olive Oil & Beyond, Pascal Restaurants, Pizzelle’s Bistro, Primal Alchemy Catering, Red Table, Slapfish, Stacked Wines, Sweet Lilikoi Patisserie, Taco Asylum, Tamarind of London, The Ranch Restaurant and Saloon, The Vine/St. Roy Chefs Pub, Splashes at Surf & Sand, Tap House, Tap Shack, Bubba Sweets and TenQ Asian Bistro.
OC Ultra Lounge™
During the OC Ultra Lounge™, master sommelier and certified wine educator, Michael Jordan from The Ranch, will lead a “blind tasting” adventure focusing on recognizing the clues hidden within a glass of wine. In addition, inside the OC Ultra Lounge™ — you will find executive chef Kevin Jerrold-Jones of Cory Martin Events offering signature cooking demos, special wine seminars and pairings, Dos Armadillos tequila tastings, Saturday night VIP party with DJ music to rock the house and exclusive gift bags.
Dos Armadillos Premium Tequila Tasting with Expert Julie Harrington-Griffin
Dos Armadillos Tequila offers a mixture of fine woods and cooked agave with touches of honey and vanilla standing out. Very balanced aromas, double distilled, aerated through American oak whisky barrels and aged 18 months. Tasting sessions: Saturday, June 16 3pm, Sunday, June 17 4pm
Art á la Carte™
View artwork from more than 75 OC artists exhibiting throughout the festival. Sponsored by LagunaART.com, discover some of the best artists in the county through their artwork, which encompasses artist displays, sculpture gardens, and live model sketching. A silent auction of selected artwork with 100% of proceeds benefiting the Orange County Food Bank will cap off the weekend.
TASTE of OC Taste of Orange County
Saturday, June 16 12noon to 10pm *21 years and over
Sunday, June 17 12noon to 8pm (families welcome)
Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
8808 Irvine Center Drive
Irvine, CA 92618
Visit TASTE of OC website for tickets and more details: www.tasteofoc.com
Tune in to Bikini Lifestyles on AM 790 KABC with The Bikini Chef® Saturdays 7pm on AM 790 KABC Radio. Check your local TV listings for Bikini Lifestyles on PBS television network and independent local TV stations in your town!
