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Highlights from the Los Angeles Food and Wine Festival 2015.


By: Maren Swanson • September 11th, 2015

Los Angeles Food and Wine Festival 2015

LAFW 2015
Bourbon Steak at the LAFW 2015.

The 2015 Los Angeles Food and Wine Festival continued to amaze me this year at its Walt Disney Concert Hall debut in Downtown Los Angeles. Celebrity Chef Curtis Stone (Maude restaurant) started up the festivities on opening night for the Ultimate Bites of L.A. event alongside his beautiful wife, Lindsay Price. Special guest DJ Mike D of the Beastie Boys also made an appearance near the end of the evening and got attendees grooving near the stage.

Lexus at the LAFW 2015
Chef Curtis Stone at the 2015 Los Angeles Food and Wine Festival.
Chef Antonia Lofaso at the 2015 Los Angeles Food and Wine Festival

This year’s LAFW, co-hosted by Lexus, rounded up a slew of very talented chefs, mixologists and no shortage of fantastic wines. Thursday’s sold-out evening included tasting samples from Stella Artois, Kendall Jackson, Landmark Vineyards, Justin Vineyards and Winery, Kistler Vineyards, Louis Roederer Champagne, Hope and Grace Wines, Ty Ku Sake, Silver Oak, Testarossa and many others.

Los Angeles Food and Wine Festival 2015
LAFW 2015
Silver Oak Wine.

My favorite drink of the evening was an Amaro cocktail whipped up by Scopa’s mixologist, James Michael Bobby. I also enjoyed Faith and Flower’s ever-popular Milk Punch cocktail being served in the Lexus Lounge.


Chef Curtis Stone, Maren Swanson (LoveHappyHour.com) and Tara Redfield (TheFoodPervert.com) at the 2015 Los Angeles Food and Wine Festival.
James Michael Bobby at the 2015 LAFW.
Milk Punch from Faith and Flower at the 2015 LAFW.

We had to talk about the Clobster Roll... @lafoodwine @thefoodpervert #lafw #foodporn #lobster #instayum #dtla #foodie #video #foodporn

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My savory standouts included Slapfish’s Clobster Roll (half lobster and half crab), Mariah Swan’s unbelievable Caramel Pretzel Bacon Dougnut (ICDC), the Terrarium Tuna Poke from Chef Dakota Weiss, the Risotto with Italian Saffron and Luganega Sausage by Chef Angelo Auriana (The Factory Kitchen), the Pork Pie by Chef Curtis Stone and the Stuffed Cockles by Scopa Chef Antonia Lofaso.

The Clobster Roll from Slapfish at the 2015 LAFW.

Estrella Restaurant of West Hollywood and Bourbon Steak of Glendale (Michael Mina) also executed some amazing bites.

LAFW 2015.
Caramel Bacon Pretzel Dougnut by ICDC at the 2015 LAFW.

During Thursday night’s Ultimate Bites event, I ran into fellow foodie friend and chef, Manouschka Guerrier, and shared bites with Tara Redfield (TheFoodPervert.com). We both agreed that the Los Angeles Food and Wine Festival showcases the best-of-the-best chefs in L.A and every year they keep raising the bar.

Manouschka Guerrier at the 2015 LAFW.
Chef Steven Fretz of The Church Key at the 2015 LAFW.

Once again, this year’s celebrity chef-hosted lunch series sold out, so I wasn’t able to attend those but with yet another stellar showing, I’ll be sure to make it back to next year’s LAFW.