25th Annual American Wine & Food Festival

Presented by
Wolfgang Puck and Barbara Lazaroff

Matt Bencivenga (Vert)

Gather an All-Star Cast of Celebrated Chefs, Wine and Spirit Purveyors
for a Spectacular Night of Dining and Festivities.

Held at the Universal Studios back lot from 6 to 11 p.m., the 24th Annual Wine & Food Festival was an amazing event that featured live bands and a silent auction – including fabulous vacation getaways, great wines and fine dining gift
certificates – and, of course, an epicurean feast.

New to the festival this year was an Italian cuisine-focused food pavilion featuring some of the country’s finest Italian chefs. The Festival’s high-energy lounge is sponsored exclusively this year by Veuve Clicquot and will showcase the talents
of award-winning Spago Pastry Chef Sherry Yard. An estimated 2,200
guests attended this year’s festival.

On the heels of last year’s $1.1 million record-breaking success, the Puck-Lazaroff Charitable Foundation, along with presenting sponsor Visa Signature, has put
together another esteemed line-up of celebrity chefs.

Mario Batali Bobby Flay

This year’s festival had the world-renowned chefs, including The Food Network’s Bobby Flay, Babbo’s Mario Batali, Nobu Matsuhisa of Matsuhisa and Ubon, Le Bernardin’s Eric Ripert, Julian Serrano of Picasso at the Bellagio Hotel,Michael
Mina of Michael Mina Bellagio, Slanted Door’s Charles Phan, and Gino
Angelini of Angelini Osteria, among others.

Paul Prudhomme Mario Batali

About the American Wine & Food Festival

Since its inception in 1982, the Puck-Lazaroff Charitable Foundation has supported the American Wine & Food Festival, raising more than $13 million for Los Angeles Chapters of Meals on Wheels. The largest privately funded organization of its kind in the country, Meals on Wheels serves thousands of meals each day to Los Angeles’ homebound senior and disabled citizens.

Barbara Lazaroff

As a result of their efforts on behalf of Meals on Wheels, the Austrian-born Puck, renowned for feeding Hollywood Glamour at the annual post-Oscar extravaganza, and leading restaurant designer Lazaroff, are also celebrated for their philanthropic spirit.

Wolfgang Puck Frank Ostini

Participating Chefs:

Gino Angelini, Angelo Auriana, Mario Batali, Matt Bencivenga, Thomas Boyce, Floyd Cardoz, Tom Colicchio, Robert Del Grande, Luis Diaz, Marc Djozlia, Lissa Doumani, Todd English, Mark Ferguson, Bobby Flay, Lee Hefter, John Lagrone, Nobu Matsuhisa, Mark Miller, Michael Mina, Drew Nieporent, Bradley Ogden, Frank Ostini, Francois Payard, Mark Peel, Luciano Pellegrini, Charles Phan, Alfred Portale, Paul Prudhomme, Stephan Pyles, Eric Ripert, David Robins, Ari Rosenson, Mitch Rosenthal, Steve Rosenthal, Jimmy Schmidt, Piero Selvaggio, Julian Serrano, Lydia Shire, Nancy Silverton, Hiro Sone, Susan Spicer, Roger Stettler, Yuji Wakiya, Jonathan Waxman, Jasper White, Alan Wong, and Sherry Yard.

Event Sponsors

Visa Signature, American Airlines, Electrolux, Mansour Travel Company, Veuve Clicquot, EvansHardy+Young, Bentley Beverly Hills, Belvedere Vodka, Nestle Waters, 10 Cane, ITS Transportation, Southern California Gas Company, Southern Wine and Spirits of California, Oneida, Patron Tequila, Tsar Nicoulai Caviar, Lighten Up Inc., Glen Morangie, Peet's Coffee & Tea, and La Brea Bakery.

Imagine the best restaurants and chefs offering delicious unique gourmet taste
treats, along with the finest wines and did I mention fabulous desserts?

I always thought there was always room for dessert and this time I tried but just could not keep tasting the endless amounts of incredible food. I was finally forced to just look and imagine what things must have tasted like.

The most famous chefs who are at the top of their field along with their staff, were constantly busy preparing their amazing unique dishes, always with a smile on their faces and willing to have photos taken with their adoring fans. You could also take pictures with your famous chefs, everyone was extremely happy and excited about being part of this fantastic evening!

I will be back again and again and I must tell you, if you have not experienced this incredible event, you must go next year.If you only take part in one charity event for you and your family, make it the next, The 26th Annual Food & Wine Festival! Its an experience you will never forget! To learn more, visit: www.awff.org or www.wolfgangpuck.com

To see more pictures from this year please click here!
To see pictures from last year please click here!

Today is: Saturday, April 20, 2024