Cocktail competition, wine and food tastings, breakfast on the beach, grand dinner, and specialty seminars by award-winning chefs and winemakers highlight the Fourth Annual Celebration of Food and Wine weekend September 22-23 at Terranea Resort in Southern California’s Rancho Palos Verdes. Across from Catalina and surrounded by water on three sides, the ocean-front luxury resort’s farm-to-Terranea culinary philosophy focuses upon local and sustainable ingredients including those from its own abundant herb and vegetable gardens, lemon groves, beehives, a sea salt conservatory and more.
Ticket prices vary for each event which is open to locals as well as resort guests. For those wishing to attend the entire weekend, a Celebration of Food & Wine package is offered for $575 per person which includes all events Friday through Saturday night. Accommodations are additional. The agenda is as follows:
Friday, Sept. 22
6-10 pm: Taste at Twilight features six Terranea bartenders competing to create the crowd’s favorite cocktail. During the cocktail competition, guests are invited to vote for their favorite libation from among such favorites as the Firebird, Koyo, London Knights, Native Flourish, Rye Berry Smash, and Somebody Call 911. Attendees sip champagne and enjoy bites prepared by Executive Chef Bernard Ibarra’s culinary team which are also paired with local beers and wines at food stations in the pool cabanas. Ocean views and live music complete the setting.
Saturday, Sept. 23
8:30-11:00 am: Breakfast at the Cove, an al fresco picnic includes stations serving flap steak asada, pan chilaquiles, and potato taco skewer; a griddle station with scrambled eggs and plancha-fried rice; bagel bar served out of a kayak; fresh fruit station; and freshly baked pastries including mortadella, basil and gouda cheese croissants, and parmigiana paprika granola bars. Nitro coffee, mimosas and bloody marys complete the beverage offerings. Seating is at picnic tables and blankets on the beach with live music by Wise.
11 am-2 pm: Vista Experience: Chef Ibarra presents his house-made kombucha followed by seminars on sustainability, cheese-making, sea-salt demonstrations, a falconer presentation, and Greenbar Distillery kombucha cocktails featuring Tru Organic vodka, and live music.
2-3pm: Tour of the Central Coast Tasting Lunch features a three-course tasting menu on the Catalina kitchen terrace by Chef de Cuisine David Tarrin or California Pinots Tasting Lunch — a three-course on the restaurant’s ocean view terrace showcasing a tasting menu prepared by mar’sel’s Chef de Cuisine Andrew Vaughan paired with California Pinots.
6-9 pm: Farm-to-Terranea Dinner will include three-courses served outside family-style by Chef Bernard Ibarra. Guests can taste dishes such as Spit Roasted Lamb with Moroccan spices; chilled garlic and almond soup shooter; grilled tomato salad with house goat cheese and freshly-cut basil; pressed herb potato pie; and stuffed honey brûlée figs. Live music is by Northern Lights.
10 pm-1 am: Night Cap on the Terrace After Party ends the festivities with offerings of fine ports and chocolates under the stars, highlighted by the winner of the cocktail competition winner.
Click here for event prices and reservations as well as information on the resort.
Culinary Event photos by David Rhein
