American Food and Wine Festival benefiting Meals on Wheels on 9/16/06
VISA SIGNATURE PRESENTS
THE 24th ANNUAL AMERICAN WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL
TO BENEFIT LOS ANGELES MEALS ON WHEELS PROGRAMS
Wolfgang Puck and Barbara Lazaroff
Gather an All-Star Cast of Celebrated Chefs, Wine and Spirit Purveyors for a Spectacular Night of Dining and Festivities
LOS ANGELES, CA, August 29, 2006 – The who’s who of the culinary world will descend on Los Angeles on September 16, 2006 for the 24th Annual American Wine and Food Festival. The star-studded gathering of over 50 celebrated chefs and more than 60 fine wine and spirit purveyors will unite to benefit Los Angeles Meals on Wheels.
Held at the Universal Studios’ back lot from 6 to 11 p.m., the 24th Annual Wine & Food Festival is open to the public and will feature 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 will be 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 are expected to attend 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.
This year’s festival will feature 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.
Ticket Availability
Festival tickets are available through the Puck-Lazaroff Charitable Foundation for $275 per person, and $300 per person at the door, as space allows. Table reservations are available from $3,000. For more information or reservations, please call
Beginning July 17th, Visa Signature cardholders will have access to a limited number of tickets to a VIP celebrity chef cooking demonstration, featuring
hors d‘oeuvres and fine wines, in addition to the main American Wine & Food festival. Space is limited; interested cardholders should contact the Visa Signature Concierge at
In addition, Visa Signature cardholders who make and honor a reservation through Visa Signature Dining (www.visadining.com) during the month of
July will automatically be entered into a drawing to win a trip for two to the festival. For additional information, please visit www.visa.com/signature.
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 the 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.
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.
A list of participating chefs, wine and spirit purveyors and sponsors follow:
Participating Chefs (To Date):
Gino Angelini, Angelo Auriana, Mario Batali, Matt Bencivenga, Thomas Boyce, Floyd Cardoz, Sam Choy, Tom Colicchio, Robert Del Grande, Luis Diaz, Marc Djozlia, Lissa Doumani, Dean Fearing, Mark Ferguson, Bobby Flay, Terence Fong, Lee Hefter, John Lagrone, Dustin Lewandowski, Steven Lewandowski, Cameron Lewark, Nobu Matsuhisa, Aram Mardigian, Mark Miller, Michael Mina, Drew Nieporent, Bradley Ogden, Frank Ostini, Francois Payard, Mark Peel, Luciano Pellegrini, Eduardo Perez, Charles Phan, Alfred Portale, Paul Prudhomme, Stephan Pyles, Eric Ripert, David Robins, Ari Rosenson, Jimmy Schmidt, Piero Selvaggio, Matt Seeber, Julian Serrano, Lydia Shire, Nancy Silverton, Hiro Sone, Roger Stettler, Yuji Wakiya, Jonathan Waxman, Jasper White, Alan Wong and Sherry Yard.
Participating Vintners (to Date):
Estate, Malibu Family Wines, Marques de Grinion (Spain), Melville Winery, Moet Hennessy, Morgan Winery, Newton Vineyard, Peju Province, Planeta-Bisol-Castello Di Meleto-Maso Poli, Premium Port Wines, Qupe Wine Cellars, Ramey Wine Cellars, Rosenthal-The Malibu Estate, Siduri Wines, Silver Oak Cellars & Twoney Cellars, Summerland Winery, Strange WineArcadian, Au Bon Climat, Beckman Vineyards, Beringer Vineyards, Bernardus Winery, Bonny Doon Vineyard, Chandon Sparkling Wine, Chateau St. Jean, Cobblestone Vineyards, Compari, Domaine Drouhin Oregon, Dierberg Family of Wines, Dr. Loosen, Dreyfus Ashby & Co., Etude Wines, Ferrari-Carano Vineyards & Winery, Frank Family Vineyards, Greenpoint (Australia), Groth Vineyards and Winery, Hanzell Vineyards, Hendry, Henry Wine Group, Hitching Post Wines, Iron Horse Vineyards, J. Jacamin Wines, Justin Winery, Kalin Cellars, Kermit Lynch Wine Merchants, Kunin Wines, Laeticia Vineyards & Winery, Lancaster s, Regusci, The Grateful Palate, Topanga Vineyards, Torres (Spain), Truchard, Veuve Clicquot Champagne, Vin Divino, Zaca Mesa Vinery & Vineyards, and Zinzano.
Participating Spirit Purveyors (to Date):
10 Cane Rum, Belvedere Vodka, Glenmorangie Single Malt Scotch, Joel Gott, Johnnie Walker Scotch, Patron Tequila, Pallini Limoncello, and Skyy 90 Vodka.
Event Sponsors (To Date):
Visa Signature, American Airlines, Electrolux, Mansour Travel Company, Veuve Clicquot, Riedel, Wolfgang Puck Catering, EvansHardy+Young, Bentley Beverly Hills, Belvedere Vodka, Nestle Waters, 10 Cane Rum, ITS Transportation, Southern California Gas Company, Southern Wine and Spirits of California, Oneida, Chandon, Patron Tequila, Tsar Nicoulai Caviar, Lighten Up Inc., Los Angeles Magazine, Glen Morangie, Peet’s Coffee & Tea, Füri Knives, La Brea Bakery, Urbani Tartufi, Academia Barilla, The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills, K-Mozart 105.1 FM, Clear Channel Outdoor, and Pallini Limoncello.