Relish Food, Wine & Spirits Experience Oct 2nd-4th in Orange County- Post Info, Preview, Tickets

RELISH 2026 Delivers a Feast for the Senses and a Celebration to Remember

Star-Studded Gastronomic Weekend Welcomed Celebrity Chefs, Master Mixologists and Leading Winemakers to Orange County

From left: Date Farmer Mark Tadros, Chef Scott Conant, Chef Sherry Yard, Chef Katie Chin, Chef Jamie Gwen, Event Planner Nicole Hirsty, Chef Geoffrey Zakarian, Chef Kat Turner, Cheesemaster Afrim Pristine, Sommelier Rebecca Rose Phillips.

Newport Beach, CA – October 14, 2026 – The second annual RELISH: A Food, Wine & Spirits Experience, held October 2-4, 2026, brought together industry-leading chefs, master mixologists, celebrated winemakers and epicurean enthusiasts for an unparalleled weekend of culinary excellence. Created by childhood best friends Celebrity Chef Jamie Gwen and Celebrity Event Planner Nicole Hirsty, the unforgettable, three-day gastronomic celebration featured exclusive experiences and tastings by celebrated industry tastemakers including world-renowned chefs Geoffrey Zakarian, Scott Conant and Sherry Yard.

“RELISH was created as a love letter to Orange County, and in its second year, it was extraordinary to see that vision unfold on an even grander scale,” said Gwen. “We are deeply grateful for the remarkable response to RELISH 2026 and proud to have created a weekend of celebrated culinary talent, exquisite hospitality and truly memorable moments.”

The weekend kicked off Friday evening at VEA with a dazzling Opening Night Cocktail Party & Grand Tasting, where guests enjoyed a bespoke evening of chef-curated hors d’oeuvres, interactive food and drink pop-ups, hand-crafted cocktails and award-winning wines. A stunning sunset offered the perfect backdrop to enjoy the exclusive preview of the weekend’s festivities and the rare chance to mingle with the star-studded talent lineup featuring Zakarian, Conant, Yard, Kat Turner, Afrim Pristine, Rebecca Rose Phillips and Katie Chin.

Saturday offered a full day of culinary discovery, starting with Fashion + Food at Bloomingdale’s South Coast Plaza, where guests enjoyed an exclusive luncheon and meet-and-greet with chefs Zakarian and Conant at ANQI at Bloomingdale’s South Coast Plaza. The afternoon continued at The Park Club in Costa Mesa with The Art of Cheese & Wine, led by acclaimed Maître Fromager Afrim Pristine, alongside a limited-attendance knife class with Wolfe Cutlery, Master the Art of the Perfect Cut. The day culminated with the RELISH Culinary Icons Dinner + Sip & Savor Cocktail Hour, where chefs Zakarian and Conant, alongside pastry chef Yard, came together for an intimate, one-night-only, multi-course dining experience that celebrated their signature flavors and creativity.

Sunday began with the RELISH Burgers+Bubbles Brunch, a celebration of culinary creativity featuring chefs Yard and Turner, where imaginative sweet and savory flavors joined together in a feast for the senses with a tasting of some of the best burgers in Orange County, perfectly paired with Veuve Clicquot. The weekend concluded with RELISH in Wellness, a revitalizing retreat that brought together mindfulness, nourishing cuisine and immersive activities, all led by leading Kaiser Permanente doctors and wellness experts, offering guests a restorative opportunity to reconnect, recharge and feel inspired

“Creating extraordinary experiences is about so much more than what happens at the table. It’s about the atmosphere, the discoveries, and the meaningful connections that stay with you long after the experience ends,” said Hirsty, co-founder of RELISH. “That philosophy is at the heart of RELISH and we look forward to building on this incredible weekend and establishing RELISH as a destination for unforgettable culinary and lifestyle experiences for years to come.”

RELISH is honored to partner with premier partners, including VEA Newport Beach, The Park Club, Visit Newport Beach, Travel Costa Mesa, Kaiser Permanente, South Coast Plaza, Bloomingdale’s, Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Modern Luxury Riviera Orange County, Veuve Clicquot, Belvedere Vodka, Volcan Tequila, Hennessy, Chandon Spritz, Meredith Marks Caviar, Golden Eagle Vodka, Wolfe Cutlery, Drybar, Le Creuset, Levoni Salami, Melissa’s Produce, Hollywood Photo Booth, GINSIX, Certified Angus Beef, Gelson’s Markets, OC Vibe, Katella Commons, Vidivici, Buds Blooms LA, California Dates, Good Karma Chocolate, Wok Star, Viberi, Nelson’s Green Briar Whiskey, Kleos, Ole Bison Bourbon, Barton & Guestier, Brewer-Clifton Wines, Bell Wine Cellars, Foxen Vineyard & Winery, Zuccardi, Jackson Family Wines, Vineyard Brands Wines, ZD Wines, Landing Wines, Austin Hope Wines and more.

For more information on RELISH and to stay up-to-date on future events, visit www.relishfoodwine.com or follow @relishfoodwine on Instagram.

RELISH Returns: Orange County’s Premier Immersive Food,
Wine & Spirits Experience Set for Three-Day Culinary Celebration

Star-Studded weekend of gastronomic artistry returns to Orange County

October 2-4, 2026

From top left: Chef Geoffrey Zakarian, Chef Scott Conant, Chef Sherry Yard,

Chef Kat Turner, Cheesemaster Afrim Pristine, Sommelier Rebecca Rose Phillips, Chef Katie Chin, Chef Jamie Gwen

Image courtesy of RELISH.

Newport Beach, CA (September 1, 2026) — The countdown has begun for RELISH, Orange
County’s premier immersive food, wine and spirits experience created by Celebrity Chef Jamie
Gwen and Celebrity Event Planner Nicole Hirsty of Cobalt Events. Returning for its second year,
RELISH promises a three-day world-class epicurean celebration, kicking off with the highly
anticipated Opening Night Cocktail Party & Grand Tasting, where guests will enjoy a bespoke
evening of chef-curated hors d’oeuvres, interactive food and drink pop-ups, hand-crafted
cocktails and award-winning wines, held Friday, October 2, from 5 to 8 p.m. at VEA Newport
Beach, a Marriott Resort & Spa.
“Get ready for an unparalleled gastronomic experience, beginning with the Opening Night
Cocktail Party and Grand Tasting that will delight your taste buds and give a stunning preview of
what’s to come,” said Chef Gwen. “We love bringing people together around unforgettable,
highly-curated immersive culinary experiences that are designed to foster meaningful
connection,” added Event Planner Hirsty.

Image courtesy of RELISH.

Friday’s Opening Cocktail Party & Grand Tasting will set the stage for RELISH’s weekend of
epicurean mastery, offering a rare opportunity to mingle with some of the most celebrated
names in the industry, including:
● Geoffrey Zakarian | World-renowned chef, restaurateur, TV personality, and author
● Scott Conant | Award-winning chef, restaurateur, TV personality, and author
● Sherry Yard | James Beard award–winning pastry chef
● Kat Turner | Executive chef, restaurateur, and TV personality
● Afrim Pristine | World’s youngest maitre fromager, Canada’s premier cheese expert
● Rebecca Rose Phillips | Certified sommelier, wine educator, and hospitality consultant

● Katie Chin | Award-winning author, TV personality, playwright
● Jamie Gwen | Celebrity chef and co-founder of RELISH
The celebration continues at RELISH After Hours*, where style meets sophistication in a private,
after-hours setting designed for those seeking an elevated end to an extraordinary evening. An
exclusive Meet & Greet with RELISH Talent is the icing on the cake at After Hours!
Saturday offers a full day of culinary discovery, beginning with Fashion + Food at Bloomingdale’s
South Coast Plaza, featuring an exclusive luncheon and meet-and-greet with Chefs Geoffrey
Zakarian and Scott Conant at ANQI at Bloomingdale’s South Coast Plaza. The afternoon
continues at The Park Club with The Art of Cheese & Wine, led by acclaimed Maître Fromager
Afrim Pristine, alongside a limited-attendance knife class with Wolfe Cutlery, Master the Art of the
Perfect Cut. The day culminates with the RELISH Culinary Icons Dinner + Sip & Savor Cocktail
Hour, where Chefs Zakarian and Conant, alongside Pastry Chef Sherry Yard, come together for
an intimate, one-night-only, multi-course dining experience celebrating their signature flavors
and creativity.
Sunday at VEA begins with the RELISH Burgers+Bubbles Brunch, a celebration of culinary
creativity featuring Chefs Sherry Yard and Kat Turner, where imaginative sweet and savory
flavors come together in a feast for the senses with a tasting of some of the best burgers in
Orange County, perfectly paired with Veuve Clicquot. The weekend concludes with RELISH in
Wellness, a revitalizing retreat that brings together mindfulness, nourishing cuisine and immersive
activities led by leading wellness experts, offering guests a restorative opportunity to reconnect,
recharge and feel inspired.
RELISH is honored to partner with premier partners, including VEA Newport Beach, The Park Club,
Visit Newport Beach, Travel Costa Mesa, Kaiser Permanente, South Coast Plaza, Bloomingdale’s,
Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling, Veuve Clicquot, Belvedere Vodka, Volcan de mi Tierra Tequila,
Hennessy, Chandon Spritz, Modern Luxury Riviera Orange County, Meredith Marks Caviar,
Golden Eagle Vodka, Wolfe Cutlery, Drybar, Le Creuset, Levoni Salami, Martone Street Sauces,
Melissa’s Produce, Hollywood Photo Booth, GINSIX, Girlactik, Sprout Living, California Dates,
Good Karma, Viberi, Nelson’s Green Briar Whiskey, Kleos, Ole Bison Bourbon, Barton & Guestier,
Patriarche, Brewer-Clifton Wines, Bell Wine Cellars, Foxen Vineyard & Winery, Zuccardi, Jackson
Family Wines, Vineyard Brands Wines, Bouchaine Vineyards, ZD Wines, Austin Hope Wines,
Landing Wines and more.
Individual tickets and event packages are available at RelishFoodWine.com. For the latest event
updates, chef spotlights and behind-the-scenes glimpses, follow @relishfoodwine on Instagram.
RELISH Event Schedule

Friday, October 2
● 5–8 p.m. | Opening Night Cocktail Party & Grand Tasting at VEA
● 8–10 p.m. | RELISH After Hours* at VEA
Saturday, October 3
● 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. | Fashion & Food at ANQI at Bloomingdale’s South Coast Plaza with
Chefs Geoffrey Zakarian and Scott Conant
● 2:30-3:30 p.m. | The Art of Cheese & Wine with Cheesemaster Afrim Pristine at The Park
Club
● 3:30-4:30 p.m. | Master the Art of the Perfect Cut with WOLFE Cutlery at The Park Club
● 5:30-10 p.m. | RELISH Culinary Icons Dinner + Sip & Savor Cocktail Hour at The Park Club
Sunday, October 4
● 10 a.m.- 12 p.m. | RELISH Burgers + Bubbles Brunch at VEA
● 12:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m. | RELISH in Wellness at VEA
*Limited tickets available

 

About RELISH
RELISH is Southern California’s premier food, wine & spirits experience, uniting the nation’s top
celebrity chefs, master sommeliers and spirits experts for an unforgettable weekend of culinary
bliss. Co-founded in 2025 by Celebrity Chef Jamie Gwen and Celebrity Event Planner Nicole
Hirsty of Cobalt Events, RELISH offers a three-day immersive celebration featuring master classes
and expertly curated culinary experiences that go beyond the dining table. RELISH is redefining
the culinary and event landscape, establishing a new benchmark of excellence and delivering
an elevated, one-of-a-kind epicurean journey. For more information and updates, follow RELISH
on Instagram at @relishfoodwine. For more details, visit www.relishfoodwine.com.