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