This September, some of the country’s most celebrated culinary personalities will converge on Malibu for the inaugural Malibu Food & Wine Festival, a three-day celebration of food, wine, live entertainment, and philanthropy taking place September 18–20 at the spectacular Saddlerock Ranch.
Co-founded by chef Marcel Vigneron, a Top Chef alum and recent winner of Food Network’s 24 in 24: Last Chef Standing, and entrepreneur and philanthropist Lauren Rae Levy, the festival pairs an impressive roster of culinary talent with the dramatic landscape of Malibu’s wine country.
The festivities begin Friday, September 18, from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., with an exclusive farm-to-table dinner hosted by Academy Award-winning actress Charlize Theron in support of the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project. The evening will feature chefs Andrew Zimmern, Bryan Voltaggio, Michael Voltaggio and Marcel Vigneron, along with featured vintner Baron Ziegler of Marine Layer Wines. Guests will begin with a cocktail reception featuring passed hors d’oeuvres, culinary demonstrations and live entertainment before sitting down to a multi-course dinner with wine pairings.
On Saturday, September 19, from 5 to 10 p.m., television personality Adam Richman, host of Man v. Food, will preside over Italian Night, an evening devoted to the flavors and traditions of Italian cuisine. The chef lineup includes Mei Lin, Stephanie Izard, Tobias Dorzon, Jonathan Sawyer, Chris Oh, Rose Previte and Spike Mendelsohn. Guests can expect unlimited food and beverages, premium California wines, live chef demonstrations, and music and entertainment from Aviation Nation Dreamland.
The weekend concludes on Sunday, September 20, with the family-friendly Country Cookout, running from noon to 5 p.m. Early admission begins at noon, with general admission from 1 to 5 p.m. The laid-back afternoon will spotlight live-fire cooking, barbecue and country-inspired fare, with culinary talent including Brian Malarkey, Carlos Anthony, Elizabeth Falkner, Lee Anne Wong, Matt Pittman, Rhoda Magbitang, Spike Mendelsohn, Viet Pham and Vinnie Cimino, as well as Malibu’s own 12-year-old Ace Adler, a former MasterChef Junior contestant.
Wine lovers will have plenty to explore, with pours representing celebrated California wine regions including Napa, Sonoma, Healdsburg, Santa Ynez and Malibu. The festival will also feature live music and DJs, culinary demonstrations, a beer garden, non-alcoholic experiences and specialty food activations including the Truffle Club.
There is a philanthropic element woven throughout the weekend as well. Proceeds from Saturday’s Italian Night and Sunday’s Country Cookout will benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Malibu, while Friday’s dinner supports the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project.
Set amid the vineyards and rugged beauty of Saddlerock Ranch, Malibu Food & Wine promises to be more than a traditional food festival. It is a celebration of exceptional cuisine, California wine, entertainment, and community, bringing together some of the industry’s biggest names in one of Southern California’s most iconic settings.