First Annual Newport Beach Wine And Food Festival Announced

From September 19 through 21, prominent chefs and restaurants from all over Orange County will take part in the inaugural Newport Beach Wine and Food Festival, beginning with a VIP kickoff party hosted by chef Rick Bayless at Red O restaurant.

Throughout the weekend, festival events will include live cooking demonstrations, a Grand Tasting Pavilion and Grand Tasting Tiers featuring food from more than 40 restaurants, wine tastings, mixology courses, and live jazz at the Newport Beach Civic Center and local Newport Beach restaurants.

So far, participating chefs include several contenders from Top Chef, Cutthroat Kitchen, and Chopped: Rick Bayless, Richard Blais, Jamie Gwen, Joe Youkhan, Rick Moonen, and Shirley Chung.

Restaurants from all over Orange County will also showcase their cuisine at the Grand Tasting Pavilion, or through live cooking demonstrations at the festival. Featured restaurants will include Pizzeria Mozza, The Crow Bar, True Food Kitchen, Fireside Tavern, Wildfish, and Golden Truffle, among several others.

More than 4,000 "foodies, culinary artists, celebrity chefs, local restaurants, and wine lovers and connoisseurs" are expected to take part in the first-ever Newport Beach Wine and Food Festival.

Tickets are available now, and all net proceeds from the festival will benefit local Orange County charities.

For the latest food and drink updates, visit our Food News page.

Karen Lo is an associate editor at The Daily Meal. Follow her on Twitter @appleplexy.