Gourmet bites and curated sips are available exclusively from Orange County restaurants during this epicurean event, which embodies the Southern California lifestyle at its beachside venue.
Few places allow locals to sample Orange County cuisine quite like the Pacific Wine and Food Classic.
Held at Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort and Marina, this picturesque event sets the scene for a day of bold bites and scintillating sips by the beach. As your eyes scan the vibrant blue waters of the Back Bay and the sun shines overhead, wander the many tables and booths to eat and drink your way through California without ever leaving Newport Beach.
“This is a strolling event – stroll, sample, taste,” says Pamela Waitt, self-proclaimed curator of delicious experiences and president of the OC Restaurant Association, which is also responsible for OC Restaurant Week. “We found, with this type of event, what people want to do is just enjoy time with their friends and family and eat and drink – lots of day dates, lots of girlfriend trips.”
While OC Restaurant Week packs local restaurants and gets O.C. residents excited about the culinary offerings throughout the region, this one-day event offers a more exclusive experience, designed specifically for epicurean enthusiasts.
“Now that the event is more of a boutique style, with just under 1,000 people,” Waitt says, “we are able to bring much better wines and the chefs are really able to showcase their talents more.”
With more than 20 wineries in attendance at the event – and twice as many restaurants – O.C. foodies are in for a treat as summer winds down this weekend.
The Food
At Pacific Wine and Food Classic, panels and discussions have been scrapped in favor of focusing on the food. Guests can meander the grounds, grabbing samples of varied cuisine types as they go – and what better way to familiarize yourself with local tastes than with a strolling event?
“We’ve been part of the Pacific Wine and Food Classic since the very beginning, and it’s always a highlight for us,” says Rich Mead, executive chef at Farmhouse at Roger’s Gardens. “It’s a fantastic opportunity to meet new people, share our passion for fresh, local ingredients and enjoy great wine in a relaxed atmosphere. Over the years, it’s become a cherished way to connect with the community and introduce ourselves to local residents.”
With 43 restaurants in total, a number of neighboring Newport Beach restaurants will be on site, including Farmhouse, Shorebird, Great Maple, Cucina Enoteca and Lido Marina Village’s Lido Bottle Works. But the excitement doesn’t end there, with eateries from all over Orange County joining in on the fun.
“We are a locally driven restaurant, so having these events in Newport Beach with a large amount of locals looking for great food and beverage means everything to us as part of the community,” says Riley Huddleston, chef-partner at The Mayor’s Table Pacific Pub and Kitchen, located inside of Lido House hotel.
The chefs create miniature versions of dishes that are representative of their restaurant’s taste and style, presenting fare ranging from diner favorites to signature items. One thing that has become a fan favorite is the taco garden, where attendees can try tacos from Puesto, Descanso, Red O Restaurant, Soho Taco and Chelas Mexican Kitchen. This year, guests can also delight over fare from Strong Water Anaheim, a shipwreck-themed tiki bar with Asian-inspired cuisine that has been nominated (and was a semi-finalist) for a 2024 James Beard Award. Additionally, modern Filipino eatery Lolas by MFK will offer a spit-roasted whole pig Lechon Feast while Jars by Fabio Viviani will be giving out single-serving jarred desserts.
But possibly most interesting of all is the fact that the event is entirely localized, highlighting the O.C. dining scene by exclusively focusing on the culinary extraordinaires that call the area home.
“Most food and wine festivals bring in a lot of big-name celebrity chefs. So what happens is a lot of them have the same chefs that we see on the Food Network and then the local chefs get lost. So we don’t do that,” Waitt says. “Our event is 100% focused on only our local talent. It is to showcase what we have here in Orange County .… Everybody that comes to the event really just does a stand-up job and puts their best foot forward.”
PHOTO 1: At the taco garden during this year’s event, guests may sample tacos from different Mexican restaurants in the region. Photo courtesy of Pacific Wine and Food Classic. PHOTOS 2 & 3: Dishes from Farmhouse at Roger’s Gardens which is known for its farm-fresh ingredients, procured by Executive Chef Rich Mead at Southern California farmers markets. Photos courtesy of Farmhouse at Roger’s Gardens
The Drinks
In addition to culinary offerings, Pacific Wine and Food offers a number of beverage options, including two tasting pavilions. “We have about 100 different wines that people can sample,” Waitt said.
One, the Grand Wine Pavilion, offers vino exclusively from San Luis Obispo County, ranging from chardonnay, riesling, viognier and sparkling muscat to rosé, syrah, pinot noir and red blends. The second, the Grand Tasting Pavilion, offers predetermined food and wine pairings from wineries like Caymus Vineyards and Precept Wine, as well as restaurants such as Lorea, Graze Craze, Rangeen and Five Crowns.
A number of other vineyards will serve up sips of California varietals while Hi-Time Wine Cellars will offer bubbles and beer. Gelson's gourmet grocery store will also present a Cheese & Charcuterie and Wine Experience with artisan ingredients paired with award-winning wines from Napa Valley and the Santa Barbara region.
Aside from wine, you can expand your horizons with mixology from brands like Código 1530 Tequila, Papa's Pilar Rum and Basil Hayden bourbon. Guests will be greeted with the 2024 Welcome Cocktail, a limoncello spritz from the Italian Villa Massa, while the drink of the year, espresso martinis, will also be on hand, crafted by Paso Robles’ Tin City Distillery. Those who remain alcohol-free can also partake with zero-proof cocktails from sparkling water brand Waterloo.
PHOTO 1: Guests enjoy specialty cocktails from luxury spirit brands in addition to wine tastings.
PHOTO 2: The oceanfront setting ensures a relaxing experience by the water as you dine and sip.
Photos courtesy of Pacific Wine and Food Classic
The Details
This is the seventh iteration of the event, which debuted in 2017 but took a year off in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since its return, it has garnered even more followers seeking out that quintessential VIP experience in luxurious coastal Orange County.
“Every region has its own big food and wine festival, and Pacific Wine and Food is Orange County’s,” Waitt says. “We often get overlooked between L.A. and San Diego and this event, like OC Restaurant Week, changes that. It illuminates us and shows that we have incredible talent here and incredible food and beautiful venues. So if you ever wanted to have that O.C. experience, this event is definitely that.”
Part of the festival’s charm lies in its casual beachside setting. Paddleboarders dot the water and children play in the sand nearby, soaking up the California sun. It’s a snapshot of what it means to live and dine in Orange County.
“The appeal of the event—what we hear from so many people—is that we don’t compromise on the food and the wine. The food and the wine are just really, really spectacular, but while delivering a vibe that’s playful and very SoCal – kind of the quintessential Southern California lifestyle,” Waitt says. “So people can come in comfortable clothes as opposed to a black tie experience .… Fun music, great food and wine, without compromise, without the stuffiness.”
The casual environment lends itself to mingling and networking, with guests interacting as they move through the pavilions and past tasting tables. Although there has never been any kind of formal gathering held at the festival, many repeat visitors have made strong connections with people they’ve met at the event.
“They get excited to see … (each other) again. They call themselves Pacific Wine Buddies,” Waitt says. “It’s adorable .… All of the feedback we get, we just feel very lucky that it’s created kind of a fun little food and wine community .… Our focus is just to offer a really great food and wine experience. And … it’s really quite an incredible way to spend the last … (weekend) of summer.”
Pacific Wine and Food Classic
WHEN: 1-5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21
WHERE: Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort, 1131 Back Bay Drive, Newport Beach
COST: From $199
CONTACT: pacificwineandfood.com
