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The annual Newport Beach Wine and Food Festival had become one of the premier culinary events in Orange County until the pandemic put an abrupt halt to the festival.
One of the chefs who participated in the festival every year was longtime Orange County resident Jamie Gwen, a syndicated radio host, certified sommelier, seven-time cookbook author and a Food Network star (she won “Cutthroat Kitchen” and competed on “Beat Bobby Flay”).
“I was sitting with friends who were whining that they missed the Newport Beach Wine and Food Festival, and they told me I should bring it back,” Gwen told the Business Journal.
“So, through peer pressure and martinis, I called my best friend of more than 30 years, Nicole Hirsty of Cobalt Events, and said ‘guess what we’re doing.’ That was the start of Relish.”
Relish is an immersive food, wine and spirits experience that debuts June 27-29 at VEA Newport Beach, a Marriott Resort & Spa.
The highly curated event will deliver a weekend of gastronomic experiences that feature a lineup of top celebrity chefs including Tyler Florence, Scott Conant, Gale Gand and others, all participating in one-of-a-kind events.
“I decided if I was going to do it, I was going to bring a food and wine event like Orange County has never seen,” said Gwen. “We were going to go big or go home.”
Chef Gwen went big.
The weekend begins on Friday evening with a cocktail party where celebrity chefs and mixologists, including Gwen and mixologist Tony Abou-Ganim, will showcase their signature dishes and cocktails as guests mingle and savor gourmet hors d’oeuvres, wines and top-shelf spirits.
Following the cocktail party, Conant—a familiar face on the Food Network—will host a private dinner featuring a four-course meal with dishes from the chef’s Italian repertoire. The dinner will be paired with exceptional wines and offers an opportunity to engage directly with the chef.
Saturday begins with a variety of master classes led by acclaimed experts, including renowned chefs Aarti Sequeira and Gand, mixologist Abou-Ganim, Cheesemaster Afrim Pristine, and winemakers Chris Kajani and Bob Cabral.
These exclusive workshops are open to a limited number of attendees and vary from mastering the art of chocolate and exploring the nuances of cheese to enjoying the pairing of vodka and caviar and sipping fine wines through guided tastings.
The chef Florence event begins with a sit-down conversation followed by a curated four-course dinner paired with premium wines and accompanied by live entertainment. The menu highlights signature dishes from Florence’s Michelin restaurants Wayfare Tavern and Miller & Lux.
On Sunday morning, Relish hosts a Sushi & Doughnuts brunch that combines handcrafted sushi alongside freshly made donuts and churros, created by Gand and Zac Young.
“I started planning this event two years ago, and it has grown into the most bespoke food and wine event that Orange County has ever seen,” said Gwen. “We deserve to have a spectacular food and wine event in Orange County. We wanted to do it really upscale, really sophisticated, with Food Network talent, hosted in the most exquisite setting with indoor and outdoor spaces for a weekend.”
Advance pricing ends May 1, and Chef Gwen believes all Relish experiences will
sell out prior to the event. VEA has special room rates for Relish guests.
Visit relishfoodwine.com for tickets and more information.