Please bring back the PBFW experience! We loved going each year and bringing our friends. Each year we attended the Pebble Beach Food & Wine, we had a fun and enjoyable three days of food, wine, cocktails, lectures and classes. We enjoyed talking with the chefs and learning about how they brought their culinary skills to life and rejoicing in their successes. We also loved how the chefs and mixologists were so open and sharing with their recipes. I tried my first Bloody Mary at the PBFW, and I still have not found one to even come close to it. It was perfection! read more

See all

Top notch event! I was lucky enough to be gifted tickets to the Lexus Grand Tasting and made the trek down to Pebble Beach on Sunday. You can leisurely wander under the giant tent sampling wine while enjoying food served up by Chefs from some of the best restaurants around. The tasting event is 3 hours long (12-3pm) which is just enough time to stop and sample all your favorites while chatting with new friends without feeling rushed. Get there early and don't hesitate to begin sampling food right away. I did see a few chefs run out before 3pm which I suppose will happen, especially if it's good grub. There are limited places to sit, so I recommend wearing comfortable shoes as you'll be standing almost the entire time. Since the event ends early, there was time to finish the day with a beautiful trip down 17-Mile Drive. Next time, it would be great to make it a full weekend and attend both tasting days (different chefs attend Sat/Sun) and one of the seminars or celebrity chef cooking demos. I most certainly will be back! read more

See all

For my 700th review, I figured I'd share a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I won two tickets to the 6th Annual Pebble Beach Food & Wine thanks to a contest on a popular food blog. Valued at $500 each, the tickets were for the Battle of the Coasts: West dinner event featuring a ton of wine and west coast chefs Nancy Oakes, Thomas McNaughton, Dominique Crenn, Tyler Florence, and Lincoln Carson. Held at Stillwater Bar & Grill at The Lodge, the event began at 6:30 pm. Arriving at 6:45 pm, we checked in and hung around the beautiful waiting area and grabbed our glasses of Dom Perignon, Epernay 2003. While soaking up the stunning views of Pebble Beach on the balcony, we were unaware of the hor d'oeuvres being passed around. What a shame too, since they sounded amazing as we read them off a menu provided after we were seated. Hors D'Oeuvres Teleme Fonduta Ravioli, Nancy Oakes "Taste of Spring Vegetables", Thomas McNaughton Smoked Shima Ajo, Dominique Crenn Sweet Pea Deviled Eggs, Tyler Florence First Course Uni, Dominique Crenn Grieve Family Winery Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley 2011 http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/pebble-beach-food-and-wine-festival-carmel?select=Ai3_aiKv_QyT4ee4KDQpqA#5VR0hE1Ig9WHc_KnvVijGw I'm not fond of uni, so I was pleasantly surprised when I actually enjoyed my first bite. Consisting of licorice, white chocolate, and yuzu, the sauce the uni was plated over was absolutely delicious. Both my mom and I consumed as much as possible using our forks, even though we would've rather licked our plates clean. But in such a bougie environment, one wouldn't dare. Second Course Black Cioppino, Thomas McNaughton Clendenen Family Chardonnay, "Le Bon Climat," Santa Maria 2008 http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/pebble-beach-food-and-wine-festival-carmel?select=Ai3_aiKv_QyT4ee4KDQpqA#bKmeijRt9FX0tU41QRh5Kg This was probably the least memorable course in the entire meal. Don't get me wrong, it was delicious. The fish was so soft and tender, with great flavor. However, compared to all the other courses, it really didn't stand out as much and seemed the most safe (least interesting). Third Course Roasted King Quail & Foie Gras, Nancy Oakes Sandhi Pinot Noir, "Sanford & Benedict," Santa Rita. Hills 2011 http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/pebble-beach-food-and-wine-festival-carmel?select=Ai3_aiKv_QyT4ee4KDQpqA#A-XapeT-yWfVo2s9GPGKwg I know, I know. You must be thinking, "Foie Gras?!?! Wasn't it banned in CA?!" Yes, yes it was (Nancy Oakes is a rebel). Which is why I've never actually tried it as I've only just recently become more adventurous with food. The foie gras was so so so soft and served within soft nappa cabbage. Claiming it was the best foie gras she's ever eaten (even in France), my mom gladly took my portion when I offered it to her as I didn't particularly like the texture. The Roasted King Quail, on the other hand, was so good! The best quail I've eaten in recent memory, or possibly ever. Fourth Course Roasted Beef Bone, Tyler Florence Quintessa, Rutherford 2006 http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/pebble-beach-food-and-wine-festival-carmel?select=Ai3_aiKv_QyT4ee4KDQpqA#5941IqCSkYPECVADewm0oA Short rib crust, dry aged cap, hedge hogs, asparagus, and sea bean -- this was also another first for me, as bone marrow has always been very unappealing to me. But when am I ever going to have a chance to eat bone marrow for free again? Probably never. So I forced it down. Even though I really, really, really didn't like it. It was so salty and the texture, like foie gras, was very repulsive. However, the short rib was very tender and tasty. Fifth Course Red Velvet Cake, Lincoln Carson Taylor Fladgate, Vintage Porto 2003 http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/pebble-beach-food-and-wine-festival-carmel?select=Ai3_aiKv_QyT4ee4KDQpqA#8TxTlK2wH-qw0YfqigLpIA Served with rooibos, strawberries, and hibiscus, the cake was yummy but surprisingly underwhelming compared to the rest of the meal. Definitely could've been a lot better. The vintage porto was also way too strong and dry to be a dessert wine. We were also surprised by a small mignardises plate consisting of various chocolates. Considering we didn't pay a dime for this $1,000 dinner, the overall experience was fantastic and surely a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. There's no way I'd ever drop five Benjamins for a meal at a food festival to hang out with a bunch of bougie foodies, or ever have the chance to consume foie gras in CA again. And I got to meet Tyler Florence! Thus, without a doubt, PBFW easily gets five stars from me. read more

See all

I didn't have any tickets and was a bit bummed but I have some amazing friends that invited me last minute... *Saturday: Marques de Murrieta - Castillo Ygay Veritcal Tasting Learned about the Rioja region of Spain by the President/Owner/Co-winemaker himself... a young hot man named V. Dalmau Cebrián-Sagarriga, Count of Creixell. His wines were excellent and I loved learning about the histroy of their wine. (I would have done better in History in high school and college if I was able to sip on wine in class.) *Sunday: Brut & Rose - 30 Years of Vintage at Veuve Clicquot My roommate hooked it up and asked if I wanted to attend... His words were: "Wakey, wakey... Eggs & ... Champagne?!?" There was an '85 (year he was born) and an '80 vintage Brut and they served Roses too... Surprisingly I enjoyed the Roses more than the Bruts and there was even an '78 Rose!!! We were in Bubbly Heaven. *Sunday: Lexus Grand Tasting This was ridiculous. It was a windy and stormy day and the tent felt like it was going to collapse. I tried a lot of food, wine, champagne and some cavier but I strayed away from the Patron Lounge which is so not like me. I guess I didn't want to black out at this event. My favorite food item was prepared by Chef Charles Pham of Slanted Door. Shiho... really? You've been to his restaurant more than a handful of times, it's solid an good but I thought I'd go nuts over everyone elses creations... I mean there were some big timers out there. Nope, Charles Pham kept it light and tasty. Seared Halibut over some rice vermicelli noodles a light broth/sauce and served t next to a side of herbs which I topped on my halibut. Best flavor and texture combination ever! I am not into Celebrities in a sense that I don't get star struck but the second I saw Masaharu Morimoto, I flipped out and ran to the line to take a photo with the guy. I couldn't even say a sentence as I just said, "Picture, Picture" or did I say it in Japanese? "Sashin, Sashin"?!? I sounded ridiculous and I really should have kept it together. I turly look forward to attending. Every event is price but so worth it. Some of the Champagne we tasted at the Vueve Clicquot Tasting... you cannot even buy in the states!!! Uber impressed. read more

See all

********************* 1285 ********************** If you are a foodie or a wine lover, and love beautiful nature that mother earth giving us, you must check out Pebble Beach Food & Wine next year. The Grand Tasting on Saturday is $225 and VIP is separated totally worth the price. This year was Lexus sponsored, if you drive your Lexus in, it's FREE valet right in front of the tent. 3 hours of endless 100 celebrity chefs and 250 wineries come together to showcase a dynamic weekend of exceptional lunches, dinners, cooking demos, chef collaborations, and experience the amazing Grand Tastings, featuring the industry's leading experts and most coveted restaurants in the world. And it's all surrounded by 1 of the most beautiful scenery in the world. The drinks were poured by some of the BEST Sommeliers in the world! Sommeliers from all the Michelin Star restaurants around the US was there, from RN74, Saison, Hakkasan, Coi, The Little Nell, Daniel, and a whole lot more... Chef John Cox of Sierra Mar at the Post Ranch Inn was serving $70,000.00 worth of caviar, still in the sturgeon, over blini, and it was all gone in 3 hrs. You see the caliber of this Grand Tasting alone! Celebrity chefs were every where.... Even some of the celeb chefs didn't participate the event, they still walking around just like you and I, enjoying the food and wine. I was star struck after star struck, true story! I also got to attend other amazing events such as Royal Tokaji, Beringer Wine tastings with the winemakers... The special dinners, the Meatopia, and the Opening Reception with equally impressive chefs and wines. I have attended the Food & Wine Classic Aspen, New York Food & Wine, Vegas Uncork'd, Flavor! Napa, South Beach Food & Wine, this is the top notch caliber, classy property, elegantly organized, impressive line up with chefs, Somms, and special celeb guests, as well as to notch service. Other Pebble Beach Food & Wine event highlights include "An Evening at Maude" as celebrated chef and culinary personality Curtis Stone transports the flavors, aromas, and essence of his first-ever Los Angeles restaurant to Pebble Beach; join Master Sommeliers and winemakers for unprecedented wine tastings with Chateau Margaux, Domaine Faiveley, Kosta Browne, and Penfolds Grange. Meat purists will enjoy a whole-animal "Meatopia" marquee event co-produced by Esquire Magazine's Josh Ozersky while others will get ready for cooking demonstrations with the likes of Iron Chef Jose Garces, Dana Cowin, or Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto as he pays homage to the quintessential comfort food-Ramen 101. I can't wait to come back next year. Thank you Mr. David Alan Bernahl of www.coastalluxurymanagement.com for making this 8th Annual Pebble Beach Food & Wine possible and raised money for 5 charities, all for a great cause and a fantastic 4 days of the decadent in food and wine with an epic epicurean event, Pebble Beach Food and Wine. If you plan to attend next year, book the hotels earlier, it can be a challenge and pricey, however, they offer shuttles every hour or half an hour between Pebble Beach Resorts to downtown Monterey. read more

See all

It was my first time attending the Pebble Beach Food & Wine, 7th Annual, and it was absolutely amazing! All my favorite Napa Valley, Italian, French, and Portugese wineries were present like Joseph Phelps, Caymus, Silver Oak, Paradigm, Testarossa, Graham's, Perrier-Jouet, Monteverro and much much more. All you can taste wine, great ambiance and great conversations..what more can you ask for! There was definitely a lot of good eats served by some very cool Food Network stars like Guy Fieri and Robert Irvine, but for me Chef Donatella won the best tasting award with her meatballs and won my heart in the process :). This was a memorable weekend worth the price of admission. Not nearly enough time to see and experience all the wonders that this venue had too offer, but as they say,"better to have loved than to not have loved at all." read more

See all

The best food and wine event I ever went to. This deserves 10 stars. I was able to go because I was a volunteer. But I worked at the VIP tents and sat next to the likes of Thomas Keller and Tom Colicchio. I also got to meet many Top Chef contestants and chatted with Masaharu Morimoto. I tried the best donuts of my life by Sherry Yard. Tried food created by Roy Yamaguchi, Christopher Kostow, and Hubert Keller. I am definitely looking forward to working this event again in the Spring and I believe that ALL foodies should attend this annual event. EVERY top chef and winery are here for you to try their food and wine. The events consist of the Grand Tasting Tent, Cooking Demos, Lunch, Wine Tastings and more. It located on the coast next to the beautiful Spanish Bay Inn. read more

Pebble Beach Food & Wine - With Thomas Keller at Patron VIP Party - Local Flavor Near Me

This event is a Foodies Dream Come True! Party in your mouth with all the wonderful flavors And fabulous Chefs!!! I will be back every year!!! read more

See all

I was lucky enough to score some tickets to the 2nd annual Pebble Beach Food & Wine Festival. We went to the following events: * Thomas Keller Cooking Demo * Vérité Winery Bordeaux Blends Wine Tasting * Farm-to-Table Lunch * Lexus Grand Tasting - Saturday We had an a-m-a-z-i-n-g time!!! It's foodie paradise. read more

See all

This past weekend was my second time at the Pebble Beach Food & Wine Grand Tasting Event. The first time (2 years ago), my wife had an amazing time and said we would definitely pay the $150 per person again...worth every penny. This past year, we were shocked to see the prices have gone up to $225 per person... A little expensive for two people to go, but luckily, our friend is one of the sponsors for this event so we were comped a couple of passes! WOOOHOOO! I should've driven my Lexus since they had preferred parking and FREE valet service for Lexus drivers only since this event is sponsored by Lexus, but we still got good parking since we showed up early. Although the 12-3pm tasting may appear to be short, any longer than 1.5 hours of sipping on wine, beer, and stuffing your face with food, you'll be crawling out if you don't pace yourself. I believe over 100 wineries were pouring, Stella had a beer booth, along with Patron Tequila, and another brewery. The food that the chefs were serving was phenomenal, and lets be honest, after sampling over 8+ wines, they all start to taste pretty similar if you don't cleanse your palette with water, food, or something else besides wine. Favorite was probably the Patron stage... free photo booth with full size print outs and images sent directly to your phone, full bar serving patron products. The Bloody Maria was AWESOME! And they were handing out popsicles! The tent does get REALLY hot an hour into it so prepare to dress in light layers or short sleeves. Chefs were extremely friendly and willing to stop what they were doing to take pics with fans and/or admirers, and all the wineries pouring were very helpful and friendly. I'm hoping the price doesn't go up again next year, but if it does, I think I would consider paying for it again if my finances let me. Where else could you sample food and wine at this caliber in one day? read more

See all

This was our first time to the Pebble Beach Food & Wine event. We attended only the Grand Tasting. Unlike SF Eats and Vegas Uncork'd, early access is only available if you are purchasing a package of events (or I'm sure if you are lucky enough to be comped the tickets). We were towards the front of the line and the tents are large enough that we didn't start running into long lines until we were already too full to care. If you enjoy wine, this event is an amazing opportunity to try a wide variety of some great wines. We skipped the wine (yes for such expensive tickets we didn't even sample the wine!) and focused on the food and the experience. I thought it was odd that attendees didn't even get to keep their wine glasses unless they had a Chase preferred card and entered with that group. For the price of the ticket the glass should have been included. We had some excellent food and saw a number of famous chefs. The attendees were typically well dressed. The tents and restrooms were upscale. A number of chefs ran out of food well before the 3:00 finish time. read more

See all

Fabulous all the way around. Up close and personal with the best chefs in the U.S. The boys from CLM know what's up. My friend (Darren A) and I were lucky enough to attend two dinners, three tastings, two cooking demos (by Morimoto - WHAT! and Carla Hall), and the Lexus Grand Tasting Tent. WHEW! It's a lot all in one weekend. But you know what, it doesn't get better than a 5-star food and wine festival with a beautiful beach backdrop. The dinners, tastings and demos (and from what I hear, the after-parties, which neither of us attended) are what make this festival. You get to try the best the chefs have to offer while meeting some lovely people at your table. As for the Lexus Grand Tasting Tent, it's amazing, but get there EARLY. Once it gets crowded, it's time to go. A couple tips I will give for next year's festival: 1. Tickets are worth the price. Those $500 dinners are like 7 courses with wine pairings. So just pay up and enjoy! 2. BOOK A HOTEL BEFORE YOU BUY YOUR TICKETS! If you can, try to book one of the hotels that offer shuttle service to and from the festival. 3. There's a lot going on that weekend (Golf anyone!?), so try not to get as frustrated as I did when the hotel staff aren't briefed on what's going on with the food festival. So put it on your calendar for next year and have fun!!! read more

Not even the unusual torrential rains could damper my excitement as we took the drive down the coastline to attend the 3rd Annual Pebble Beach Food & Wine. Upon pulling up to the Equestrian Center I was overwhelmed by the sight of the huge white tents that covered 60,000 square feet--the location of the Lexus Grand Tasting Event. As we were ushered into the tents--though it could have been another world as far as I was concerned. Warm ambient lighting bathed the white tents as the wonderful aromas mixed with the guests chattering filled the air. Not 5 seconds later were we warmly greeted with wine glasses and bags to carry all of our goodies. As we walked passed the "foyer" area of the tent, I stopped mid-step to take in all that was around me. Food and wine stations packed side by side, groups mingling throughout the area, giant posters of celebrity chefs behind their tables. Over the next three hours we sampled wines from vineyards such as J.Lohr, Wente, Talbott, Kutch, Domaine Chandon, and the list goes on and on. Over 200 wineries participated this year. We also spend that time sampling DELICIOUS eats from such Chefs as Chef Chiarello, Chef Reddington, Chef Lauren, Chef Douglas....So much goodness that I can't do justice covering it all. And to top it all off....meeting some fabulous Celebrity Chefs. The best FOODIE Event I have EVER BEEN TO. Definitely is a pretty penny but SO worth it :) read more

This was my first time attending any food and wine festival, especially one of this magnitude and prominence. This was a foodie and wine lovers paradise. It cannot get any better than this. My lady and I got to go to both the Saturday and Sunday Grand Tasting events. As soon as you walk into that majestic white tent, you're transported to a magical Wonka-esque land of food and wine. A place where you can come face to face with some of your favorite celebrity chefs such as Top Chef's Tom Colicchio, Daniel Boulud, Food Network's Tyler Florence, and Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto and sample their wondrous creations. We were more focused on trying every food booth possible and for the most part we succeeded, except for a couple of booths which had run out early. It's a shame the Grand Tasting lasts only 3 hours. It was a bit of a rush to go from booth to booth. Morimoto's "Angry Squid". Florence's Buttermilk Fried Chicken. Roland Passot's Foie Gras Soup with Duck Proscuitto. Roy Garcia's "Bacon Wrapped Bacon". These were among the several of the hits we appreciatively gobbled up during the weekend. Honestly, there was nothing bad. Being served by these highly regarded chefs was a dream. A dream which I would love to experience again. read more

I just attended the 2nd Annual Pebble Beach Food and Wine Festival. Bottom line, I am already making plans to attend the event next year - and so should YOU! Here are some of the amazing things we got to experience as Imperial Package Holders: - Opening Night Reception - Delicacies from 20 of the worlds top chefs and 200 wines from the world's top producing wineries. Nice start to the weekend ;) -A private tasting of Beaulieu Vineyards - George de Latour - "Best New Chefs" Lunch paired with Beringer Wines - Four course menu designed and presented by Chefs Keane, Rucker and Silverton. Wow! - Private Tiganello Wine Tasting with winemaker Alessia Antinori. - I'm not a huge Italian wine fan, but this was too good to spit ;) - Cristal Champagne Dinner - MIND-BLOWING. Pair Cristal vintages 1979, 1988, 1990, 1993 and 1996 with renowned chefs Richter, Ripert, Portay and Yard - an occassion that is said "will never be duplicated". Did I mention that we dined with the owner of Cristal?? Uh, bonus! - Colgin Cellars Wine Tasting - I'm not going to lie, I missed this one because the chef/winery after party put a hurting on me from the night before. Of course, from what I hear, it was another once in a lifetime experience. Darn! - Grand Tasting Event - 300 different wines and delicacies from the best chefs. Interact and meet some of the worlds most renowed and well-known chefs. - Far Niente Tasting - Whew... are we done yet. Great! But getting a little tired. No. More. Wine. ;) - Grand FInale Dinner - Did I say no more wine? "The cherry on top" of the weekend. Chefs Thomas Keller and Tom Colicchio joined forces for this sensational black tie event pairied with some of the most exotic, elusive wines. Bottom Line - I chatted with Thomas Keller, flirted with Tom Coliccho, danced with Eric Ripert, and kissed Stefan Richter. Now THAT'S an epicurean experience! read more

More than 5 stars! From my husband's Lexus dealer gave us free complimentary tickets to this event, we just drove down there. We thought it would be a tiny event with a small tent wine tasting so we were there for the 17 mile drive. Man~ the parking lot was huge & the tent was 100 times bigger than we thought. When we got in there, it was beautiful inside! FOOD & WINE! Truly beautiful food & wine. Sadly, we brought our 7 month old baby so we had hard time trying out everything there. Especially for me, I could drink wine(breastfeeding). Lucky baby! She took pictures with Chef Morimoto, Cat Cora! (Iron Chefs) Top Chef members were there for an interview - Tom Colicchio, Gail Simmons & few more. I'm sure there were so many popular chefs that I just don't recognize of. Great food & drinks! We would go there again next year! We gotta find a baby sitter! read more

Great atmosphere and the Food was great.... just the right amount of good booths to wine booth ratio. read more

Pebble Beach Food & Wine - Local Flavor Near Me

See all

Honestly the best of the best when it comes to food and wine events. You have pretty much all of the great wineries represented as well as all of the celebrity chefs you would ever want to meet. The decor was fantastic, especially the Hendricks table, the Ghirardelli Chocolate Bar and the Stella Artois table. As far as the food goes, it is a lot of chicken liver mousse, $70,000 worth of caviar, pork belly puffs and other gastronomical wonders. This is definitely the event for foodies or people in the industry! read more

This is the 3rd year attending PBF&W. Each year grows larger and gets better. Mixed in with the amazing wine, is great food made by great chefs, beer, whiskey, tequila and good music. Yes, tickets are pricey but worth it! read more

Ditto what everyone said. Amazing event. Scored free tix to the Lexus Grand Tasting. Got to nuzzle up to Fabio -swoon- and have (lots of) the yet to be released Belvedere Pink Grapefruit....NOM! It was a foodie paradise. Nuff said. read more

One of my favorite things to do every year. We've been coming here since the first year and made it an annual thing. You can taste hundreds (if you can hang) of wines and taste foods from a bunch of top chefs all around the world. They even have beer and tequila here and you go home with a bunch of swag! It's a fun afternoon and totally worth the price you pay to get in. read more

My expectations were very big, having attended the Masters of Food and Wine for many years. Sadly, the P.B. Food and Wine fest did not measure up. Lot of hype and drama (think Hollywood productions - not Alice Waters) not too much on the substance. I will not attend again, I do not recommend. 2 stars for the setting and the glut of celeb chefs. read more

This event is old hack from the Masters of Food and Wine of the Highlands Inn, Carmel, CA.. No creativity or surprises from the start. They sell as many tickets as they can, once you get your glass of wine from a long line, you just go to the next long line for the next glass. Get there early (before the doors open) before they run out of food as well. Not Fun! read more

My second year here and I think it is a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon; In a class learning from the best. The $100 goes to local charities so the price is well worth the learning curve. For me,I can walk to the event and drink my heart out. I must say considering the wine imbibed it is a very mature crowd. I have nothing bad to say about this event. You can do the whole weekend which I have not done or just drop in on a class or two, which is very fun. Mostly wine industry people attend this event. read more

The First Annual Pebble Beach Food and Wine Festival was definitely an experience to remember. I had first seen the ad for it in the Food & Wine magazine when we were eating at Roy's in San Francisco during Dine about Town and I made a mental note to myself to check out the website. After getting approval from the hubby we bought our tickets online and waited a couple months anticipating to try the yummy foods and wines!! We only got tickets for the Lexus Grand Tasting event. We made it a whole day trip and drove out early in the morning and decided to check out some things in the area. We actually did the 17 mile drive a few years back so it brought back memories to drive through it again to get to the Equestrian Center where the tents were held. The event started right at noon and as soon as we walked in the door we were handed wine glasses that we got to take home as souviners. The tents were filled with 200 different wine vendors and 20 or more chefs serving their own foods. The chefs themselves were plating their food as well and they were greeting the people and explaining their dishes. Some of the chefs included Gary Danko who served Bison, Tom Collichio who served lamb, Mark Ayers who served a Sea Bass, Joel Atunes who served a salmon sashimi and a granita, Richard Reddington who served Pork Belly, George Fritzche who served the best desserts ever and it was never ending chocolates and other sweet treats, and other chefs serving their foods that I cant think of right now. There was over 200 different wineries to taste from and a bunch of free stuff they were handing out everywhere you walked. The tents were even beautifully decorated with orchids and lighting decor. There was a lot of entertainment including human statues, a jazz band, a fashion show and a lot more. Even the portopotties were the nicest portopotties I had ever seen, haha... everyone in them was commenting on it and how it should be called the "partypotty" lol. It was a fun experience and I will definitely be back annually!! read more

See all

Overall: As any "professional" wino knows, breaking the fast with a little champagne or cabernet is sometimes what the doctor ordered, and 10 a.m. is the perfect time to begin a tannin overload. Pebble Beach Food & Wine (PBFW) provided the ideal opportunity for "hitting the glass" and "cutting the cheese" in style. For those of you wondering if it's okay to drink before noon, I say, "It's always noon somewhere!" Thank goodness for PBFW co-founders David Alan Bernahl, II and Rob Weakley, who seem to agree. Opportunity Junction: Whether you're seeking a culinary coup d'etat (if the Master Sommeliers and celebrity chefs don't get you, then the caviar with crème fraîche and sashimi on honey rolls certainly will) or you're yearning for a relaxing day with notable food artisans, this four-day event extravaganza has no problem delivering since replacing the Masters of Food & Wine five years ago. Offering more than 50 events over a four-day span, the one downfall was my lacking ability to be in more than one place at a time. Note to self: Meet with Shaman mystic prior to next year's event in order improve bilocation skills, herby maximizing the food and wine experience. Highlight Events: Our edible debauchery began with the Thursday Opening Night Reception. From Masaharu Morimoto's truffle mochi that sent my salivary glands into a tailspin, to dessert aficionado Amos Hayon who proved that beets are a versatile food, the calorie cacophony was music to our stomachs. Although fun, the popularity of some events like The Bubble Lounge--denoted by the rubbing of shoulders--was a little much for us height challenged persons. I depend on open spaces to deliver higher oxygen levels that keep me vertical (and conscious) while consuming mass quantities of luxurious libations. We continued the gluttony with Pairing Cheese & Wine with the First Lady of Fromage (hosted by San Francisco native Laura Werlin). From sebaceous ripened milk curds to their dry, hard counterparts, only one word sums it up: Yum! Even the lactose intolerant such as myself made friends with the cow-originating opprobrium known as dairy. It helped that a number of the cheeses were sheep, goat, and even ewe derived. The Pretty in Pink: Sparkling Roses from Around the World tasting proved that pink is in-deed appropriate for more than merely Justin Beiber frenzied pre-teen girls. This educational journey enlightened the crowd on the diversity of these specialty wines. Catering to my taste buds was not difficult with samplings of such lovelies as the 2008 Graham Beck Brut Rose from Western Cape, South Africa--a smoky, well-balanced sparkling rose whose bubbles were chattier than the Domain Chandon Rose "Etoile" from Napa Valley and the Roederer Estate Brut Rose from Anderson Valley, my other two favorites of the seminar. And at around $20-40 per bottle for these particular gems, it's nice to know that even a starving artist can afford many of the featured wines. A real standing ovation goes to Shayn Bjornholm, Master Sommelier and Examination Director for the Court of Master Sommeliers. Or as he put it, "I'm the guy they have a voodoo doll of that they poke when they fail." With a great sense of humor and laid back approach to relating to a diverse crowd, he and his comrades put a fun spin on what could have been a self-serving hour of premeditated pretentiousness and effervescing torture. I'd gladly attend this event again! Food: While I can't possibly speak of each culinary genius that kept me pregnant with masticated splendor, I must applaud Chef David LeFevre for providing and explaining how to make his basil couscous with pomegranate. He is forever indelible in my memory. I must also credit Levi Mezick and guest chefs Tim Wood, Craig von Foerster and Ben Spungin for the best meal of the entire four-day festival. The Vineyard, Farm and Sea: Monterey's Bounty luncheon was indescribable. With perfectly paired wines as accompaniments to abalone, beef, and more, I could not keep up with this five-course (or was it six?) rollercoaster of indulgence. This is a must-eat (and drink) event. Conclusion: Sure, the idea of attending an event of this caliber may seem intimidating to the average Joe (or Jane). I confess, even I experienced daymares featuring me as the middle-class antagonist who interrupts the pace of the Versace-wearing divas and dapper gents that strut their stuff as they exit their Maseratis and Ferraris. (To quote Disney's The Emperor's New Groove, "Beware of the Grooooove!") But, all of that worrying was for nothing. Even a simple Corolla-driving eccentric such as myself has a place here...and the staff at each venue (from 1833 Restaurant to the Inn at Spanish Bay) were equal opportunists with customer service, greeting with genuine smiles and engaging with guests in a way that made us feel quite at home amidst strangers. In the end, it worked the way the saying goes, "Arrive as strangers, leave as friends." read more

Food and wine were excellent! Defiantly would love more beef options. It was more crowded than LA being spread out but the fact it was sold out was amazing. Definitely a great event put on by hard working staff. You can tell so much work is put into it and it looked stunning every day. Always a great event to attend so when you plan your vacation you know what wineries to stop at when traveling and which restaurants to stop at to try the chefs other dishes on their menus. Love love love. Thanks to all the hard workers for making this event possible! Can't wait for LA!! read more

Pebble Beach Food & Wine - Local Flavor Near Me

Holy Toledo. This was absolutely the best food experience I have had. Star chefs everywhere. It seemed as if they were trying to outdo each other. Foie gras, caviar, cheeses, scallops, abalone. The wine was the best also, all of the participants were pouring their top wines. I am going to make this an annual must attend event. read more

The owners of this food and wine festival have taken it too far. What used to be an enjoyable experience, now is packed with cheap and desperate people looking to score. The ticket prices have soared and the quality has gone down. It's time for new management before this event becomes a circus read more

The Grand Tasting was the most awesome Food & Wine event ever! So, it was pouring on the day of the event... POURING! However... Lexus owners got the grand treatment - on the perfect day. Instead of self parking in the rain and taking the shuttle to the event, we were able to drive up to the front entrance to receive complimentary valet service. Tasting the magic of 60 celebrity chefs and 250 wineries... I mean... what do you want me to say? Really! Sorry you weren't there? Don't miss it next year!!! Also, go all out = get a room and call in sick on Monday. read more

Great times and great food. lots of rich food and crisp wine. All of the top wineries and top chefs in the world are in Pebble to feed you. How great is that. read more

I attended the second annual Pebble Beach Food and Wine Festival. It was amazing. I would give it more than 5 stars if I could. The food, the wine, the atmosphere, everything is of the highest caliber. Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful. Can't wait to go next year. read more

My friend invited me on his dime to attend Guy Fieri's barbeque on Saturday evening this past. Frankly, I was disappointed to some extent. The fact is that it was not a barbecue at all but nothing more than several points of interest with 'little bites' or commonly called small 'tapas servings'. the food was mediocre and to my understanding, Guy's recipes were not included in the menu at all. You would think with all of his experience traveling around the world that he could have served some of his signature plates. Vendor's were hired from as far as Texas to prepare variety's of small bites. The venue was so crowded that at one time I commented that they could have sold another 3 or 4 tickets to attend the event. We were packed in like sardines in a vacuumed can. There were lines waiting to be able to pick up a bite and within two hours of the three hour event most of the vendors had run out of food. This is no exaggeration. The four stations of food served that were standouts in my mind were the seafood cups, beef cheeks with a great demi glaze, slow cooked goat-my favorite and oysters. Kudos to you for providing your culinary treats from wherever long distance you may have traveled from. The wine table hosted several wines form one vendor. I had three tastes and had to dump each one. the champagne was served just above room temperature and I asked why the champagne/sparkling wine was not chilled in an ice bucket to keep warm. The host was ignorant to the fact that sparkling wine needs to be chilled to 34-36 degrees for it's best taste especially for a low quality product. The few other choices of chardonnay, cabernet and pinot noir were everyday run of the mill that I could top with my choice of 5-10 dollar wines from my collection. Perhaps the highlight of the night was the beer display along with the coffee table and the band which was in the separate room that many of the patrons did not find out about until later in the event. As far as the main attraction was concerned-Guy Fieri-he showed up late in the evening about 7:45 or so. He took a few selfies with some or the paying customers and for no reason al all decided to talk with the staff and people serving the tapas and doing picture taking with them instead of paying attention to the people waiting in line to have him accommodate them with a picture. He was a disappointment to say the least and acted like a celebrity on an ego trip who was more concerned with his own image than the advertisement we were to have received. I am no longer a fan of Guy. Three stars-yes-at 90 dollars I would have given 3.5 stars. A lot of hype and feeding frenzy for people to be a part of the event and have nothing to do but spend more than necessary. read more

I agree with lulu d. This event was such a letdown after having attended the Masters of Food and wine for several years. It was loud, crowded, and there was absolutely no place to sit! You had to take your tiny plate of food and hope that there was a spot available on one of the small counters nearby to set your plate. And what was up with the model? Do we really need some skinny person parading around accompanied by loud music and someone yelling "Is everyone having a good time?" I felt like I was in mosh pit for foodies. This was truly not the first-class affair that I expected. Heck if you want noise, munchies and wine, go to the wine tastings at Fort Mason in San Francisco. They're just as bad. At least at the Masters of Food and Wine, it was quiet, and you had a dedicated table for the duration of the event you attended. And there was so much more food. This event was even more expensive than the Masters of Food and Wine. What a waste. We definitely will not be returning, nor will we recommend it to anyone. read more