The Newport Beach Food Festival returned this past weekend after a successful inaugural event last year. The festival featured three days of superb wine tasting, creative cuisine from some of Orange County’s best restaurants, food seminars, celebrity chefs, live music, and much more.
The weekend kicked off on Friday with an evening launch party at a restaurant and continued on Saturday and Sunday at the green area of Newport Beach’s Civic Center. The Grand Tasting (unlimited samples) took place during those two days under two big white tents.
I had the honor to attend the event for the first time thanks to my friends at Celebrity Cruises (Platinum Sponsors).
This festival is unique in the sense that it provides a different restaurant lineup each tasting day. In that way, there is more opportunity to have a bite and get to know the best chefs in the county.
The festival arranged cooking demos with Bravo TV “Top Chef Masters” and “Top Chef” stars. It was very exciting to learn a few tricks from chefs such as Hubert Keller and Rick Bayless (which by the way, are super nice).
Without further ado, here I am presenting a photographic journey through this gastronomic bonanza.
Every time I post food festival photos, I am accused of not including a disclaimer warning people who may take a look at the photos hungry or, even starving. So, here is your official notice: this post may induce extreme hunger and other side effects!
Table of Contents
Newport Beach Food Festival: Saturday Highlights
Bayside
Red O (Rick Bayless’ Restaurant)
Waterline Newport Beach
Oak Grill
True Food Kitchen
Canaletto
Twenty Eight
Mastro’s Steakhouse
Honda Center
The Winery
Driftwood Kitchen
B. Candy
Pelican Grill
Newport Beach Food Festival: Sunday Highlights
Selanne Steak Tavern
Studio
A & O
Stonehill Tavern
Five Crowns & Side Door
Dell Frisco’s
Fig & Olive
Andrea Pelican Hill
Montage Laguna Beach
Chefs and Cooking Demonstrations
Attendees and Venue
Celebrity Cruises Platinum Sponsor
Newport Beach Food Festival: Details
- Additional Festival Information can be found here
- Do not forget to take advantages of Celebrity Cruises specials
- The cruise line also offers the Top Chef experience at sea.
More of California
Los Angeles Ultimate Bucket List
Weekend Getaways from Los Angeles
Ultimate San Diego Bucket List
Places to Visit in Santa Barbara
Have you been to the Newport Beach Food Festival? Which dish do you prefer?
Disclosure: I attended the event with a media pass. However, all the opinions expressed here, as always, are my own. May thanks to Celebrity Cruises and PR Media for their hospitality.
Anna says
I must admit that from all the festivals you’ve posted about, this is by far my favorite one. It looks like it’s very well organized and the food is so nicely presented. I particularly liked the look of the foie gras at Selanne Steak Tavern and the cookies at B. Candy! I’m really convinced that I HAVE to move to California!!
Ruth says
Anna, all the arrangements in this festival were exquisite. I have never seen such beautiful furniture, vases, flower and chandeliers at a similar event. The food was delicious and handsomely presented.
Kana says
I must have missed this, what a bummer! I was too busy at the L.A Donut Festival, haha – I guess at least we both got some delicious food! I’ll have to check it out next year! xo
Ruth says
A donut festival sounds like a lot of fun! But, if you are a foodie, you have to attend this event next year. It will blow your mind.
Joyful says
That looks like a wonderful event with some fantastic foods to sample.
Ruth says
The food was great and I was able to add a lot of restaurant to my must visit list. Plus, I was cool to see the chefs in action.
Photo cache says
I love watching Rick Bayless; foodie bucket list is to eat at his restaurant in Chi-town someday!
Ruth says
I have a lot of respect for Rick Bayless. He really knows his craft. His food demonstration was so engaging. I learned a lot by listening to him. Now, I want to eat in one of his restaurants.
Brooke says
Oh my word, the food looks delicious, especially the roasted vegetables. What a fun treat for you!
Ruth says
Those roasted vegetables were the bomb! They were served with two delicious dipping sauces. It is hard to believe that something so simple tastes so good.
image-in-ing (weekly photo linky) says
Marvelously mouthwatering shots as always!
Thanks for linking up at http://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2015/10/poor-little-birdie.html
Karen says
How cool that you got to meet Rick Bayless and Hubert Keller. Sounds like a great time. It all looks pretty tasty, but I’m most hungry for Dell Frisco’s and Driftwood Kitchen. Never been to either place, but what you photographed looks delicious!
Ruth says
It was really exciting to sit down and listen / observe these chefs. The food from the restaurants you mentioned was some of the best. The porchetta sandwich was full of flavor.
Lana says
Did you get to try everything pictured? Is that bone marrow?
Ruth says
Yes, I tried everything I photographed. I tried more things since some photos didn’t come out the way I wanted. The bone marrow was included in one of the dishes but in a mousse form.
Lea says
Fantastic!
Ruth says
Thanks! I had so much fun and ate a lot. So, yes, it was fantastic.
Lyndall says
Oh Ruth, yet another wonderful post with great photos. All that food looks amazing. You’ve made me feel so hungry!
Ruth says
Thanks Lyndall. You know you can count on me for that.
Muza-chan says
All looks delicious….
Ruth says
Yes, it was delicious. Those chefs now how to cook like angels.
Malinda @mybrownpaperpackages says
Ha ha – thanks for the heads up, definitely made me hungry.
Thanks for linking up to #wednesdaywanderlust
Ruth says
See, at least, I am letting you guys know that tons of food pictures are coming. As always, thanks for stopping by.
Suze - Luxury Columnist says
This festival looks like a lot of fun, I’d have been tempted to sample everything!
Lyn (aka) The Travelling Lindfields says
When I read the title to your post, I thought yes, great – I’m definitely putting this in the calendar for next year but then I realised you weren’t talking about Newport in Sydney, Australia. Oh well, maybe this is a good reason to plan a visit to Newport, Orange County on our next trip to the US.
Sally@Toddlers on Tour says
What a great selection of morsels to devour, yes my taste buds going 🙂 .
Ruth says
In a festival, you keep eating and eating. Then, when you take a look at all the photos, it is difficult to believe how much you ate. But, it was so much fun!
Bumble Bee Mum says
Why do you have so many food festivals to go to?? Every time I pop into your blog, I get bombarded with food photos. And they are always in such enticing bite-sized portions – something I totally adore because I am a variety over quantity foodie. OMG, those macaroons. I need to go cafe shopping again soon.
Ruth says
Southern California has became the unofficial capital of food festivals. There are so many that I cannot keep count of them. I feel so bless because of the opportunity I have to attend some. I am thankful for the great people that invite me.
Hilde says
All those good looking dishes! I would like to taste at least some of them. They are looking so delicious!
Greetings, Hilde
Ruth says
Glad to know you enjoyed the post. Thanks for stopping by and joining the food goodness.
Jessi (Two Feet, One World) says
Wow, I must admit I bypassed your warning and read this pre-dinner, and I shouldn’t have – it all looks so delicious! I love how you’ve captured all the colours of the beautiful different dishes.
Ruth says
I’ve always wanted to go to a food festival, and now I do even more. Your pictures, as usual, are fantastic – even though I wasn’t hungry when I started reading, by the time I got to the end of the blog, I was!
budget jan says
The clarity of your close up food shots is amazing Ruth. Luckily I’ve just eaten lunch.
Dean says
This event looks absolutely incredible. Not only have you made me very hungry but I had no idea Rick Bayliss had west coast restaurants. Another reason to visit the USA again.
Kathy Marris says
Yum, yum, yum!! The presentation of this food is amazing. I’m hoping it is just as delicious as it looks. What a great festival.
Tara says
What an amazing presentation. I’m sure it was as good as it looks. Awesome photos!
XX, Will Travel says
Your photos are mouthwatering! Great pictures!
Lauren says
Looks like you had a great time and ate so much yummy food! Though I only tend to go to vegetarian food festivals so I can eat everything there, it looks like you got to eat some veggies here, too 🙂
Courtney {Alkeks Abroad} says
Everything looks soon good! I want to scarf down those brussels sprouts!
Linda Bibb says
Oh Ruth, once again you’ve made my mouth water! I’m loving your photos. Do you have any tips for good food photography?
Lauren says
Once again drooling over all of your mouthwatering food photos! This all looks amazingly delicious!!
Packing my Suitcase says
Ohh my! Sooo many amazing things to eat, I would be crazy there!
Great photos of the event 😀
Thank you for linking up with #MondayEscapes
Jen says
Oh my goodness! How incredibly overwhelming. I don’t know how you would ever choose where to look, what to eat. Man. I think those roasted veggies speak to me the most. They look fabulous!
Thank you for joining us for Photo Friday again this week!
Lauren Meshkin @BonVoyageLauren says
Ahhh, I MUST attend next year! Looks fabulous. Wonderful photos, thanks for sharing!
Happy travels 🙂
Natasha says
Oh my gosh, the food here looks amazing Ruth! I could just imagine tasting all of these – it must have been foodie heaven. You always take such stunning photos of them all too. I need to go to something like this, at least once, I think! – Tasha
Mary {The World Is A Book} says
I just had dinner and I suddenly feel like eating again. Wow..that was a gastronomic experience! Beautiful photos, Ruth. I love the presentation. This looks like such a wonderful event to attend. I wish I lived closer to Newport to try and figure out how to attend this event next time.