Food & Liquor Festivals, Fairs and Fun Things To Do in August

The amount of fairs, festivals and showcases taking place across the nation during the upcoming month of August are astounding. From Sac-town to San Diego and everywhere in between, people can be found celebrating everything from homemade brews and wines to corn, soul food, crawfish and grapes. The great state of California has a climate unmatched by many places in the world and with that come some incredibly delicious delectable’s, drinks and custom creations that cannot be found anywhere else. 

Below is a list of upcoming events that are surely not to be missed. The even better thing about each and every one of these events is that they are family friendly (yes even the ones that serve liquor) and all take place in areas that are surrounded by historical landmarks, beautiful beaches and people that just want to have a good time. Another great thing about August is that it marks the end of Summer and soon all of the kids running in the streets will back in school and out of the way of us serious eaters.

August 1, 2013  An Evening on the Beach - Santa Monica, California
Notable Los Angeles chefs each preparing a signature dish on an open grill set directly on the sand. Guests will sample tempting summer menus, enjoy freshly shucked oysters and taste the wines of select boutique vintners. Live music. The silent auction will feature an expanded selection of very special luxury travel. Benefitting St. Vincent Meals on Wheels 

August 1-4, 2013  18th Annual Mammoth Festival of Beers & Bluesapalooza
Mammoth Lakes, California
Mammoth's Festival of Beers features more than 70 of the country's best microbreweries. Along with the beer and blues, a "Blues-style" BBQ and plenty of other food will satisfy the heartiest of appetites and keep the party going. Don't forget the Sunday Morning Hangover Party.

August 2-4, 2013  65th Annual La Habra Corn Festival - La Habra, California
Food, Rides, Games, Music and Fun for the Whole Family. Meet Miss La Habra and her court when you purchase raffle tickets for a New Car or other great Prizes. Enjoy hot buttery Corn on the Cob, great Sandwiches, sweet warm Funnel Cakes and other Tasty Treats. Be sure to visit the new Corn Festival Marketplace.

August 3, 2013  Plate by Plate Annual Tasting Benefit - Los Angeles, California
This signature gala will once again showcase savory food and dessert delicacies prepared by talented chefs from the best restaurants in Los Angeles, as well as samplings from premier wineries and beverage companies. 
 
August 3, 2013  5th Annual Soul Food Festival - Stockton, California
Live music, great food, carnival rides, pony rides, classic car shows, free prizes..and much more.

August 3, 2013  Outdoor Hunting Expo - Stockton, California
This event, The Outdoor Hunting Expo is a one day hunter extravaganza for all ages. It includes FREE target shooting, Vendor Booths, Food Booths, swap meet and a JR trap Shoot. Proceeds from this event help fund the California Hunting Hertage Program and the Stockton Sportsmen's Club Junior, Women & Disabled Hunting Programs.

August 3-4, 2013  626 Night Market - Arcadia, California
The 626 Night Market is the largest Asian night market in the U.S. featuring over 150 local restaurants, food vendors, entrepreneurs, merchandise vendors, artists, musicians, and non-profit groups. Night markets are a staple in Asian societies with the primary focus on hundreds of different Asian street food and merchandise vendors. The 626 Night Market brings the energy and spirit of Asian night markets to Los Angeles. June 8-9; July 6-7 & August 3-4, 2013.

August 3-4, 2013  20th Annual Long Beach Crawfish Festival - Long Beach, California
The Long Beach Crawfish Festival serves Cajun Crawfish dinners that include red baby potatoes, buttery corn on the cob and delectable remoulade dipping sauce. You can dance to Cajun and Zydeco Bands, join the Second Line Dancing Parade, enjoy the beach bars, culture and Big Easy atmosphere. General Admission is $15, with Crawfish Feast and Crawfish Buckets ranging from $38 to $48. Presale discount tickets available. Children under 12 free when accompanied by an adult. The festival is located at Rainbow Lagoon, 400-403 Shoreline Village Drive and is open from 12pm to 11pm on Saturday and 12pm to 10pm on Sunday. For additional information call 562-495-5959.

August 10, 2013  Yorkville Highlands Wine Festival - Yorkville, California
Boar And Lamb BBQ, Over 30 Local Wines, Live Music, Grape Stomp, Silent Auction

August 10, 2013  California Beer Festival--Santa Cruz
Aptos Village Park, Aptos, California
Beautiful Aptos Village Park will be the site of the festival, with over 70 craft beers, three bands, mouth watering food, and bocce ball. The CBF's main goal is to shine a light on the craft beer movement and celebrate great beer. 

August 10, 2013  7th Annual San Rafael Food & Wine Festival - San Rafael, California
Festival-goers will enjoy food from area restaurants and sample wines from 25 of the region's outstanding boutique wineries. In addition, there will be a chef demonstration area featuring a number of area restaurants. Admission to the event is free.

August 12-13, 2013  Spirits of Mexico Tasting Competition - San Diego, California
Internationally recognized industry experts, in a blind tasting, will select which brands will be awarded the coveted 2013 Spirits of Mexico Medals. Please note that this is not a public event.

August 16-18, 2013  52nd Annual Sunland-Tujunga Watermelon Festival
Pasadena, California
Watermelon carving demonstrations, recipe, eating, seed spitting and wearable art contests. Live music, bazaar market place, arcade and watermelon themed games, an array of festival food favorites and beverages. Fun for the whole family. $10 for adults, $5 for children. Festival times are Friday from 4pm to 10pm and Saturday and Sunday from noon to 10pm. 

August 16-18, 2013  3rd Annual Long Beach BBQ Festival - Long Beach, California
The best BBQ Chefs from around the country gather to grill award-winning ribs, chicken, sausage, pulled pork and other delicacies. Judging and trophies are awarded to both amateur and professional participants. Two stages provide entertainment for adults and children with artisan exhibits and cantinas. General admission tickets are $15.00. Food items range from $2.00 to $25.00. VIP tickets are $75.00. Children's tickets are $10.00. Presale advance tickets are available through the website. 

August 17, 2013  LA Taco Festival - Los Angeles, California
Join us for the 3rd Annual LA Taco Festival, welcoming back our Pinches Tacos, Tacos Candelas and the addition of ten new taco vendors! Featuring live music, artists, community resources and more!

August 17-18, 2013  4th Annual Sausage & Beer Festival - Cherry Valley, California

August 17-18, 2013  18th Annual Grape to Glass - Russian River Valley, California
Created, organized and hosted by the people of the Russian River Valley, Grape to Glass encourages you to live like a local as you indulge in a weekend of Northern California wine country living.

August 18-20, 2013  Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo - Los Angeles, California
The Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo is the only all-encompassing event in California for the restaurant and foodservice industry, making it THE one-stop source for everything you need to succeed in today's market.  We are pleased to co-locate the Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo with Expo Comida Latina.

August 18-20, 2013  Expo Comida Latina - Los Angeles, California
Expo Comida Latina is three days of total immersion in authentic, specialty gourmet and mainstream Hispanic American food and beverages.  Expo Comida Latina and the Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo will both take place at the Los Angeles Convention Center in 2013

August 22, 2013  3rd Annual Noe Valley Wine Walk - San Francisco, California
The tasting event will be located throughout 24th Street from Diamond to Chattanooga and will include restaurants and merchants offering wine samples, finger foods and special treats. There will be a free cable car shuttle making designated stops to pick up and drop off attendees during the event.

August 23-25, 2013  Make-A-Wish Tuna Challenge - San Diego, California
Since 1991, the annual Tuna Challenge has raised over $2.6 million to make wishes come true. The event is the largest tuna fishing competition in the continental United States, and the largest fundraiser of the year for Make-A-Wish San Diego. 
(also: www.makeawish-sd.org/calendar/ )

August 24, 2013  Taste of Brews - Long Beach, California
Taste of Brews is heading to Lighthouse Park in Long Beach on Sat., August 24th, 2013 for a summer festival featuring dozens of seasonal, craft and micro-brews paired alongside cuisine from local eateries. Admission includes craft beer tastes, snacks, water and more. Food trucks will be selling delicious beer friendly food and local restaurants will also be on hand sampling their best.

August 24-25, 2013  19th Annual Bodega Bay Seafood Art & Wine Festival
Bodega, California
Featuring a wide array of seafood entrees from various restaurants and catering companies, along with a large wine and microbrew tasting. The wine tasting will feature 30 wineries from Sonoma, Napa, and Mendocino counties. A juried high quality art and craft marketplace, and lots of great entertainment. The event benefits the Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods and the Bodega volunteer fire dept.

LA Weekly presents Plate at the Peterson Auto Museum March 3rd 2013

LA Weekly will be hosting their annual Food & Wine Event, “Plate” at the Peterson Auto Museum on March 3^rd and this is event you surely don’t want to miss. Proceeds for the event will benefit the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank and you know how much we support anything that does good for Food Banks around the world. Restaurants participating in this years Plate include Picca, Mo-Chica, Tom Bergins, Philippe’s, The Hungry Cat, Border Grill, Huckleberry, Wurstküche & many, many more. Sponsors for the event include Stella Artois, Birchware, Gelsons Markets, Voss, Hendricks Gins, Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum, Hornitos Tequila, Jarritos & many more as well.

Truly these kinds of events don’t happen often where you can gather so much wonderful information’s about brands you weren’t aware of and restaurants that you must give a try. 

We look forward to bringing you some amazing coverage as well as even seeing you in attendance.

For more information check out: LAWeekly.Com or LA Weekly presents Plate 

Captain Morgan Holiday Punch Recipes

As Hanukkah, Christmas & New Years rapidly approach, having the right libations to serve your guests (should you be having a party) is as crucial as making sure they don’t drive home drunk. Nothing says “we are getting turned up tonight” like a big bowl of perfectly blended and festively colored punch. These two recipes are classics in our kitchen and go a long way with house party guests especially when the temperatures are steadily dropping outside.

Enjoy Responsibly.

Privateer’s Punch

Captain Morgan® Black Privateer Punch

(For a Crew of 35)

Ingredients:

1 bottle Captain Morgan Black Spiced Rum (750ml)

3 bottles of Red Wine (750ml)

2 Oranges (washed & sliced)

2 Lemons (washed & sliced)      

½ lb Cherries (washed & pitted)

1 liter Pepsi or Coke

Directions: 

Chill all  of the ingredients.

In a large punch bowl, crush the fresh fruit to extract the juices.

Combine all of the liquids and add a large block of ice.

Serve the punch in wine glasses with pieces of fruit.

PORT ROYAL PUNCH (Serves 25)

Ingredients:

Two (2) 46-ounce cans of pineapple juice

3 cups Mango juice

1 bottle of Captain Morgan® Original Spiced Rum (750ml)

4.5 oz of grenadine

3 Oranges (washed, sliced thinly and quartered)

3 cans of Sprite for carbonation

In a punch bowl or large serving vessel, add the above ingredients and stir.

Serve over ice in a punch-glass or the glass of your choosing.

Channel Your Inner Moulin Rouge, September 14th @ The Santa Monica Bay Woman's Club

WHAT: 

Parlez-vous Cabaret? Get ready for a night of Cancan, feathers and glitz “à la mode de Paris” with a medley of French talents, food and wine!

No need for passport or a 12-hour flight to enjoy the romance of Paris! The ‘French Troubadours’ of the Bastille Day Los Angeles Festival are coming back to Santa Monica. Around Lola Ohlala, the personalities of five Parisian Cabaret dancers unfold to the sensual music of Juliette Greco, Serge Gainsbourg, and Max Raabe among others. Performers include:

Jenny Eloise Rieu - ‘The Lady in Red’ is a French ‘vintage singer’ as she calls herself who will take you on journey to a time and place of old world elegance and glamor.

Cabaret Versatile – recipient of the Best Cabaret and Variety Show of the Hollywood Fringe Festival, 2012 — will perform its latest revue with five amazing dancers choreographed by Lola Ohlala.

Evyn Charles - a soulful and engaging singer will deliver superb vocals with an extensive repertoire of cover songs and originals in French and English.

WHERE:

Santa Monica Bay Woman's Club - 1210 Fourth Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401

WHEN:

Friday, September 14, 2012 - starting 8:00 PM

Homemade Funnel Cake w/ Wine Syrup

Today is National Pastry Day. Some people because of their diets have come to loathe and detest pastries, but I must ask what have they ever done to you? I mean honestly who doesn’t like to hit up the Summer fair and get themselves a Funnel Cake or some sort of oversized sweet treat that should suffice any carb cravings for the year.  This recipe resembles a Funnel Cake to be honest you just didn’t have the joy of paying $11.00 for it.

I know we just had Thanksgiving and many of us are trying to eat light for the remainder of the year, well if that is the case, then this recipe isn’t for you, at least not right now it isn’t (but save it for later.)

This recipe pulls together in less than 30 minutes, is easy to clean up and is the perfect after dinner treat to snack on while consuming strong libations such as a Whiskey neat or a traditional High Ball.

Enjoy!

Ingredients

For the Syrup:

2 cups dry red wine

¾ cup sugar

1 cinnamon stick

2 whole cloves

2 strips orange zest

1 bay leaf

For the Pastries:

1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking powder

½ tsp salt

1 large egg, lightly beaten

Grated zest of 2 oranges

2 TBS fresh orange juice

Vegetable oil, for frying Confectioners' sugar, for dusting

1 cup pomegranate seeds

Directions:

Make the syrup:

Bring the wine, sugar, cinnamon stick, cloves, orange zest and bay leaf to a simmer in a saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring; cook until reduced to 3/4 cup, about 15 minutes.

Let cool completely.

Discard the bay leaf.

Make the pastries:

Whisk the flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl.

Add 1/2 cup water, the egg, orange zest and juice and whisk until just combined. 

Transfer the batter to a plastic squeeze bottle.

Heat 1 1/2 inches vegetable oil in a shallow pot over medium heat until a deep-fry thermometer registers 380 degrees F.

Squeeze the batter into the oil into 2-inch rounds; fry, turning once, until puffed and golden, 1 to 2 minutes.

Drain on paper towels.

Dust with confectioners' sugar and top with pomegranate seeds and wine syrup.

Celebrate National Wine Day Accordingly

Step Your Bar Game Up. 1 Fresh Bar Tool (In 3 Fly Styles) That Everyone Should Own

Everyone knows that a good house party will eventually gravitate from the dance floor towards either the kitchen or a well stocked bar area. Having the right tools to assist in making the night flow effortlessly is of high importance, when any event is taking place within the walls of your own home. 

It is truly no fun attending a party where someone is thoughtful enough to bring the host a few bottles of something they delicately selected, only to have the host say, "I do not have anything to open that with." The guy who uses his teeth or the backside of a lighter may be a hit at some functions, but what about when the time calls for a much more refined sense of style? 

These our friends, are the exact moments where having a bit of knowledge, a few good products that will last a lifetime and a bit of savoir faire, will take you much further than you could have ever expected.

Screwpull, a brand synonymous with luxury and class has newly released 1 life style product in 3 classic styles, all aimed to help upgrade the knowledge and style points with these fresh products designed for the expert wine drinker or all around libation specialist in all of us.