3rd Annual Los Angeles Food & Wine Festival

In its third year, the Los Angeles Food & Wine Festival returns to the city with events featuring 100-plus chefs and culinary celebrities, including Giada De Laurentiis, Ben Ford and Thomas Keller. This year the festival will feature a heavy musical component, inviting DJ ?uestlove of The Roots, Ziggy Marley and Gavin DeGraw to perform at the event.

WHAT: 3rd Annual Los Angeles Food & Wine Festival.

WHEN: Friday, Aug. 22, to Sunday, Aug. 25; times vary.

WHERE: Various downtown locations, including L.A. Center Studios and Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.

COST: $50 for cooking demo to $995 for VIP festival guest package.

Cookbook Giveaway

Books for Cooks (located inside Abednego Book Shoppe) is giving away one free cookbook per visitor over the weekend; no purchase is necessary to receive one. The shop boasts a selection that spans not only regional American cuisines but international varieties as well.

WHAT: Cookbook Giveaway

WHEN: Friday, Aug. 23, and Saturday, Aug. 24.

WHERE: Books for Cooks at Abednego Book Shoppe, 2682 E. Main St., Ventura; (805) 643-9350.

COST: Free

Cocktail Classrooms at Cinco

A class on American whiskey will be in session at Cinco, focusing on the study of bourbon and rye varieties. It'll mark the launch of an ongoing monthly series on all things spirits at the Westchester cantina. The cost of the class is inclusive of the whiskey tutorial with tasting, cocktail instruction featuring the whiskeys, as well as a lunch of tacos, quesadillas, chips and salsa and a side of rice and beans.

WHAT: Cocktail Classrooms at Cinco

WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 24, 2 p.m.

WHERE: Cinco, 7241 W. Manchester, Los Angeles; (310) 910-0895.

COST: $45 presale; $55 at the door.

And in related news:

– Cookbook Sneak Peek: The A.O.C. Cookbook + Suzanne Goin's Fattoush Summer Salad Recipe

– Los Angeles Times The Taste Coming Labor Day Weekend

– Science Can Now Tell Real Whiskey from Fake

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