Provence Dinner at Maison Giraud
Maison Giraud's Four Star Dinner series continues its Tour de France, with each dinner exploring a different part of chef Alain Giraud's home country. For one night only, Giraud will create a seven-course tasting menu featuring food and wine from the region of Provence. Seating is limited.
WHAT: Provence dinner
WHEN: Thursday, Aug. 28, 6-10 p.m.
WHERE: Maison Giraud, 1032 Swarthmore Ave., Pacific Palisades. 310-459-7561
COST: Dinner $75, wine pairing $45

]

The Taste
The Los Angeles Times kicks off its annual food festival, the Taste, on Labor Day weekend. The folks from that paper's Food section join local chefs for a weekend of discussions, cooking and cocktail demos, wine seminars — and actual food and drink. Among the many activities: cooking demos by Nancy Silverton, Jimmy Shaw, John Sedlar, Karen Hatfield and Casey Lane, among many others; a butchery demo by Amelia Posada; Russ Parsons chats with Thomas Keller; Jonathan Gold and Betty Hallock host a mixology demo; and a farmers market cooking panel with Roxana Jullapat, Jessica Koslow and Josiah Citrin. 
WHAT: The Taste
WHEN: Friday, Aug. 29, through Sunday, Aug. 31.
WHERE: Paramount Pictures Studios, 5555 Melrose Ave., Hollywood 
COST: A weekend pass goes for $299; tickets for individual events run from $175 down to a kids brunch for $5. Check out the website for details and to buy tickets. (LAT subscribers get a $25 discount.)

Sylmar Olive Festival
The Sylmar Olive Festival celebrates the history of olives in Sylmar. The event, which runs through Labor Day weekend, will feature live music, a kids corner, merchants selling olives, oil and other olive-y things, and a ton of food vendors. Regular fair food will be available, as well as olive tacos, Greek food, olive empanadas, Korean fried olives and more. 
WHAT: Sylmar Olive Festival
WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 30, noon-8 p.m.; Sunday, Aug. 31, noon-8 p.m.; Monday, Sept. 1, noon-8 p.m.
WHERE: El Cariso Park, 13100 Hubbard St., Sylmar.
COST: $8 adults, kids under 5'4″ free.

Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. Thank you for supporting LA Weekly and our advertisers.