9th Annual LAWineFest
The ninth annual LAWineFest showcases hundreds of top wines, plus craft brews, cocktails, seminars and classes, food trucks (Kogi BBQ, Border Grill, El Nosh, Grilled Cheese Truck, Surfer Taco) and chef demos from local chefs including Tony Esnault and Eric Greenspan.
WHAT: 9th Annual LAWineFest
WHEN: Saturday, May 31, 2-6 p.m., and Sunday, June 1, 12-5 p.m.
WHERE: Historic Raleigh Studios, 5300 Melrose Ave., Hollywood; 323-466-3111.
COST: One-day: $85 single; $150 couple; $25 designated driver; VIP upgrade is $40 Saturday, $25 Sunday. ]

Taste of the Eastside 
The fourth annual Taste of the Eastside food and drink festival showcases more than two dozen restaurants, including Canele, Little Beast, Night + Market Song, Black Hogg, HomeState and Allumette. This year's festival is being held at Cypress Park (it had been at Barnsdall Art Park in Los Feliz), which the organizers say reflects greater emphasis on the “emerging food scene of Northeast Los Angeles.” All proceeds from Taste of the Eastside will be donated to local organizations, including Friends of the Los Angeles River and the Pablove Foundation. Rose Scharlin Cooperative Nursery School, L.A.'s oldest co-op for kids, is the primary beneficiary and organizer of the event.
WHAT: Taste of the Eastside 
WHEN: Sunday, June 1, 4-8 p.m. (VIP ticketholder entry at 2:30 p.m.)
WHERE: The Los Angeles River Center and Gardens in Cypress Park, 570 W. Avenue 26, Los Angeles.
COST: Adults $40-$70; children $5.

UpClose: Dan Barber in conversation with Evan Kleiman
KCRW presents Good Food's Evan Kleiman in conversation with award-winning chef Dan Barber of Blue Hill restaurant in New York City and Blue Hill at Stone Barns in New York's Hudson Valley. They'll discuss Barber's new book, The Third Plate: Field Notes on the Future of Food, which reimagines the sustainable-food movement from a chef's perspective.
WHAT: Dan Barber in conversation with Evan Kleiman
WHEN: Friday, June 6, 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Mack Sennett Studios, 1215 Bates Ave., Los Angeles
COST: $25 (general admission, seated).

Taste of the Nation
This annual food event, hosted this year by Cooking Channel's Alie Ward and Georgia Hardstark and organized by Share Our Strength, is dedicated to ending childhood hunger – a good enough reason to go out and spend the day with some of this town's best chefs. This year, these include Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger (Border Grill), Ray Garcia (FIG), and Joe Miller (Joe's Restaurant, Bar Pintxo), plus folks from 800 Degrees Neapolitan Pizza, Allumette, Bourbon Steak, Chaya/M Café, East Borough, Faith & Flower, Girasol, ICDC, Melisse, Mo-Chica, Mud Hen, Phorage, Plan Check, Sqirl and Superba Food + Bread. Drinks will be from the Bruery, El Segundo Brewing Co., Soigné Group, Congenial Spirits, Blue Bottle Coffee and Intelligentsia.
WHAT: Share Our Strength's Taste of the Nation 
WHEN: Sunday, June 1, 1-4 p.m.
WHERE: Media Park, 9070 Venice Blvd., Culver City
COST: $110 general admission, $160 VIP.

600 Years of Mexican Wine at Loteria Grill
Jimmy Shaw of Loteria Grill celebrates the launch of Fina Stampa, a yearlong culinary series celebrating the best of Mexican culture and regional Mexican cuisine. Loteria Grill Hollywood presents a six-course  tasting menu by Shaw and guest chef Javier Plascencia, with uniquely paired Baja California wines. Food historian Maite Gomez-Rejon will speak on the history of Mexican wine while Chef de Música Raúl Campos from KCRW spins Latin beats.
WHAT: Loteria Grill Baja Wine Dinner 
WHEN: Wednesday, June 4, 7:30 p.m. (To RSVP, guests need to purchase tickets at this link.) 
WHERE: Loteria Grill Hollywood, 6627 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood.
COST: $75 per person; complimentary valet parking.

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