Michele StuevenThe Newport Beach Wine Festival takes place this weekend at Balboa Bay Resort. The three-day waterfront event kicks off with a ticketed five-course dinner and wine pairing sponsored by Duckhorn Winery, a speakeasy tasting by Macallan Whiskey, followed by two days of Grand Tasting at the resort along PCH. There will be more than 60 vendors, coastal-inspired bites, live music and aerialists. The event begins Friday, May 26, at 6 p.m., with a dinner and reception with Duckhorn Winery. The dinner in the Lighthouse Room will accompany the tasting, courtesy of Balboa Bay Resort’s Executive Chef Prabeen Prathapan, including wild Morro Bay smoked salmon roulade, Mishima ultra wagyu ribeye, and Meyer lemon cake with Grand Marnier coconut curd.
The festivities continue on Saturday, May 27, and Sunday, May 28, with more than 50 wine and spirits vendors, live music, and hors d’oeuvres. Participating vendors include DAOU, 818 Tequila, Off Hours Bourbon, Martin Ray & Angeline, and more.
Culinary Curation, which brought the shincha (the first batch of Japanese green tea) event in 2021 and tea shaved ice in 2022, will bring a series of different Japanese tea pop-ups this year. First up is Cha-kaiseki at Shibumi DTLA on Sunday, May 28, followed by others on Saturday, June 3, and Sunday, June 4. There will be a Japanese Tea pairing featuring OWIU ceramic and a Japanese Sweets Tasting, a collaborative event with a Japanese Cookie company and local chef Kiyoshi Tsukamoto. Culinary Curation will offer the first cha-kaiseki dinner at Shibumi, by reservation only on Tock.
Japanese Tea Pairing (Courtesy Culinary Curation)
City Club Los Angeles is offering a secret garden pop-up experience now through Friday, June 30. Located on the 51st floor of the City National Plaza, guests are invited to dine among the stars while enjoying sweeping views of the Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles skyline, Santa Monica and Dodger Stadium. The newly launched Secret Garden, an immersive and Instagram-worthy experience, has transformed Aperture Lounge into a colorful garden oasis.
City Club LA’s Secret Garden pop-up experience is open to the public on select days and times, with exclusive access for members. Book a reservation here
Little Dom’s Seafood’s Santa Maria Grill Summer Series in Carpinteria kicks off on Saturday, May 27, and will serve some of the region’s favorite barbecue dishes made on the restaurant’s new Santa Maria Grill, including Calabrese chicken wings, barbecue oysters, tri-tip sandwiches, and more. The Series will take place on the fourth Saturday of each month through Labor Day weekend. Dates include: May 27, June 24, July 22, Aug. 26 and Sept. 2.
Evil Twin and Hotcakes Bakes’ upcoming pop-up with Kitchen El Camino on Saturday, May 27, kicks off the Memorial Day weekend from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. The Culver City joint bakery and wine bar will feature Kitchen El Camino’s arepas, a live DJ vinyl set from DJ LITO, natural wines and desserts. Stick & Poke Tattoos from Blake VanAmersfoorth and Vintage Clothes Vendors (Bad Will Vintage & Selling Garbage) will also be on hand.
Courtesy Hotcakes Bakes
The Shop by Jasmine Roth from HGTV’s Help! I Wrecked My House! will host two workshops the first weekend of June at 2ND & PCH.
The Grazing Board Workshop on Saturday, June 3, from 10:30 a.m. to noon, will teach participants how to create the perfect grazing board. Tickets for the event are $75 per person and include a cheese board from The Shop by Jasmine Roth, supplies to build your board and a welcome drink upon arrival. Attendees receive 15% off any additional same-day purchases.
On Sunday, June 4, The Shop by Jasmine Roth will collaborate with The Cookie Curator for a Cookie Decorating Workshop from 10 a.m. to noon. Create your own custom cookie set, and stay for sips and shopping. Tickets for the event are $110 per person and include an apron from The Shop by Jasmine Roth, cookie-decorating supplies and a welcome drink. Attendees receive 15% off same-day purchases and matching kids aprons will be available to add on for $10. Tickets for both events are limited and available now. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit JasmineRoth.com.
What’s Popping Up is a weekly column in the L.A. Weekly that explores all that’s new in food and drink.
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