Food festivals are notoriously crowded—and sometimes, frankly, even gross, with dirty plates left on every available surface and long, unruly lines for tasting stations and parking lots.
But the two food and wine festivals that just wrapped in Los Angeles—Los Angeles Food & Wine at various locations around town and the Los Angeles Times's Labor Day weekend the Taste at Paramount—both demonstrated numerous ways to keep the experience elegant and fuss-free.
From hands-free wine glasses to impeccable food presentation and smart sponsor integrations, here's a look at how they did it.
Los Angeles Food & Wine
Photo: Courtesy of Los Angeles Food & Wine Festival & Tyrone D. Washington
Los Angeles Food & Wine
Photo: Courtesy of Los Angeles Food & Wine Festival & Tyrone D. Washington
Los Angeles Food & Wine
Photo: Tomo Musiconico
Los Angeles Food & Wine
Photo: Courtesy of Los Angeles Food & Wine Festival & Tyrone D. Washington
Los Angeles Food & Wine
Photo: Alesandra Dubin/BizBash
'Los Angeles Times's the Taste
Photo: Marie Astrid Gonzalez
'Los Angeles Times's the Taste
Photo: Courtesy of Los Angeles Food & Wine Festival
'Los Angeles Times's the Taste
Photo: Marie Astrid Gonzalez
'Los Angeles Times's the Taste
Photo: Marie Astrid Gonzalez
'Los Angeles Times's the Taste
Photo: Marie Astrid Gonzalez
'Los Angeles Times's the Taste
Photo: Marie Astrid Gonzalez
'Los Angeles Times's the Taste
Photo: Marie Astrid Gonzalez
'Los Angeles Times's the Taste
Photo: Marie Astrid Gonzalez
'Los Angeles Times's the Taste
Photo: Marie Astrid Gonzalez
'Los Angeles Times's the Taste
Photo: Marie Astrid Gonzalez