#1 Food, Wine & Hospitality Industry Event
The growing festival presented by Food & Wine magazine turns five years old this year; the 2014 event attracted nearly 20,000 attendees throughout the course of the weekend. Over the past two years, the program has closed down Grand Avenue between 1st and 3rd Streets for the strolling tasting events, festivities, and live entertainment. Next: August 21-24, 2015
#2 Food, Wine & Hospitality Industry Event
The culinary event is The Los Angeles Times’s annual celebration of the Southern California food scene. The major Labor Day weekend food and wine festival will return to Paramount Pictures Studios for its sixth iteration. (It was originally named the Celebration of Food & Wine, and transitioned to the Taste in its second year.) Next: September 4-6, 2015
#3 Food, Wine & Hospitality Industry Event
The 2014 edition of the San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival was the biggest year yet, with 10,000 wine and food enthusiasts coming for a week of epicurean experiences. The 11th annual event brought more than 200 wineries, breweries, and spirit purveyors and 70 local restaurants. It’s billed as the biggest wine and food celebration on the West Coast. Next: November 15-22, 2015
#4 Food, Wine & Hospitality Industry Event
The restaurant week recently grew to 14 days, with the goal to showcase Los Angeles as a major food destination and underscore the diversity of dining in town. Twice each year—in winter and summer—300 eateries, from casual fare to high-end fine dining, offer prix-fixe lunch and dinner menus as part of the program. Next: July 2015
#5 Food, Wine & Hospitality Industry Event
The 79-year-old expo brings out 500 manufacturers and purveyors from the restaurant and foodservice community over three days. About 8,000 related professionals come for the summer show at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Next: August 23-25, 2015
#6 Food, Wine & Hospitality Industry Event (new to the list)
In just its second year, the spring event at L.A. Live takes place in the “Chefs Tasting Arena and Restaurant Stadium,” a venue custom-built for the event with stadium seating, lights, cameras, and LED screens, giving fans clear and intimate views of all the action. This year the program grew into a total of three dinners for 300 and one charity lunch in Restaurant Stadium. The four days of events culminated with a giant cookout, known as Grill & Chill, that expanded from 10 chefs last year to 20 chefs this year. Next: March 2016
#7 Food, Wine & Hospitality Industry Event
The event now draws foodies to Culver City, having moved from the Lot in West Hollywood. The benefit to end childhood hunger has seen culinary stars like Mary Sue Milliken, Susan Feniger, Ray Garcia, Neal Fraser, and Josiah Citrin attend. Proceeds go entirely to benefit Share Our Strength. Next: June 7, 2015
#8 Food, Wine & Hospitality Industry Event
Chef Suzanne Goin and business partner Caroline Styne along with chef David Lentz host the annual event, which has established itself as a heavy hitter on the food event scene in just five years. It has raised nearly $2.7 million to fund childhood cancer research—with more than $700,000 raised at last year’s event alone. Next: September 12, 2015
#9 Food, Wine & Hospitality Industry Event
Celebrating its landmark 20th year, the Jonsson Cancer Center Foundation's signature event will take place at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. Fox Broadcasting Company president of entertainment David Madden will be honored at the affair, which will include sips from Italian wineries and dishes from distinguished chefs. Over the past 19 years, the annual fund-raiser has raised nearly $10 million for highest-priority cancer research at U.C.L.A. Next: May 1, 2015
#10 Food, Wine & Hospitality Industry Event
Held over a large footprint on the Warner Brothers back lot, the event has raised $27 million in its quarter-century history. It draws 50 participating chefs and 75 California wineries and takes over Warner Brothers’ Midwest Street. The benefit for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation typically sells out its 1,400 tickets each year. Next: May 16, 2015
