Food Festivals/Events this Summer?

[kproq323]

Was wondering what are the best food and wine festivals/events to go to this summer. Would love all thoughts!

[WildSwede]

I did a quick search and came up with the following links... (some cover all of Ca)http://www.californiafestivalguide.com/eventCalendar.php?gclid=CNe0-PPUr5kCFRwwawodEmwXJg

http://www.foodreference.com/html/california-food-festivals.html

http://www.bizbash.com/losangeles/con...

[OCAnn]

And OC's very own fried food festival aka the OC FAIR, Fri 07/10/09 - Sun 08/09/09.

http://www.ocfair.com/2009/

[kproq323]

Thanks all! This looks great!

[sparkyk]

Here's a thread that might be helpful

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/490810

[OCAnn]

And let's not forget the STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL in Garden Grove, Fri 05/22/09 - Mon 05/25/09.

http://www.strawberryfestival.org/

[ReelMike84]

I've heard this one disappoints. True?

[bulavinaka]

Don't know about the Garden Grove one, but the Oxnard festival was very very disappointing.

[JAB]

So true.

[Joani Macaroni]

We haven't gone for about 5 years as most of the vendors were of the typical swap meet etc. sort (not local groups) - but the strawberry shortcakes were very good and very generous portions of berries (back then, anyway), hence the line that took about an hour to get through. As I recall, it was sponsored by the local Job's Daughters and run by them and their families. There were also carnival rides for the kiddies. There is also a parade on one of the days.

[OCAnn]

And another: OC HAPPY HOUR WEEK, Sun 04/12/09 - 04/18/09.

http://www.orangecountyrestaurantweek...

[OCAnn]

Here's one (though not quite summer): FASHION PLATES @ South Coast Plaza, Fri 03/20/09 - Sun 03/29/09.

3-course lunches for $20 and 4-course dinners for $40 at the locations listed below. Some are participating only for lunch, some only for dinner and others participating in both.

Antonello
Charlie Palmer
Darya
Hamamori
Leatherby's
Marche Moderne
Morton's
Nello Cucina
Pinot Provence
Pizza Ortica
Quattro Cafe
Royal Khyber
Scott's Seafood

http://www.southcoastplaza.com/featur...

[mollyomormon]

My favorite one of the year is Share our Strength's Taste of the Nation event in Culver City. The tickets are a little over a hundred dollars, but it's a great cause, there's an enormous amount of food from basically every high-end restaurant in the city, and it's really well-run and so much fun. Highly recommend.

[BunnieBear]

I'm planning on going to this...I was wondering what the difference is between the regular tickets and VIP. I can't figure it out from the site and would love some insight into whether it's worth the extra $$. TIA

[mollyomormon]

I've only ever done the regular, but it's my understanding that if you do the VIP, you can bypass the line and you can hang out in the VIP tent where you have better access to samples of beer and alcohol. Maybe someone else will chime in who has actually done it.