SoCal Restaurant Show

We’re live from Westdrift Manhattan Beach - An Autograph Collection Hotel to celebrate the Saturday night finale of the 3rd Annual Manhattan Beach Food & Wine festival. Westdrift is hosting the Festival taking over the entire spacious grounds of the property. We’re chatting with a handful of the acclaimed celebrity chefs participating from both out-of-town as well as Greater Los Angeles.

Multiple James Beard Award-winning Chef Sherry Yard operates Bakery by The Yard in Manhattan Beach.

“Larry Schaffer, the founder and winemaker of tercero wines went back to school later in life to pursue his passion, taking classes at community colleges with kids who literally could have been his kids, and then received his MS in Viticulture and Enology from UC Davis. He moved to the Santa Barbara County wine region, and that is where he has remained since 2005, starting on the winemaking team at Fess Parker Winery and then eventually branching off to start and run tercero wines. Larry is especially adept not only at winemaking but at explaining the process in a very user-friendly manner.”

“Celebrity Chef Ben Robinson is accomplished on both land and sea. He worked under Italian master chefs in Florence and gained an apprenticeship at three-Michelin Star restaurant The Fat Duck, based in the United Kingdom. Ben was a head chef on yachts for over ten years, including the largest sailing yacht in the world.”

“Born in Oxford, England he attended boarding school when his parents moved to the U.S. He currently resides in South Florida. You may know him from Bravo Television Network as the OG of Below Deck, Below Deck Mediterranean, and Galley Talk. He is featured on The Food Network and has multiple demonstrations on the Food Network Kitchen App.”

We’re live from Westdrift Manhattan Beach - An Autograph Collection Hotel to celebrate the Saturday night finale of the 3rd Annual Manhattan Beach Food & Wine festival. Westdrift is hosting the Festival taking over the entire spacious grounds of the property. We’re chatting with a handful of the acclaimed celebrity chefs participating from both out-of-town as well as Greater Los Angeles.

Chef Anthony Greco is a Corporate Regional Chef for Porto’s Bakery and culinary leader based in Los Angeles, known for building high-performing teams and strengthening kitchen systems through innovation, training, and mentorship. With a background spanning luxury hospitality and high-volume production environments, he focuses on elevating quality, developing future leaders, and creating operational consistency that protects the guest experience.

Chef Anthony oversees the uber-busy Porto’s Bakeries in Northridge, West Covina and Buena Park.

“Chef Jose Baca brings a deep connection to Peruvian cuisine to his work at Westdrift Manhattan Beach and the Jute Costal Bar & Kitchen, where he serves as Executive Chef. His culinary roots trace back to his Peruvian heritage, with a career focused on refining and modernizing traditional Peruvian flavors.”

“Aarón Sánchez is an award-winning chef, TV personality, author, and philanthropist. He is the host and executive producer of Talking Sabor (PepsiCo’s first ever streaming series, premiered on Hulu), El Toque de Aarón on Discovery Familia and Hogar de HGTV, served as a longtime judge on FOX’s MasterChef and MasterChef Junior, and is the chef/owner of restaurant Johnny Sánchez in Lake Charles, LA. Aarón is the founder of the Aarón Sánchez Impact Fund. He is also a partner and creative director for COCINA Media.”

“Founded in 1990 by culinary educator and cookbook author Richard Grossman, and in partnership with board Co-chair Marcus Samuelsson, Culinary Careers Program (the benefiting charity for Manhattan Beach Food & Wine) is a national workforce development nonprofit dedicated to training and supporting the next generation of food and hospitality leaders.”

“C-CAP serves communities across Arizona, Baltimore, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, Long Island, Philadelphia, Washington D.C. and Maryland. Their unparalleled network of industry contacts includes renowned chefs, hospitality leaders, restaurants, and hotels.”

“C-CAP’s methodology works, and to date has uplifted close to 400,000 students and awarded $73 million in college scholarships. Many of their alumni are enjoying successful careers at award-winning restaurants and 5-star hotels around the globe.”

Representing C-CAP today is Lisa Fontanesi, the National Program Director.

We’re live from Westdrift Manhattan Beach - An Autograph Collection Hotel to celebrate the Saturday night finale of the 3rd Annual Manhattan Beach Food & Wine festival. Westdrift is hosting the Festival taking over the entire spacious grounds of the property. We’re chatting with a handful of the acclaimed celebrity chefs participating from both out-of-town as well as Greater Los Angeles.

“Festival Founder & Producer Shelby Russell and Culinary Curator & Host Chef Neal Fraser  are responsible for the return of the 3rd Annual Manhattan Beach Food & Wine, Southern California's premier luxury coastal culinary festival. Taking place on Friday, September 25, 2026, and Saturday, September 26, 2026, the eagerly anticipated two-night celebration introduces an All-Star Chef Lineup and debut at its exciting new home, westdrift Manhattan Beach, an Autograph Collection Hotel.”

Set against the stunning coastal backdrop of one of America’s most beautiful cities, Manhattan Beach Food & Wine is a spectacular wo-night strolling culinary extravaganza with two Grand Tasting Celebrations on Friday, September 25, 2026, and Saturday, September 26, 2026. Each evening brings together the industry’s top tastemakers and culinary and beverage connoisseurs to celebrate an all-star lineup of the best chefs and restaurants each night, illustrious wineries, premier spirits, handcrafted cocktails, craft breweries, curated selection of non-alcoholic beverages, live entertainment, and much more.

All of this and heaping helpings of extra deliciousness on this week’s not-to-miss show!

Multiple James Beard Award-winning Chef Sherry Yard operates Bakery by The Yard in Manhattan Beach.

For Saturday night at Manhattan Beach Food & Wine she is offering savory, house-baked bagel chips with smoked salmon and a smear, and, later in the evening, “My Mini Pies.”

“Larry Schaffer, the founder and winemaker of tercero wines went back to school later in life to pursue his passion, taking classes at community colleges with kids who literally could have been his kids, and then received his MS in Viticulture and Enology from UC Davis. He moved to the Santa Barbara County wine region, and that is where he has remained since 2005, starting on the winemaking team at Fess Parker Winery and then eventually branching off to start and run tercero wines. Larry is especially adept not only at winemaking but at explaining the process in a very user-friendly manner.”

Larry is tasting seven of his premium wines including a sparkling Chenin.

Visit his tasting room in picturesque Los Olivos to see for yourself or sample his wines tonight at Manhattan Beach Food & Wine.

“Celebrity Chef Ben Robinson is accomplished on both land and sea. He worked under Italian master chefs in Florence and gained an apprenticeship at three-Michelin Star restaurant The Fat Duck, based in the United Kingdom. Ben was a head chef on yachts for over ten years, including the largest sailing yacht in the world.”

“Born in Oxford, England he attended boarding school when his parents moved to the U.S. He currently resides in South Florida. You may know him from Bravo Television Network as the OG of Below Deck, Below Deck Mediterranean, and Galley Talk. He is featured on The Food Network and has multiple demonstrations on the Food Network Kitchen App.”

Currently Chef Ben is on-air with Below Deck Down Under, Season 4.

Chef Ben’s creation for Saturday night is “Blow Torched Wagyu Kirabi.” The Waygu is supplied by Herd & Grace provisions. It’s sure to draw a crowd.

Chef Anthony Greco is a Corporate Regional Chef for Porto’s Bakery and culinary leader based in Los Angeles, known for building high-performing teams and strengthening kitchen systems through innovation, training, and mentorship. With a background spanning luxury hospitality and high-volume production environments, he focuses on elevating quality, developing future leaders, and creating operational consistency that protects the guest experience.

Chef Anthony oversees the uber-busy Porto’s Bakeries in Northridge, West Covina and Buena Park.

Chef Anthony’s creation for Saturday night is Havana Banana with caramelized banana jam, brown sugar pastry cream, Guittard Soleil d’Or Whipped Ganache with a butter rum toffee sauce. Porto’s also geberously supplied a little gift box of Porto’s goodies for the attendees to take home and enjoy the next morning.

“Chef Jose Baca brings a deep connection to Peruvian cuisine to his work at Westdrift Manhattan Beach and the Jute Costal Bar & Kitchen, where he serves as Executive Chef. His culinary roots trace back to his Peruvian heritage, with a career focused on refining and modernizing traditional Peruvian flavors.”

For Saturday night Chef Jose is presenting Grouper Ceviche and Mushroom Ceviche (the vegan option.) Both are served with sweet potato puree and crispy onions and micro cilantro.

“Aarón Sánchez is an award-winning chef, TV personality, author, and philanthropist. He is the host and executive producer of Talking Sabor (PepsiCo’s first ever streaming series, premiered on Hulu), El Toque de Aarón on Discovery Familia and Hogar de HGTV, served as a longtimejudge on FOX’s MasterChef and MasterChef Junior, and is the chef/owner of restaurant Johnny Sánchez in Lake Charles, LA. Aarón is the founder of the Aarón Sánchez Impact Fund. He is also a partner and creative director for COCINA Media.”

Look for Chef Aaron currently on Food Network’s “Restaurant Impossible – Last Call.”

Saturday night Chef Aaron is presenting Memas Albondigas with Fideos.

“Founded in 1990 by culinary educator and cookbook author Richard Grossman, and in partnership with board Co-chair Marcus Samuelsson, Culinary Careers Program (the benefiting charity for Manhattan Beach Food & Wine) is a national workforce development nonprofit dedicated to training and supporting the next generation of food and hospitality leaders.”

“C-CAP serves communities across Arizona, Baltimore, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, Long Island, Philadelphia, Washington D.C. and Maryland. Their unparalleled network of industry contacts includes renowned chefs, hospitality leaders, restaurants, and hotels.”

“C-CAP’s methodology works, and to date has uplifted close to 400,000 students and awarded $73 million in college scholarships. Many of their alumni are enjoying successful careers at award-winning restaurants and 5-star hotels around the globe.”

Representing C-CAP today is Lisa Fontanesi, the National Program Director.