RELISH Food, Wine and Spirits Experience Debuts in Newport Beach June 27-29

The wait is almost over. RELISH, the premier food, wine and spirits experience created by celebrity chef Jamie Gwen and celebrity event planner Nicole Hirsty, makes its grand debut Friday, June 27, through Sunday, June 29, at VEA Newport Beach Resort & Spa.

The luxurious weekend brings together world-class chefs, master mixologists, and award-winning winemakers for an unforgettable celebration of culinary artistry.

RELISH opens Friday evening with a cocktail party featuring gourmet hors d’oeuvres, craft cocktails, and fine wines. The evening continues with an exclusive private dinner with chef Scott Conant, highlighting his renowned Italian cuisine and perfectly paired wines.

Saturday’s Master Classes offer an opportunity to learn from culinary icons, including chef Gale Gand, mixologist Tony Abou-Ganim, winemakers Chris Kajani and Bob Cabral, and cheesemaster Afrim Pristine. Guests will gain insider techniques and pairing tips from some of the industry's best.

The evening features An Evening with Tyler Florence, including a live conversation and a four-course dinner, preceded by a showstopping 12-foot cheese and charcuterie display led by Pristine.

Sunday begins with a Sushi & Doughnuts Brunch, followed by RELISH Wellness—a rejuvenating session of guided yoga, meditation and holistic nutrition workshops to close out the indulgent weekend.

RELISH Weekend Schedule

Friday, June 27
5–7 p.m. Opening Cocktail Party — $150
7:30–9:30 p.m. Private Dinner with Chef Scott Conant — $300

Saturday, June 28
10–10:45 a.m. Chef Gale Gand: Chocolate 101 — $125
11–11:45 a.m. Cheesemaster Afrim Pristine: West Coast Cheeses — $125
Noon–12:45 p.m. Winemaker Chris Kajani: Bouchaine Vineyards Napa — $125
1–1:45 p.m. Mixologist Tony Abou-Ganim: Vodka + Petrossian Caviar — $125
2–2:45 p.m. Winemaker Bob Cabral: Bob Cabral Wines — $125
5:30–10 p.m. An Evening with Tyler Florence, with Cheese Masterpiece opener — $400

Sunday, June 29
10 a.m.–Noon Live Doughnuts + Sushi Brunch — $125
12:30–3:30 p.m. RELISH Wellness — $100

RELISH is presented in partnership with the James Beard Foundation and supported by South Coast Plaza, Visit Newport Beach, VEA Newport Beach, Unstoppable Automotive Group, Moët Hennessy, Melissa’s Produce, Orange Coast Magazine, Bloomingdale’s, Petrossian Caviar, Pearls Olives, PNC Bank, California Dates, Dry Bar, Peloton, S. Pellegrino, and Expedia Cruises.

Tickets and full weekend details are available at relishfoodwine.com

Ninth Annual Newport Beach Wooden Boat Festival to Celebrate Stories of the Sea

The ninth annual Newport Beach Wooden Boat Festival will set sail June 13-14 with a theme that celebrates Stories of the Sea: Wooden Boats in Film & Fiction.

Presented by Whittier Trust and hosted by the Balboa Yacht Club, the festival brings the romance and adventure of classic sea tales to life with a lineup of iconic wooden boats, many featured in films, fiction, or owned by Hollywood legends.

This year’s featured vessel is the fully restored Western Flyer, the historic sardine trawler that John Steinbeck and Ed Ricketts famously chartered to the Sea of Cortez, later chronicled in The Log from the Sea of Cortez.

The festival kicks off Friday, June 13, with an opening-night Premiere, channeling the glamour of Hollywood’s golden age. Guests will enjoy cocktails, heavy hors d’oeuvres, live entertainment, and a themed live auction. Attendees will also have the chance to preview boats on the docks and browse on-land displays. Tickets for Premiere Night are $95 and limited to 300 guests.

Proceeds from Friday’s auction and a portion of ticket sales will benefit the ALS Foundation (in honor of festival founder Ralph Rodheim), fund a scholarship at the Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding, and support local youth sailing programs.

The main festival takes place Saturday, June 14, when more than 30 wooden boats will be on display on land and in the water. Festivalgoers can tour the vessels, hear stories from guest speakers, walk the Wooden Boat Walk of Fame, and view Cruising with Legends: The Boats of Hollywood’s Elite, a curated photo exhibit.

Visitors can also enjoy a cruise aboard Wild Goose, John Wayne’s iconic yacht, for $65 (includes Saturday admission).

“This year our festival has gotten bigger by getting smaller,” said event co-chair Stephen Paljieg. In collaboration with the Newport Beach Aquatic Center, the festival will also feature wooden rowing vessels—including some that have competed in the Olympic Games—celebrated in The Boys in the Boat.

A special weekend stay package is available through the festival’s hotel sponsor, Hyatt Regency Newport Beach.

The event is hosted in partnership with the City of Newport Beach, the County of Orange, and Visit Newport Beach.

Saturday festival tickets are $15, Wild Goose cruises are $65 (includes Saturday admission), and Friday’s Premiere Night is $95 (advance purchase only).

Tickets and information are available at newportbeachwoodenboatfestival.com. Tickets will also be sold at the gate on Saturday, June 14.

Anaheim Hills Festival to Host Bubble Poppin’ Fun Event June 14

Anaheim Hills Festival is kicking off summer with a free, family-friendly Bubble Poppin’ Fun event on Saturday, June 14, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Guests can enjoy millions of bubbles, interactive stations by Bubble Pop, a foam zone, photo ops with a costumed character and more. The event takes place in the parking lot next to Hobby Lobby and is open to the public.

Bubble stations will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Anaheim Hills Festival is located at 8020 E. Santa Ana Canyon Road in Anaheim.

For more details and a full store directory, visit AnaheimHillsFestival.com.