Greer's OC

RELISH is back for its second year, and this three-day celebration of food, wine and spirits at VEA Newport Beach, a Marriott Resort & Spa, runs Friday, Oct. 2, through Sunday, Oct. 4. The event was created by celebrity chef Jamie Gwen and celebrity event planner Nicole Hirsty of Cobalt Events.

Friday's Opening Night Cocktail Party & Grand Tasting runs 5 to 8 p.m. and brings chef-curated hors d'oeuvres, interactive food and drink pop-ups, hand-crafted cocktails and award-winning wine. On hand this year: Geoffrey Zakarian, Scott Conant, James Beard Award-winning pastry chef Sherry Yard, Kat Turner, maitre fromager Afrim Pristine, sommelier Rebecca Rose Phillips, author and TV personality Katie Chin, and co-founder Jamie Gwen.

From 8 to 10 p.m., RELISH After Hours offers a smaller, more intimate setting with an exclusive meet and greet with the talent. Tickets are limited.

Saturday is packed. It opens with Fashion + Food at Bloomingdale's South Coast Plaza, where an exclusive luncheon at ANQI brings guests together with Zakarian and Conant. From there, The Park Club hosts The Art of Cheese & Wine with Afrim Pristine and a hands-on knife class from Wolfe Cutlery. The day closes with the RELISH Culinary Icons Dinner and Sip & Savor Cocktail Hour, a one-night-only multicourse dinner from Zakarian, Conant and Yard.

Sunday returns to VEA with the Burgers + Bubbles Brunch, pairing Chefs Sherry Yard's and Kat Turner's takes on the classic burger with Veuve Clicquot. The weekend closes with RELISH in Wellness, built around mindfulness, nourishing food and guided wellness activities.

This year's partner list includes Visit Newport Beach, Travel Costa Mesa, South Coast Plaza, Bloomingdale's, Veuve Clicquot, Belvedere Vodka and Le Creuset, among others.

Tickets and event packages are available at RelishFoodWine.com. 

RELISH Event Schedule

Friday, Oct. 2

• 5-8 p.m. | Opening Night Cocktail Party & Grand Tasting at VEA
• 8-10 p.m. | RELISH After Hours* at VEA

Saturday, Oct. 3

11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. | Fashion & Food at ANQI at Bloomingdale's South Coast Plaza with Chefs Geoffrey Zakarian and Scott Conant

• 2:30-3:30 p.m. | The Art of Cheese & Wine with Cheesemaster Afrim Pristine at The Park Club
• 3:30-4:30 p.m. | Master the Art of the Perfect Cut with Wolfe Cutlery at The Park Club
• 5:30-10 p.m. | RELISH Culinary Icons Dinner + Sip & Savor Cocktail Hour at The Park Club

Sunday, Oct. 4

• 10 a.m.-noon | RELISH Burgers + Bubbles Brunch at VEA
• Noon-2:30 p.m. | RELISH in Wellness at VEA

*Limited tickets available