LA First! Martha Stewart WINE & FOOD EXPERIENCE December 1

(Gerry Furth-Sides) Martha Stewart is coming to town with her curated culinary experience for one day.   The Grand Tasting spotlights tastings along with a schedule of wine and beverage seminars and cooking demonstrations.  The iconic culinary expert will be doing a “Meet & Greet” plus a cooking demonstration on the Culinary Stage located within the Grand Tasting for all guests, as will other event chefs.//wineandfood.usatoday.com/losangeles

Martha Stewart Wine & Food Experience presented by USA TODAY takes place on December 1, 2018, 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.  (VIP ticketholders have early  entry) at the LA Center Studios,  450 S. Bixel St., Los Angeles, CA 90017.  This spacious, easily accessible venue is just outside of DTLA.

Restaurants include some of our ethnic favorites, such as:  Border Grill Modern Mexican overseen by the iconic Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger.

Long-time key ambassadors of Mexican food and two of the most beloved chefs in Los Angeles history, affectionately known as the “The Two Hot Tamales,” are owner-founder-chefs of Border Grill in Los Angeles and Las Vegas.  Among the most popular figures in the entire food industry, they are known for their enthusiasm and promotion of their own Mexican chefs.

Fig & Olive is rarely seen at events and one of our favorites:

//localfoodeater.com/fig-olives-new-world-whole-branzino-feast/

Otium’s Chef Tim Hollingsworth is worth a trip downtown anytime.  He is a neighbor of the Center Sound Stage so this is special.

Hamasaku’s casual seafood izakaya and sushi offshoot, Umi by Hamasaku in El Segundo comes from partners Jesse Duron, chef  Yoya Takahashi and Hamasaku owner, Michael Ovitz.  You can count on Japanese-American Chef Takahashi to be in his usual party mode, serving refined, rich sushi.

Other savory Southern California Wine & Food Experience restaurants include:   1212 Santa Monica; 71 Above (featured in VIP Lounge); Air Food; Cal Mare; CAVA; Chateau Hanare; Bäco Mercat; Bar Amá; C.J. Boyd’s Fried Chicken; CUT Beverly Hills; Dama; Free Play; Gwen and Maude by Curtis Stone; Herringbone Santa Monica; Hock + Hoof; Lovely Eats; Makani; Miro; Mrs. fish; Mrs McCartney’s Teas; Noree Thai on Beverly; Orsa & Winston; P.Y.T.; Sotto; The Bazaar by José Andrés; The Restaurant by MBH; Urban Press Winery Restaurant (featured in VIP Lounge)

The Martha Stewart Experience serves as the official event entry and features a tented entrance with a “Celebrating with Martha” theme showcasing Martha-designed products.  

We cannot wait to meet her although Martha Stewart is no stranger to Los Angeles.  She put Quelaguetza Mexican Restaurant on the map when she featured them but once on her TV Show.  These days her shows are strictly focused on teaching, her passion, formatted to be collected into entire courses. We learn from every lesson and we love her for it (Ina Garten and Lydia Bastianich are about the only other teachers).

But wait, there is so much more to Martha, the other “Leo” culinary legend along with Julia Child.  We love Martha for naming , without hesitation, Millet’s “The Gleaners”her favorite artwork during an NPR interview, and for hesitating for an entire TV commercial before answering student Q and A that she wanted to be remembered most after she passed away, “as a teacher.”

Admittedly, we were baffled by Martha’s first (insanely highly anticipated!) TV Show when she offhandedly described how to set your Thanksgiving table mix and match style- ,using as an example her own 15 sets of China!   But the teaching and entertaining Martha won our hearts.  We laughed to watch her carry out a DIY lamp project with tools and materials costing twice the price of a new lamp or repair.   We rolled our eyes at every male TV talk show host’s infantile behavior she has had to put up with over the years.  We wanted Oprah to be quiet and let Martha finish those hospital corners on a sheet.  We laughed with her attempting so hard not to compete with her own mom, or with the Lobel’s owner-butchers.  We followed the drama and cheered during her literal trials and tribulations in a spectacular career.  And, happy she is on top, we are more careful with our own cooking and food presentation.

VIP LOUNGE: In addition, during this event the #LAWFE VIP Lounge is presented byInside Access from Chase. VIP ticketholders have access featuring special wines, food, private facilities and early entry to the Grand Tasting at 12pm.

TICKETS

Tickets at //wineandfood.usatoday.com/losangeles/ticket-packages/

• Grand Tasting.  $85 in advance. 1pm entry
• VIP Grand Tasting. $120 in advance.  12pm entry
• Meet Martha. $250 SOLD OUT. Featuring a private seminar with Martha and a meet & greet.  Includes all benefits of VIP ticket.

*Event tickets at gate are $100 Grand Tasting; $135 VIP

BENEFICIARY

Portion of proceeds benefits Ovarian Cancer Society

SPONSORS

Martha Stewart Wine & Food Experience in Los Angeles is presented by USA TODAY.  The event is sponsored by Inside Access from Chase; as well as Grocery Outlet, Grateful & Co., Thermador/ Universal Kitchen Appliance, Rums of Puerto Rico, Lifeway Foods and Barilla.

About USA TODAY NETWORK.  USA TODAY NETWORK, part of Gannett Co, Inc. (NYSE: GCI), is the largest local-to-national media organization in the country, powered by our award-winning newsrooms and marketing solutions business.  For more information, visit www.Gannett.com

About Martha Stewart. Martha Stewart is an Emmy Award-winning television show host, entrepreneur, bestselling author of 90 books, and America’s most trusted lifestyle expert and teacher reaching 100 million consumers monthly across media and merchandising platforms.  Visit MarthaStewart.com and SequentialBrandsGroup.com

About R Entertainment. R Entertainment is an experiential marketing and business development company, producing 200 dates a year, such as the USA TODAY NETWORK Wine & Food Experience, Kentucky Derby Fillies & Lilies Party, Final Four Sponsors Ball, National Taco Tour, Super Bowl events, PGA Waste Management Phoenix Open, Arizona Diamondbacks Evening on the Diamond, The Good Life Festivals by Shea Homes, among others. R Entertainment also books concert entertainment nationwide. Visit www.R-Entertainment.com