Taste of OC 2012

Taste of OC 2012

The Taste of Orange County has it all: food, wine, beer, art and entertainment. After a 16 year hiatus, this two-day culinary festival will feature more than 50 restaurants and wineries, chef demos and signature events. Make your way to the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater on June 16th and 17th to sample what’s cooking.

The Taste of Orange County will also present singular experiences such as the Great OC Farm To Table Dinner where attendees will be treated to the best in local, organic and sustainable fare with premium wine pairings on the amphitheater stage. Some of the proceeds from this event will be donated to the Culinary Liberation Front (founded by chef Patrick Glennon of Santa Monica Seafood). This group of Orange County chefs come together to share their craft and to exchange industry ideas that leave the least environmental footprint possible while teaching nutritional education to those in need.

Be sure to check out the Father’s Day Feast – Carne-Palooza – on Sunday from 1 to 3 p.m. To mix things up, dads and their guests will enjoy a veritable feast from tables set on the main stage of the venue while music from front row center accompanies the meal. Before and after the feast, the Taste of Orange County will offer family-friendly art displays, projects, tastings, demos, music and entertainment.

For those wine lovers out there, here is your chance to taste wine like a master sommelier. During the OC Ultra Lounge event, master sommelier and certified wine educator, Michael Jordan from The Ranch, will lead a “blind tasting” adventure that focuses on recognizing the clues hidden within a glass of wine. Also inside the OC Ultra Lounge, you’ll find Executive Chef Jerrold-Jones of Cory Martin Events offering signature cooking demos, special wine seminars and pairings, Dos Armadillos tequila tastings, a Saturday night VIP party with DJ music to rock the house and exclusive gift bags.

The two-day event will also present Art á la Carte – where attendees will be able to view artwork from more than 75 fine OC artists exhibiting throughout the festival. Sponsored by LagunaART.com, discover some of the best artists in the county through artist displays, sculpture gardens and live model sketching. A silent auction with 100 percent of the proceeds benefitting the Orange County Food Bank will also take place at the event.

Last but definitely not least, Taste of Orange County patrons are invited to experience their favorite drink at The OC Cocktail Classic. Be sure to vote for your favorite!