Pebble Beach Food & Wine

This year’s edition, the third so far, was so successful CLM is debating whether to expand upon its lunches, dinners and grand tastings, or whether to let demand keep climbing and keep supply steady, ratcheting up the event’s already magnetic caché.

Lexus Events

A deal with Lexus to rev their swanky vehicle launches has taken CLM to L.A., Chicago, Dallas and New York, where they paired the best local chefs they could get (Rick Tramano in Chicago, Michael Mina in L.A., for instance) and some 15 top Napa wineries to give the release of $400,000 Lexus LFAs a little sizzle.

Food & Wine Harvest Farm to Table

Last year, Tyler Florence led the throng of regional and national chefs at the two-day, al fresco, farmer-featuring grand tasting and chef-demo event on the same expansive Quail Lodge lawns where its preceding TomatoFest took place. Expect a further-evolved year two where chefs will continue to pair with local growers, 100-plus winemakers attend and satellite events multiply.

American Institute of Wine and Food

With Rob Weakley and David Bernahl now heading national management of the once proud organization, its game suddenly has a lot more bounce – literally. They’re planning an NBA-celebrity chef program for schools to get kids to think and eat healthier, and have some ambitious Napa events on the way.

Cannery Row Brewing Company

CLM sought out the brewpub with the most beers in Northern California and then topped them by a dozen. The goal for the huge new pub’s grub is even more ambitious. “We’re going up against every burger you’ve ever had in your life,” Gary Obligacion says. “And we want to beat them.” Brewing Company’s a bit of a misnomer, though: No beer will be made there, though they’ll contract with a microbrewery for CRBC’s five labels.

1833

Seven areas – from the “library room” lounge to the outdoor “secret garden,” the bar balcony with the owners’ table to the Gallatin’s room and its special menu – reflect CLM’s hope to make this a sexy setting that works for a business lunch, drinks after work, a romantic anniversary or a larger group dinner. Obligacion will be responsible for both restaurants, but is setting up his office here, a key indicator why this will quickly become where many locals in the know go for great gastronomy.