Celebrity Chefs, Cocktails and a Touch of Glamour: RELISH Returns to Newport Beach
The three-day culinary festival kicked off with a cocktail party featuring celebrated chefs, specialty food and drinks, and fashionable guests.
Photo credit The Vine
With temperatures soaring into the 90s, guests gathered beneath umbrellas at VEA Newport Beach on Friday, October 2, for the opening-night celebration of RELISH. A three-day festival of food, wine and spirits now in its second year, RELISH attracted a lineup of culinary personalities. On site at Friday’s cocktail reception and featured at events throughout the weekend were Food Network stars Geoffrey Zakarian and Scott Conant, acclaimed pastry chef Sherry Yard, and chefs Kat Turner and Katie Chin.
Guests ranged from local foodies to reality stars (Selling the OC’s Gio Helou and his wife, Tiffany Helou). The kick-off event gave participants a chance to enjoy appetizers, sip cocktails, and meet chefs who circulated among the crowd.
Some guests traveled from afar, like Judi and Dave Palmisano from Sedona, Arizona. It was their second trip for RELISH as they attended the inaugural festival last year. Dave's sparkling silver jacket was perfectly suited to an evening that combined food and wine with a touch of glamour.
Among the culinary highlights were Sushi Roku's Gensai Roll, featuring salmon, avocado, cucumber, jalapeño and yuzu olive oil. Several guests indulged in caviar bumps, small portions of caviar traditionally enjoyed directly from the back of the hand. A standout dish was Chef Kat Turner's lime leaf snapper crudo tostada, layered with ginger, lime leaf, crispy shallot and avocado. Turner personally passed out her mini tostadas as she greeted guests and fans of her restaurant chain, Highly Likely.
For those with a sweet tooth, there were colorful miniature donuts from Miss Mini Donuts, the company founded by former Irvine restaurateur Leslie Nguyen. Nguyen’s entrepreneurial journey was previously featured in The Vine. Scratch Kitchen also offered its Knock Knock chocolate covered cakes in four flavors. The Pumpkin Spiced Latte flavored Knock Knock was a standout.
Effie Panagopoulos, founder of KLEOS Mastiha Spirit, was among the participating vendors. At her station, guests sampled her Mediterranean-inspired cocktails made with mastiha spirit. The liquor was offered by itself but also as a mojito with basil and lemon and a cold-brew coffee cocktail with a touch of cinnamon. For Panagopoulos, the festival offered more than an opportunity to introduce guests to her spirits.
"I love Chef Jamie [Gwen] and her partner Nicole [Hirsty],” said Panagopoulos. “They are women supporting women. I love coming to this event.”
As the sun set and the heat began to subside, RELISH co-founder and Irvine resident Jamie Gwen took to the stage in an Alice + Olivia dress with gold Gianvito Rossi heels. She took time to welcome guests, introduce the weekend's celebrity chefs, and thank everyone for attending.
"It is with tremendous joy and a sigh of relief that you all showed up," Gwen joked, describing RELISH as a weekend of "food wine spirits, friendship, and a little bit of delicious excess."
Gwen introduced her longtime friend and business partner Nicole Hirsty, founder of Cobalt Events. She explained that RELISH began as their shared vision for bringing culinary talent to Orange County.
"Relish began as our love letter to Newport Beach and to Orange County," Gwen told the audience.
Among those she welcomed were Zakarian, visiting Newport Beach for the first time, and Conant, returning for a second year. When Zakarian joked about buying a house in the area, Gwen suggested that plenty of guests could help him find a real estate agent.
The festival continued through Sunday with additional culinary experiences, including chef-led classes, tastings, a fashion show lunch, an elaborate dinner and a wellness-themed brunch.
For Gwen, the weekend was intended to celebrate more than food.
"Relish has always been about more than what is on the plate or in the glass," she told guests. "It is about connection, creativity, hospitality, discovery, and the magic that happens when food and beautiful wine and spirits, and extraordinary people come together around the table."
As the opening-night celebration drew to a close, Gwen raised a glass to the chefs, vendors and attendees.
"Here's to extraordinary chefs. Beautiful food. Magnificent wine and spirits, friendships, unforgettable moments, and one truly delicious weekend."
The Vine attended RELISH with complimentary media admission.