Taste of OC

Did you hear? After a long 16-year hiatus, the Taste of Orange County is coming back to Irvine this summer.

This world-class event is being supported by Cox Communications, Clear Channel Radio, CBS Radio, Coast Magazine, OC Weekly, OC Metro Magazine, OC
Menus, OC Family Magazine and a variety of Orange County entrepreneurs.

Taste of Orange County—Southern California’s premiere food, wine and entertainment festival—is scheduled for June 16-17, 2012.

The event is from noon to 10 p.m. Saturday (21 and older only) and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday (all ages).

With expected attendance of approximately 20,000, Taste of Orange County will be held at Irvine’s Verizon Wireless Amphitheater—Orange County’s largest amphitheater.

“We are excited to bring back this amazing festival to the residents of Orange County,” said Todd Wallin, event director for Taste of Orange County. “Our goal is to work with Orange County’s premiere chefs, winemakers and entertainers to create a one-of-a-kind experience.”

This festival will join together all-star talent from both the entertainment and culinary industries to celebrate the food and drink culture throughout Orange County.

More than 50 of OC’s top restaurants and 75 premium wineries are expected to be part of this two-day event, which will include local restaurant tastings, cooking demonstrations from celebrity chefs, wine tastings, a wine auction, and seminars from some of the top vintners in the world.

In addition, a variety of entertainment and music events will be showcased throughout the festival.

In an effort to give back to the local community, the Taste of Orange County team has selected Orange County Food Bank as one of the event’s top charities of choice.

“Taste of Orange County patrons will have a chance to enjoy a great day filled with fine food, drink and entertainment while producing funds to expand the ability of the Orange County Food Bank to feed vulnerable people in our community,” said Mark Lowry, director of The Orange County Food Bank. “Our partnership with the Taste of Orange County will generate resources that will expand our capacity to serve people during this economic downturn.”

The Taste of Orange County will also present a variety of tantalizing experiences such as a “Farm to Table” green event where attendees can sample fresh organic produce grown in OC, an OC Brewfest featuring more than 25 top micro-breweries in Orange County and a Father’s Day Feast—a family event filled with kid activities, entertainment, chef demos and more.

Don't forget to check out www.tasteofoc.com where interested
attendees can enter a number of exhibitor sweepstakes, contests, an opportunity to win free event tickets and can sign-up for up-to-date news and information about the Taste of Orange County.