FOOD GLORIOUS FOOD
Foodies were in hog heaven at Universal Studios as celeb chef Wolfgang Puck and Barbara Lazaroff hosted the 25th Annual American Food and Wine Festival.
The backlot was bopping as more than two thousand gourmets and gourmands hit station after delectable station.
As always, Puck called in a platoon of top taste makers to cook up an unforgettable feast. The all-star line up included some of the culinary world’s hottest talents including Spago’s Lee Hefter, Nobu’s Nobu Matsuhisa, Louisiana’s Paul Prudhomme, Mozza’s Nancy Silverton and Valentino’s Piero Selvaggio.
And from Topanga Vineyards to Jordan, there were dozens of great wines to wash it all down. The sold-out food fest featured four stages with live music, 64 vintners, seven spirit stations and 38 incredible eateries.
Proceeds benefit the Puck-Lazaroff Charitable Foundation and the Meals on Wheels program. “I feel privileged to have been able to share the joy of helping to raise funds for Meals on Wheels,” a beaming Lazaroff said as she was passing out shots of Patron. “We are so lucky to have so much fun doing so!”
The delicious affair has raised more than $23 million in the past 25 years.
TIS THE SEASON
The holidays are right around the corner and that means Santa’s filling his sac with a host of holiday movies. First out the gate is “Fred Claus.” Vince Vaughn stars as Santa’s bitter older brother who’s forced to move to the North Pole and make nice. Paul Giamatti takes on the role of Saint Nic. Kevin Spacey, Kathy Bates and Rachel Weisz round out the cast in this whacky Christmas comedy. On Nov. 16 make way for the animated fantasy epic “Beowulf.” If you liked the look of “Polar Express” you might want to put this on your Christmas list. Director Robert Zemeckis uses the same motion capture technology in the flick that stars locals Anthony Hopkins, Angelina Jolie and Robin Wright Penn.
“The Mist” promises to have you on the edge of your seat, and leave it up to Stephen King to come up with a freak storm that terrorizes a small town by unleashing a flock of blood-thirsty creatures. There’s family fun on Dec. 14 when Alvin and the Chipmunks hit the big screen. Alvin, Theodore and Simon try to stay out of trouble as a trio of music making critters. Also in December, Nicolas Cage is back to play treasure hunter Benjamin Gates in the National Treasure sequel. In “Book of Secrets” he’s out to find the real truth behind the assassination of Abe Lincoln. On Christmas day, Julia Roberts returns to the screen in “Charlie Wilson’s War.” The drama tells the tale of covert dealings in Afghanistan and co-stars Tom Hanks. Happy Holidays!
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