Food and wine events: Israeli festival, Bon Appetit’s Vegas Uncork’d, the Chardonnay symposium

Maybe you’re looking for something different to do for date night. Or maybe you’re a gourmand who likes to walk around food events wearing a wine glass attached to a lanyard. Either way, you’ll want to know about the following food and wine events.

Taste of Israel: The first Los Angeles Israeli food and wine festival is 5 to 8 p.m. March 20 at the Majestic Downtown. The event will include wine from 19 Israeli wineries, as well as food and cooking demos from both L.A.-based and Israeli chefs, including Alex Reznik from Ditmas food and cocktail, Alain Cohen from Got Kosher, Ofir Arbel from Hummus Bar and Grill, Kahn Chingis Byambasuren from Sushiko and Shaul Ben Aderet from Blue Rooster. General admission tickets are $125, and VIP tickets, which include access to the event an hour early, are $300. All proceeds benefit Meir Panim, a nonprofit that provides food and social services to Jews, Christians and Muslims in need, living in Israel. www.TasteofIsrael.net.

Bon Appetit is hosting its 10th annual Vegas Uncork’d food and wine event April 28 to May 1 in Las Vegas. Featured events will take place in downtown Las Vegas, as well as at a number of hotels and restaurants along the Strip. Participating chefs include Emeril Lagasse, Giada De Laurentiis, Michael Chow, Guy Savoy, Nobu Matsuhisa and Gordon Ramsay. Highlights will include a mystery dinner with Lagasse, a $1,000 omakase dinner with Matsuhisa, dinner and a show with Chow and a steakhouse redux at the Golden Steer with Michael Mina. Prices for event tickets vary and can be found at www.VegasUncorked.com.

The International Chardonnay Symposium, a gathering of winemakers, sommeliers and Chardonnay fans, is happening May 12 to 14 in Pismo Beach, Calif. There will be a French forum on May 13, featuring a presentation and discussion of France’s Chardonnay regions, and wine producers from more than 80 wineries will pour tastes of wine at the Grand Tasting on May 14. Other panel discussions during the symposium will cover pairing Chardonnay with cheese and how to hone your Chardonnay blind-tasting skills. Prices for event tickets vary and can be found at www.TheChardonnaySymposium.com.

How about we both bring the wine? Follow me on Twitter and Instagram @Jenn_Harris_

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