“Off Da Hook” at the Los Angeles Food and Wine Festival 2012, Saturday: Lexus LIVE On The Plaza With Wolfgang Puck & Friends
Lexus LIVE On The Plaza With Wolfgang Puck & Friends, Saturday, August 11, 2012: “Off Da Hook!”
I’d never been to LA Live, which I discovered is basically an outdoor area between the Nokia building and the Staples Center. (NOTE: We’ve verified Robin has in fact lived in Los Angeles for something approximating two decades. -ed) It was completely covered with a red carpet with stations set up along both sides with small tastings from great chefs and a ton of wines! It was hot, so one of my favorites was actually not a wine at all, but a watermelon margarita popsicle that was being served out of a tent sponsored by the Cosmopolitan Las Vegas (Neapolitan @ the Cosmopolitan – ed).
I tried most of the red wines and a few champagnes. One of my favorite reds was Dragon’s Tooth (Trefethen Bordeaux-style reserve blend; 2009; 67% Malbec, 18% Petit Verdot, 11% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Merlot; $75 at select retailers; 14.5% ABV; 94 points 2008 edition, Wine Enthusiast; 90 Points 2007 edition, Robert Parker – ed) which I originally tried because I liked the label. Siobhan came with me and she gravitated to the Stella (Anheuser–Busch InBev; 5.2% ABV; Hops, Malted Barley, Maize, Water, fermented with Yeast, Hipsters, Ribbed Tank Tops – ed) stand.
In between my wine tastings I scarfed down a mini sprinkles cupcake– strawberry (1/4 tsp coarse salt and assorted ingredients – ed) with banana frosting . It was actually perfect for cleaning out the palette.
We saw a bunch of famous chefs. Guy Fieri and Wolfgang Puck went up on stage to say a few words. Then, Third Eye Blind played about 14 songs. I was sure that the lead singer was not the original but found out later it was in fact Stephen Jenkins (1964 Indio Goofball Varietal; 85% HowsItGonnaBe, 10% Annoying, 5% Terrible, Indio, Ca – ed).
While watching the band, I saw Tori Spelling’s husband, Dean and Eric LaSalle from ER. (I give up? – ed)
It was fun! (But probably not worth the $250 price tag.)
