Over 40 renowned culinary figures will gather at westdrift resort for the two-night coastal tasting festival this September.

By Sarah Lin.

Manhattan Beach Food & Wine revealed a lineup of more than 40 premier culinary figures for its third annual festival, set for Sept. 25-26.

Founded by producer Shelby Russell and host chef Neal Fraser, the two-night coastal celebration brings together top regional and national culinary talent for grand tasting events alongside winemakers, craft brewers, and spirits producers. The 2026 edition moves to a new location at westdrift Manhattan Beach, an Autograph Collection Hotel.

Proceeds from the 21-and-over event support the Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C•CAP), a nonprofit organization providing workforce training and mentorship for underserved youth entering the hospitality industry.

Chef Lunetta (Lunetta, Marelle), Chef Ray Garcia (Broken Spanish Comedor), Chef Ludo Lefebvre (Petit Trois). Photo Credit: Manhattan Beach Food and Wine

The 2026 chef roster includes:

Host Chef Neal Fraser: Redbird • Vibiana  (Downtown Los Angeles)

Vartan Abgaryan: Momed  (Atwater Village)

Kasra Adjani: Google (Playa Vista)

Yoshiyasu Aiba: Sushi Roku (Manhattan Beach)

Deau Aprapornnoparat: Holy Basil (DTLA, Atwater, Santa Monica)

Jose Baca: westdrift (Manhattan Beach)

Brendan Collins: BOA Steakhouse (Manhattan Beach)

Shaun Dry: Rock’N Fish (Manhattan Beach)

Dean Fearing: Fearing’s (Dallas, TX)

Susan Feniger: Alice B. / Border Grill (Palm Springs, Los Angeles)

Marco Gagliardi: Josephine (Silver Lake)

Ray Garcia: Broken Spanish Comedor (Culver City)

Jeffray Gardner: Marsatta Chocolate (Torrance)

Anthony Greco: Porto’s Bakery (Los Angeles)

Joel Hammond: Uchi West Hollywood (West Hollywood)

Ray Hayashi: Ryla (Hermosa Beach)

Imran Khan: Fitoor (Santa Monica)

Ludo Lefebvre: Petit Trois (Los Angeles, Sherman Oaks)

David LeFevre: Fishing with Dynamite / MB Post / The Arthur J / Ryla / AttaGirl (Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach)

Lord Maynard Llera: Kuya Lord (Melrose Hill)

Christy Lucchese: Wife and the Somm (Glassell Park)

Chef Imran Kahn (Fitoor Santa Monica), CCP students, Chef Lord Maynard Llera (Kuya Lord), Manhattan Beach Food and Wine Chef Roster. Photo Credit: Manhattan Beach Food and Wine.

Raphael Lunetta: Lunetta / Marelle (Santa Monica)

Alice Mai: AttaGirl (Hermosa Beach)

Jayro Martinez: Top of the V (Anaheim)

Chris Park: The Strand House (Manhattan Beach)

Wendy Pomerantz: Bertha Mae’s Brownie Co. (Los Angeles)

Michael Reed: Poppy + Rose / Poppy & Seed (Downtown Los Angeles, Anaheim)

Ben Robinson: Bravo’s Below Deck (Fort Lauderdale, FL)

Ligia Rossi: République (Los Angeles)

Steve Samson: Rossoblu (Downtown Los Angeles)

Aarón Sánchez: Johnny Sánchez (New Orleans, LA)

Alan Sanz: Mírate / Daisy Margarita Bar (Los Angeles, Sherman Oaks)

Frank Ryan Saporito: Wife and the Somm (Glassell Park)

Chef Deau Arpapornnopparat (Holy Basil), Chef John Sungkamee (Emporium Thai), Chef Rudy Suazo (Maple Block Meat Co.)

Alex Seidel: Mercantile Dining & Provisions (Denver, CO)

Rudy Suazo: Maple Block Meat Co. (Culver City)

John Sungkamee: Emporium Thai / Emporium Thai Market (Westwood)

Oscar Torres: Verse (Toluca Lake)

Dustin Trani: J. Trani’s / The Majestic / Trani’s Dockside Station (San Pedro)

Sherry Yard: Bakery by the Yard (Manhattan Beach)

Culinary Careers Students: C•CAP (Los Angeles)

VIP early access opens at 6 p.m. each night, with general entry starting at 7 p.m. Single-night passes and hotel package options are available at www.ManhattanBeachFoodandWine.com.

This year’s Partners include INFINITI as the official Vehicle, Delta Air Lines as the official Airline, westdrift Manhattan Beach as the official Host Hotel, San Pellegrino as the official Water, Chef Works as the official Hospitality Apparel, Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Cove as the official Kitchen Appliance, and Southern California Restaurant Design Group as the official Commercial Kitchen Designer.