Taste of Beverly Hills

Next month, L.A.’s exciting culinary scene is finally getting its industry-sanctioned due:

September 2-5, Food & Wine Magazine will hold its first annual Taste of Beverly Hills.

TOBH will feature a Top Chef (oh, how we love that show) roll call of local kitchen stars, food from over 40 of L.A.’s best restaurants, sommelier-led wine sessions, a flotilla of cocktails, and even an end-of-summer barbecue.

Adam and I will have to miss the biggest event of the weekend, a huge outdoor party on Saturday the 4th called Date Night, but hope to make it (all of 20 minutes from our house) to Thursday night’s opening festivities . (Tickets $125-150 per session, per person)

If you want to make a Bacchanalian weekend of it, there are several area hotels offering packages for two:

Closest to the action, the Beverly Hilton is offering three festival-themed specials, ranging from $500 to $2,000:

Amuse Bouche: one-night stay, one-evening festival passes, breakfast and self-parking
Epicurious: two-night stay, one-day/one-evening festival passes, breakfast each morning and valet parking
Connoisseur: three-night stay, two festival weekend passes, breakfast each morning and valet parking

Or, inquire about:

The Peninsula Beverly Hills‘ Peninsula Weekend Escape
Thompson Beverly Hills‘ 90210 Package
Avalon Beverly Hills’ Taste of Oliverio
The Beverly Wilshire’s Taste of Beverly Hills
Mosaic Hotel’s Bed and Breakfast
Luxe Hotel Rodeo Drive‘s Summer Special
Maison 140’s Weekend Rendezvous

If you choose to stay more simply (say, at the Hotel Beverly Terrace), but still want to check out these swanktacular addresses, here are a few tips:

The Peninsula’s Roof Garden restaurant has cozy chairs, fire pits and some of the city’s best truffle mac’n'cheese
ABH, The Thompson’s (guest-only, and therefore requiring a little door bribe-age) rooftop bar features my favorite cocktail, the Gin Basil
Maison 140′s Bar Noir, tucked into their tiny jewel box of a lobby, is one of the most romantic spots in town

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And here are some of my favorite posts on the Beverly Hills area, featuring some great things to see, do and eat:

Weird Houses of LA: Beverly Hills
Utterly Bazaar: SLS at Beverly Hills
An InterContinental Valentine
TWT Travel Binder: California