Malibu once again became a gathering place for culinary talent, celebrated personalities and California wine as Malibu Food & Wine returned to Saddlerock Ranch for its second annual three-day celebration. Founded by Chef Marcel Vigneron and entrepreneur Lauren Rae Levy, the weekend brought together chefs, winemakers, entertainers, brands and guests for an experience built around food, hospitality, community and giving back.
Across three distinct celebrations, the event moved from an intimate farm-to-table dinner to an Italian-inspired evening and finally a family-friendly country cookout. While each day offered its own personality, philanthropy remained a central part of the weekend, with proceeds supporting organizations including the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project, the Boys & Girls Club of Malibu and C-CAP.
Friday Night Opens the Weekend with Charlize Theron
The weekend began with an intimate Friday evening hosted by Academy Award winner Charlize Theron, benefiting the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project (CTAOP). Founded by Theron in 2007, CTAOP works to advance the health, safety and opportunities of young people throughout Southern Africa.
More than 150 guests gathered at Saddlerock Ranch for cocktails, culinary presentations and an intimate five-course farm-to-table dinner. The evening featured chefs Andrew Zimmern, Bryan Voltaggio, Michael Voltaggio and Marcel Vigneron, with wines from Marine Layer Wines, founded by Baron Ziegler.
The guest list brought together figures from entertainment, sports, culinary and creative circles, including Rhoda Magbitang, Adam Richman, Rupert Sanders, Melissa Cohen Biden, Kyle Rudolph, Rebecca Reid, R’Bonney Gabriel and Norman Seeff.
The evening’s menu highlighted seasonal ingredients from California farms alongside products from Sea Stephanie Fish, Campo Grande, Schaller & Weber, the American Lamb Board and Seatopia. Each course was paired with Marine Layer Wines, creating a dinner that connected Malibu’s agricultural setting with an elevated culinary program.
Beyond the dinner table, guests explored demonstrations and interactive experiences. Snyder Diamond presented a live culinary demonstration featuring Bosch technologies and Orgreenic cookware, while Aura California knives and Tumbler sharpening technology were also showcased.
Music from the Minta Spencer Collective, with sound presented by Aviator Nation Dreamland, added to the relaxed atmosphere, while Designtonik created a tablescape inspired by Malibu’s natural surroundings.
Italian Night Brings a New Energy to Saddlerock Ranch
Saturday shifted the mood with Italian Night, hosted by Man v. Food personality Adam Richman in support of the Boys & Girls Club of Malibu.
A wide-ranging group of chefs took part in the evening, including Mei Lin, Stephanie Izard, Tobias Dorzon, Jonathon Sawyer, Chris Oh, Brian Redzikowski, Spike Mendelsohn, Nikki Martin and Oren Zroya, alongside Karlo Evaristo and the Malibu Food & Wine team.
The culinary program offered plenty of theatrical moments. Food critic Sophie Gayot opened the festivities with a blindfolded champagne sabering, while chefs Brian Redzikowski and Nick Devries of Kettner Exchange performed a live bluefin tuna carving before turning the fish into small plates for guests.
A mobile cannoli station from The Canoli Bar added another interactive touch, allowing guests to enjoy freshly filled cannoli with customizable toppings.
Saturday’s guest list included Victoria Justice, Madison Grace Reed, Oliver English, Christel Khalil, Talia Perez, Catherine Lidstone, Tara Strong, Kathleen Herles, Emanuela Postacchini and James Perse.
Food and beverage experiences were spread throughout the ranch. The Just Ice Tea Lounge featured chef-curated bites from Spike Mendelsohn alongside its Watermelon Lime White Tea and Stellar Snacks. Soho House added a specialty bar featuring its Picante de la Casa.
The Snyder Diamond Showcase highlighted kitchen technologies from Bosch, Thermador and Gaggenau, while its lounge paired oysters from Morro Bay Oyster Company with wines from Dutcher Crossing Winery, Smith Story Wine Cellars and Fat Dragon of Dry Creek Valley Wines.
One of the weekend’s more indulgent stops brought together Truffle Boys, Cazcanes Tequila and Capri Gelato & Coffee, combining truffle and caviar bites with tequila cocktails, affogatos and artisan gelato.
Music remained an important part of the night, with DJ EQUAL providing the soundtrack through Aviator Nation Dreamland before LEMMO closed the evening with a rock performance.
Country Cookout Closes the Weekend
Sunday brought the second annual celebration to a more relaxed, family-friendly close with Country Cookout, an afternoon built around barbecue, live-fire cooking, California wines and outdoor entertainment.
The culinary lineup included Brian Malarkey, Carlos Anthony, Elizabeth Falkner, Lee Anne Wong, Matt Pittman, Rhoda Magbitang, Jack Hotchkin, Varsity Bakers, Jennifer Lowry, Nikki Martin, Spike Mendelsohn, Viet Pham and Vinnie Cimino.
Their menus ranged from traditional barbecue and open-fire cooking to contemporary interpretations of classic cookout dishes, giving guests plenty of opportunities to explore different approaches to outdoor cuisine.
The atmosphere extended beyond the food. FlutterBy presented an interactive butterfly pavilion featuring native California species, while younger guests could enjoy donkey rides, cornhole and a children’s coloring station.
The Just Ice Tea Lounge returned for Sunday, once again pairing Spike Mendelsohn’s food with Watermelon Lime White Tea and Stellar Snacks. Soho House continued its presence with its Picante de la Casa specialty bar.
The Snyder Diamond Showcase once again featured Bosch, Thermador and Gaggenau, while Morro Bay Oyster Company served fresh oysters. Aura California knives were also incorporated into the culinary demonstrations.
For guests looking for non-alcoholic options, the Gaia Herbs Non-Alcoholic Mixology Experience offered botanical mocktails. Capri Gelato & Coffee provided artisan gelato, affogatos and specialty coffee, while Sandy Brew continued its beer garden throughout the celebration.
California Wines Take Center Stage
Wine was woven throughout all three days, reflecting the event’s Malibu setting and its broader connection to California’s wine culture.
Sunday’s participating wineries and wine organizations included Smith Story Wine Cellars, Fat Dragon, Dutcher Crossing Winery, Malibu Wines, Malibu Wine Company, Big Salt, Lyons Vineyard Estate, TOR Napa Valley, AXR Napa Valley, Summer Somewhere Wines and Williams Selyem.
The Carneros Wine Alliance also brought together Domaine Carneros, Bouchaine Vineyards and Firetree Family Vineyards.
GoVino served as the official glassware partner, allowing guests to sample wines while moving throughout the ranch’s different culinary and entertainment spaces.
A Weekend Built Around Giving Back
While the food, wine and entertainment provided the foundation for Malibu Food & Wine, philanthropy remained one of the defining elements of the weekend.
Friday’s opening dinner supported the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project, connecting the culinary celebration with CTAOP’s work supporting young people across Southern Africa.
Saturday’s Italian Night and Sunday’s Country Cookout supported the Boys & Girls Club of Malibu, helping contribute to programs for local youth and families, including mental health and wellness resources.
Malibu Food & Wine also continued its relationship with C-CAP, an organization that provides culinary education, scholarships, job training and career opportunities to underserved students.
A Malibu Weekend Where Food Meets Community
The second annual Malibu Food & Wine demonstrated how a culinary festival can extend beyond the dining experience. Across three days at Saddlerock Ranch, chefs shared their craft, winemakers poured California selections, brands created interactive experiences and guests gathered in support of community-focused organizations.
For founders Marcel Vigneron and Lauren Rae Levy, the event brought together the elements at the heart of Malibu Food & Wine: culinary creativity, meaningful partnerships, California hospitality and philanthropy.
As the weekend came to a close, Saddlerock Ranch had hosted everything from intimate fine dining and Italian-inspired cooking to barbecue, live music and family entertainment, creating a celebration that was distinctly Malibu while keeping its charitable mission at the center.
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