Three-Day Celebration Featured Charlize Theron, Adam Richman, Acclaimed Chefs, California Wines and Immersive Experiences in Support of CTAOP and the Boys & Girls Club of Malibu
Malibu Food & Wine returned to the picturesque Saddlerock Ranch for its second annual three-day celebration, bringing together acclaimed chefs, winemakers, entertainers, brands and guests for a weekend centered around exceptional food, wine, community and philanthropy.
Founded by husband-and-wife team Chef Marcel Vigneron and entrepreneur Lauren Rae Levy, Malibu Food & Wine reflects the pair’s shared passion for culinary excellence, meaningful partnerships and giving back. Vigneron brings his acclaimed culinary background to the experience, while Levy, philanthropist and founder of LRL Group, leads strategic partnerships and community engagement.
FRIDAY: AN EXCLUSIVE EVENING HOSTED BY CHARLIZE THERON
The weekend kicked off Friday with an intimate evening hosted by Academy Award winner Charlize Theron in support of the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project (CTAOP), the organization Theron founded in 2007 to advance the health, safety and opportunities of young people throughout Southern Africa.
More than 150 guests gathered for the exclusive opening celebration, featuring an all-star culinary lineup of Andrew Zimmern, Bryan Voltaggio, Michael Voltaggio and Marcel Vigneron, alongside featured vintner Baron Ziegler, founder of Marine Layer Wines and notables including Rebecca Reid (actress) and R’Bonney Nola (Miss USA 2022 and Miss Universe 2023).
Guests arrived for cocktails, tray-passed bites and interactive experiences before sitting down for an intimate five-course, farm-to-table dinner, with each course thoughtfully paired with selections from Marine Layer Wines. The seasonal menu incorporated premium ingredients and products from Sea Stephanie Fish, Campo Grande, Schaller & Weber, the American Lamb Board and Seatopia, complemented by produce sourced from local California farms.
Throughout the reception, Snyder Diamond presented a live culinary demonstration with Vigneron showcasing Bosch technologies and Orgreenic cookware by Levy and Vigneron. Aura California showcased its premium knives, while Tumbler demonstrated its knife sharpener. Malibu-founded Sandy Brew, created by Kelly Furano, served its award winning Blonde Pilsner and Daze IPA plant-based beer all weekend, while Bruce’s Beans and Nice Coffee Roasters served nitro cold brew, espresso and iced lattes.
Live music from the Minta Spencer Collective, with sound presented by Aviator Nation Dreamland, set the tone for the evening, while Designtonik created a tablescape inspired by Malibu’s natural surroundings.
Notable guests included Rhoda Magbitang, Adam Richman, filmmaker Rupert Sanders, Melissa Cohen Biden, former NFL star Kyle Rudolph, Miss Universe 2022 R’Bonney Gabriel and Norman Seeff, among others.
SATURDAY: ITALIAN NIGHT WITH ADAM RICHMAN
Saturday transformed Saddlerock Ranch for Italian Night, hosted by Man v. Food star Adam Richman in support of the Boys & Girls Club of Malibu.
The evening brought together an impressive roster of culinary talent including Mei Lin, Stephanie Izard, Tobias Dorzon, Jonathon Sawyer, Chris Oh, Brian Redzikowski, Spike Mendelsohn, Chef Nikki Martin, Oren Zroya and Karlo Evaristo, with Chef Marcel Vigneron and Lauren Rae Levy taking to the Main Stage to welcome guests and recognize the chefs, partners and supporters behind the weekend.
Food critic Sophie Gayot kicked off the culinary festivities with a blindfolded champagne sabering, while Chefs Brian Redzikowski and Nick Devries of Kettner Exchange performed a dramatic live bluefin tuna carving before transforming the fresh cuts into small plates for guests. The Canoli Bar moved throughout the event with its mobile cannoli station, serving freshly filled cannoli with customizable toppings.
Among Saturday’s guests were Victoria Justice, joined by her sister Madison Grace Reed, chef and filmmaker Oliver English, Christel Khalil, Talia Perez, Catherine Lidstone, Tara Strong, Kathleen Herles, Emanuela Postacchini, and James Perse.
Across the ranch, the Just Ice Tea Lounge paired chef-curated bites from Spike Mendelsohn with the brand’s new Watermelon Lime White Tea, and Stellar Snacks. .Soho House was also present with a Specialty Bar serving up its signature Picante de la Casa.
The Snyder Diamond Showcase highlighted luxury kitchen innovations from Bosch, Thermador and Gaggenau, while it’s lounge paired fresh oysters from Morro Bay Oyster Company with wines from Dutcher Crossing Winery, Smith Story Wine Cellars and Fat Dragon of Dry Creek Valley Wines. Aura California knives were showcased throughout the evening and used by chefs during live culinary demonstrations.
Truffle Boys, Cazcanes Tequila and Capri Gelato & Coffee came together for an indulgent collaborative experience, pairing truffle and caviar bites with premium tequila cocktails and decadent creations including Espresso Martinez, Frozen Palomas, affogatos and artisan gelato finished with shaved truffles and caviar. The immersive tent also featured a photo booth, adding a playful, interactive element to the experience.
Wine flowed throughout the evening from Malibu Wines, Lyons Vineyard Estate, TOR Napa Valley, Summer Somewhere Wines, Williams Selyem, Smith Story Wine Cellars, Fat Dragon Dutcher Crossing Winery and Doladira, an aperitivo from the Italian Alps with guests sipping from GoVino, the official glassware partner of Malibu Food & Wine. Guests also hung out at Sandy Brew Beer Garden, a Malibu-founded brand, that served its award winning Blonde Pilsner and Daze IPA.
Stand out food partners included Schaller & Weber and Campo Grande
Aviator Nation Dreamland kept the evening moving with DJ EQUAL, who provided the soundtrack as guests dined and explored the ranch, and closed out the night with rock music by LEMMO.
SUNDAY: COUNTRY COOKOUT
The weekend concluded Sunday with Country Cookout, a family-friendly afternoon celebrating barbecue, live-fire cooking, California wines, music and chef-driven experiences.
Sunday’s culinary lineup featured 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, who brought their individual styles to everything from low-and-slow barbecue and open-fire cooking to elevated takes on classic cookout favorites.
Aviator Nation Dreamland powered the Main Stage with live music by Lizzy Passion & The Cowboy Assassins, as well as Will Worden, while FlutterBy presented an interactive butterfly pavilion filled with native California species. Younger guests enjoyed live donkey rides, cornhole and a kids’ coloring station, bringing an added dose of country fun to the afternoon.
The Just Ice Tea Lounge returned with chef-curated pairings from Spike Mendelsohn, Watermelon Lime White Tea, Stellar Snacks and family-owned children’s wellness brand EEZ Co.. Soho House was also present with a Specialty Bar serving up its signature Picante de la Casa.
At the Snyder Diamond Showcase, guests explored innovations from Bosch, Thermador and Gaggenau, while the lounge featured Thermador wine refrigeration alongside Dutcher Crossing Winery, Smith Story Wine Cellars and Fat Dragon of Dry Creek Valley Wines. Morro Bay Oyster Company served fresh oysters, and Aura California knives were featured throughout the event and during live chef demonstrations.
The Gaia Herbs Non-Alcoholic Mixology Experience served botanical mocktails throughout the afternoon, while Capri Gelato & Coffee offered artisan gelato, affogatos and specialty coffee drinks. Guests also hung out at Sandy Brew Beer Garden, a Malibu-founded brand, that served its award winning Blonde Pilsner and Daze IPA.
Wine remained at the heart of Sunday’s experience with pours from 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, along with the Carneros Wine Alliance, featuring Domaine Carneros, Bouchaine Vineyards and Firetree Family Vineyards. Guests enjoyed beverages throughout the event in GoVino, the official glassware partner of Malibu Food & Wine.
Stand out food partners included Schaller & Weber, Martin’s Famous Potato Rolls Campo Grande.
Among those joining Sunday’s festivities were Olivia Wilde, Adam Richman, Rocky Barnes, Hunter Biden and Melissa Cohen Biden, Tara Strong, Sibley Scoles, Ashley Alexiss, Lindsey Pelas,Timothy Granaderos, Cisco Adler, Margie Plus and Harald Austad, Ahmet Zappa and Shana Muldoon Zappa.
FOOD, WINE AND GIVING BACK
Philanthropy remained at the heart of the three-day celebration. Friday’s opening dinner supported the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project, while a portion of proceeds from Italian Night and Country Cookout benefited the Boys & Girls Club of Malibu, supporting programs for local youth and families, including mental health and wellness resources.
Malibu Food & Wine also continued its support of C-CAP, which provides culinary education, scholarships, job training and career opportunities to underserved students.
