Tasty food and wine event will also benefit charity




FOR THE CHILDREN—Alexandra Field oversees the artists program at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Here she is pictured with her son Jackson at a recent event announcing the upcoming fest.

FOR THE CHILDREN—Alexandra Field oversees the artists program at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Here she is pictured with her son Jackson at a recent event announcing the upcoming fest.

Seven years ago, Woodland Hills resident Alan Semsar took a self-improvement course that encouraged participants to start a project that would benefit the less fortunate. The businessman was inspired to create an annual wine and food festival in Calabasas to raise funds for the Children’s Tumor Foundation in collaboration with Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

“It’s a really great cause,” said Semsar, CEO of the marketing firm Barcelona Enterprises, adding that he favored the charity because it is a research foundation.

The sixth annual Calabasas Food and Wine Festival—featuring more than 30 restaurants and 70 purveyors of wines, beers and spirits as well as live cooking demonstrations—will take place from 3 to 6 p.m. Sat. and Sun., June 23 and 24 on the roof of the Calabasas Mercedes-Benz dealership on Calabasas Road.

Live jazz music will be performed by the 17-piece Esquire Big Band, Nostatic Trio, Dirty Little Secrets, Jemma Louis and Raspin.

Wines from around the world will be presented, along with offerings from local restaurants and breweries.

“MasterChef” finalist Alejandra Schrader, Mastro’s Steakhouse executive chef Adrian Giese, “Top Chef” contestant Carlos Enriquez and Beverly Hills 9021PHO chef Kimmy Tang will be in attendance.

The Children’s Tumor Foundation will honor actor Richard Grieco, who appeared in the TV series “21 Jump Street,” with a Spirit of Life Award for his work with children.

For $50 per ticket, attendees 21 and older can taste world class wines, beers, spirits and food while helping raise money for the foundation. VIP tickets are available for $100 and allow admittance to the event one hour earlier.

“I really would like the local community to engage more with this event to give it more life,” said Semsar.

A native of Iran, Semsar and his family moved to America in the mid-1980s when he was a child. Unlike some other Middle Eastern families who had financial means to settle in a new land, the Semsar family arrived in the U.S. with few resources.

Semsar said his childhood experiences inspired him to use his marketing skills to take care of the community while promoting businesses.

“You make money with people, not from them,” said Semsar, adding that he organizes more than 20 festivals and special events in the Los Angeles region and Las Vegas each year, allowing restaurants and businesses to reach potential diners.

Semsar said that his company has donated some $150,000 to nonprofit organizations such as St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, March of Dimes, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and Meals on Wheels.

Sylvie Belmond


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