Head West For Celebrity Chef Food Festivals This Spring

Spring is in the air, and March and April are the perfect months to take a short vacation. Foodies are in luck, as this is the season for some of the biggest food and wine festivals. Here is a roundup of some of the West's biggest food events.

Vegas Uncork’d by Bon Appétit

The world’s most iconic chefs will come together on April 27-30 for the 11th annual Vegas Uncork’d by Bon Appétit. Alain Ducasse, Bobby Flay, Buddy Valastro, Charlie Palmer, Giada De Laurentiis, Gordon Ramsay, Jose Andres, Julian Serrano, Nobu Matsuhisa and Wolfgang Puck, among others, and master sommeliers and mixologists will participate in dinners, tastings, cooking demonstrations and brunches at Caesars Palace, The Cosmopolitan, The Cromwell, MGM Resorts and the Venetian in Las Vegas. New events this year include a Picnic in the Park at MGM Resorts’ new outdoor dining and entertainment district; Lunch Like A Spaniard with Jose Andres at The Cosmopolitan; Brunch with Bobby Flay at Caesars Palace and Sweet Escape: An Evening of Buddy, Beignets, Bon Bons and Booze at The Palazzo. Tickets can be purchased at www.vegasuncorked.com.

Santa Barbara Food & Wine

Bacara Resort & Spa will host the 4th Annual Santa Barbara Food & Wine Weekend on April 7-9 at the Bacara Resort & Spa. The three-day festival is the only culinary event in the world sanctioned by the Julia Child Foundation. This year, LA Chef Nancy Silverton will be honored. For tickets, go to http://meritagecollection.com/bacararesort/food-and-wine-weekend/.

Palm Desert Food & Wine

The 7th Annual Palm Desert Food & Wine festival, presented by Agua Caliente Casino Resort and produced by Palm Springs Life, will be held March 24-26 at Palm Desert’s iconic shopping district, The Gardens on El Paseo. Festivities will include a James Beard Gourmet four-course luncheon featuring Gail Simmons. Dishes from chefs Casey Thompson, Gale Gand, Tory McPhail and Zac Young will be served. The weekend will also include grand tastings and cooking demonstrations. Tickets are on sale at www.palmdesertfoodandwine.com.

All Star Chef Classic

The All Star Chef Classic returns to LA Live for four days of dinners, tastings, demonstrations and kids' cooking classes. Participating chefs include Antonia Lofaso, Art Smith, Ben Ford, Curtis Stone, David LeFeuve, Duff Goldman, Francois Payard, Hugh Acheson, Neal Fraser and dozens of other top chefs. The event will include four master dinners focusing on French (March 8), Italian (March 9), American (March 10) and East West (March 11) cuisine. There will also be a Southern Eats (March 10) and a Grill and Chill (March 11) strolling tasting. Tickets can be purchased at http://www.allstarchefclassic.com/.

Photos provided by Shaena Engle, Vegas Uncork'd by Bon Appétit, Palm Desert Food & Wine and All Star Chef Classic.