The second annual Malibu Food & Wine weekend, founded by husband-and-wife team Chef Marcel Vigneron and entrepreneur Lauren Rae Levy, kicked off Friday, September 18, 2026 with a star-studded dinner hosted by Charlize Theron. Saturday featured Italian Night, hosted by Man v. Food star Adam Richman. And on Sunday, I pulled up to the Country Cookout at Saddlerock Ranch in full cowgirl gear with an insatiable appetite for barbecue.
The pastrami brisket Reuben from Matt Pittman’s Meat Church had me at hello. Cooked low and slow, then flown in from Texas, the melt-in-your-mouth brisket came topped with sauerkraut and Texas Russian dressing spiked with pickled jalapeños. I quenched my thirst with an Elderberry Refresher mocktail from Gaia Herbs before launching into their nitro ice cream: vanilla and strawberry topped with dried beet crystals. The feast did not stop there.
Other highlights included Chef Nikki Martin’s Malibu Brat with grilled peach relish, sauerkraut and herbed Dijon yogurt, and Jennifer Lowry of Ember & Spice’s sweet potato tamale topped with beef, pickled onions and pumpkin seeds. Jack Hotchkin served barbecued Alaska pink salmon with passion fruit caviar beurre blanc, while Vinnie Cimino offered Brovada salata, skewered and topped with anchovy mayo.
Lee Anne Wong’s Szechuan lamb dumpling with summer corn yogurt, chili munch, corn and cucumber pickle had me licking the plate. Campo Grande’s thinly sliced Jamón Ibérico made the perfect tapa accompanied by a tiny breadstick. The street corn shrimp and grits from Brian Malarkey and Carlos Anthony had tongues wagging. I overheard one guest say, “I don’t usually like shrimp or grits, but this is amazing.”
I also loved Rhoda Magbitang’s fish sauce-glazed BBQ shrimp on a bed of rice noodles. Another fan favorite was Viet Pham’s Pretty Bird Hot Chicken, flown in from Salt Lake City and served with dill yogurt sauce and basil.
Of course, 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. Soho House served up its signature Picante de la Casa.
The Aviator Nation Dreamland stage kept the vibes going with Lizzy Passion & The Cowboy Assassins and Will Worden performing, while plenty of happy kiddos enjoyed an interactive butterfly exhibit, live donkey rides, cornhole and a kids’ coloring station.
And at its core, Malibu Food & Wine is all about the kids. In addition to bringing the community together to celebrate great chefs and good vino, proceeds benefited the Boys & Girls Club of Malibu and C-CAP, which helps underserved students pursue careers in the culinary arts.
Leaving Saddlerock Ranch, I rolled down to PCH ready for a cowgirl siesta and wishing I’d worn elastic pants.
All photos by Pam Suchman.
