Curtis Stone and other celebrity chefs to heat things up at Los Angeles Food & Wine Festival

Culinary arts and pop culture are getting tossed together and served on a silver platter for Southern California foodies during this year’s fifth annual Los Angeles Food & Wine Festival.

The citywide party plans to feature top chefs from Los Angeles and beyond Aug. 27-30, with each day packed with tastings, lunches, seminars, book signings, cooking demonstrations and more special events that aim to spotlight the finest local food and drink.

“Angelenos are proud of what the L.A. food scene has become in the last 10 years,” said founder and festival CEO David A. Bernahl II. “Even more exciting is it’s only getting started.”

Participants will be Michelin-starred honorees, James Beard Award winners and Food & Wine Best New Chefs — including celebrity chefs Tyler Florence, Curtis Stone, Thomas Keller and Michelle Bernstein — all ready to showcase their skills, while promoting innovation and new trends in the dining world.

There also will be a live performance by famed hip-hop artist Questlove Thompson and The Roots.

“LAFW showcases some of the best from this great city but also offer tastes from world-renowned chefs from around the country. That mixture makes every event a once-in-a-lifetime moment,” said Bernahl. “When you add the live musical performances and guest appearances that show up from all corners of the Entertainment Capital of the World, it makes for a ridiculously good time.”

Even veteran chefs love the festival vibe.

“Food, music and Los Angeles are three passions of mine, and all come together so beautifully each year for LAFW,” said Stone, a seasoned culinary TV host and judge as well as owner of Maude in Beverly Hills.

Where Stone’s restaurant only seats 25, the festival allows the Australian chef to share samples of his favorite dishes with thousands of his fans — and he can’t wait.

“That might sound crazy as there is a fair amount of work involved to pull it off, but it’s always worth it when you catch somebody with a big, satisfied smile on their face after they taste your food,” said Stone, who will be hosting the first day’s big event, “Ultimate Bites of L.A.” on Aug. 27.

Headquartered in the heart of downtown Los Angeles, with main events taking place in front of the iconic Walt Disney Concert Hall, the festival will also host events across parts of greater Los Angeles, including Beverly Hills, Santa Monica and Hollywood to allow all area foodies a chance to get up close and personal with their favorite culinary star.

“Our industry changes all the time; food trends, hot chefs, winemaking styles — all of it. That’s what we’re all coming for. You’ll never have the same experience twice at LAFW because all of it is constantly changing,” Bernahl said.