Morgan Hill Heats Up the Grill for Celebrity Chefs at Inaugural MOHI Food & Wine Festival
Hosted by Chef Charlie Palmer, Léal Hospitality, and Appellation on October 27, 2024
Léal Hospitality and Appellation are thrilled to announce the first-ever MOHI Food & Wine Festival: Grilling for Growth, a culinary extravaganza that brings together world-class chefs, exquisite wines, and local flavors in the city of Morgan Hill. Slated for the afternoon of Sunday, October 27, 2024, this premier event will directly benefit hospitality programs across the Morgan Hill Unified School District, leveraging culinary excellence to inspire the next generation of industry leaders.
The festival will showcase a star-studded lineup of both local and celebrity chefs. Hosted by acclaimed Chef Charlie Palmer, the event features culinary icons such as Chefs Michael Mina, Tyler Florence, and Elizabeth Falkner, along with local chefs from CordeValle, Odeum, and Léal Hospitality. Attendees can expect a feast for the senses with chef-curated signature dishes highlighting regional cuisine and perfectly paired premium wines.
Guests will enjoy a gastronomic journey through eleven live-fire grill stations, each offering a composed dish and select wine pairing. The menu will include each chef’s hand-picked combination of high-quality proteins, fresh produce, and provisions sourced both locally and regionally. Also making an appearance will be Morgan Hill’s specialty–the mushroom–in the form of maitake and lion’s mane varieties. Hog Island Oyster Co. and Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Co. are among the renowned purveyors providing artisanal bites.
Wine offerings will spotlight the best of local and regional California vintners, including Guglielmo Winery, Léal Vineyards, Alara Cellars, and Lion Ranch Vineyards, as well as sparkling selections from Champagne Palmer and Domaine Chandon. Fiji Water will also be on hand to keep guests refreshed and The Big Green Egg will lend flavor to the overall grilling experience.
Set in the heart of downtown Morgan Hill, at the acclaimed MOHI Farm restaurant, the festival will transform a portion of E. Third Street into a vibrant, open-air culinary arena. Alongside the chef action stations, the event will feature a headliner stage for live music and special announcements, plus the Morgan Hill Wine Trolley, a San Francisco-style cable car outfitted on four wheels, for an unforgettable photo opportunity.
Multi-award-winning chef, restaurateur, and hotelier Charlie Palmer is an influential culinary visionary, and founder and CEO of Appellation, a hotel development and management group. Léal Hospitality, known for its popular local portfolio of wine, culinary, and event destinations, has brought on Appellation as the operator for its luxury boutique hotel project in downtown Morgan Hill. Expected to open in late 2025, the Hotel MOHI by Appellation will feature 76 rooms and 11,000 square feet of food and beverage space, including a Charlie Palmer signature restaurant.
Morgan Hill is growing its reputation as a South Bay Area foodie destination, known for its wine country, agricultural heritage, and connected culinary culture. The city offers a relaxing experience, with visitors drawn to its picturesque wineries, you-pick farms, and a downtown comprising nearly 100% independent or localized, small chain restaurants. Attendees of the MOHI Food & Wine Festival are encouraged to stay overnight to explore the city’s bustling local scene and immerse themselves in the area's enticing offerings. With the upcoming additions of a luxury boutique hotel and Charlie Palmer restaurant, Morgan Hill’s status as a culinary hotspot is on the rise, making it an ideal destination for a rejuvenating weekend getaway.
The MOHI Food & Wine Festival will take place Sunday, October 27, 2024 from 1 - 5 p.m. at 90 E. Third Street in Morgan Hill, California. General Admission tickets are available for $200 each.
Join us for an afternoon of exceptional flavors, exquisite pairings, and an unforgettable culinary experience—all in support of Morgan Hill’s emerging talent in hospitality.
