Kat's 9 Lives

Tucked away in the hills of Malibu is the Saddlerock Ranch.  It's a very big and beautiful property.
 The weather was beautiful this year where the sun was out and no heat beating down on patrons there enjoying their Sunday afternoon.
Great food under a beautiful sky, couldn't ask for any better!
This is definitely not your typical ranch as they have two beautiful camels that are within reaching distance.  As we parked, one camel came right on over to snuggle with our car.
Feel free to stroll right on up and pet the sweet camel.  The camel was friendly and does whatever it wants.
It may be wise to carry some hand sanitizer or wipes with you to clean your hands before you eat with them.
As you walk closer to the entrance, there are a pair of beautiful horses for you to pet as well.
Don't let their charms fool you, they are a rambunctious bunch.  The brown one kept nudging me in the chest and then came after my back later.
Luckily I had wipes to use as their noses were not the cleanest things.  At least they were friendly and I had fun playing with them.
To start the day off, grab your signature wine glasses and the lovely trays provided by Cadillac.  This year they got smarter to provide the trays that hold your wine glass.
One of the highlights was the Sweet Corn Ravioli with Toasted Almonds and Prosciutto from Waterloo and City Restaurant.  It was the perfect blend of sweet and savory.  I had to go back for seconds.
It's something simple mixed in with some exotic flares.  Every component was on point and mouthwatering tasty.
A crowd favorite that many people told me was the Fried Chicken with Mashed Sweet Potato and Okra from Plan Check Kitchen and Bar.

While waiting in line they were serving a Cucumber Watermelon Cocktail.
Gladstones offered a cute and tasty treat.  In mini martini glasses they offered Lump Crab, Saffron Rice, and Avocado Parfait.  Plenty of room to go for seconds! =)
Up on top of the hill was the Onyx station from the Four Seasons Hotel where they offered an array of delectable savory treats.
They served up a Seafood Custard, Scallops Ceviche, and Japanese Spare Rib.  The custard was full of seafood and topped off with caviar.  It was very light with slight hints of salt from the caviar.
Right next to this station is the Voss stage where they have demonstrations and beautiful white couches to sit and enjoy.
Short Cake and Short Order were both there to serve up something savory and something sweet.
They were offering their Brownies and Blondies.  The brownies melted in your mouth and were full of flavor.  It was very rich and full of chocolate flavor.
On the Short Order side they were serving a Hamburger Slider and Meat Ball Slider.
Momed was there to serve up their infamous Duck Shwarma.
Manhattan Beach Post served a generous portion of Grilled Squid that was light and fresh.
Mo-chica served Steak Tartare with fresh greens.
The Lazy Ox Canteen served up a show as they freshly made Paella for the crowd.  Each component was added slowly to the gigantic pot then slowly stir-fried.
Squeeze the juicy piece of lemon atop the crisp pieces of rice.  The flavor was decent, but after the long wait I was wondering if it was worth the wait.  Still, it was served piping hot and fun to eat.
Mercato di Vetro spiced it up with a twist serving Panna Cotta with Beets and Shaved Truffles.
It was a great mixture of flavors and the aromatic essence of truffle gets to complement the light panna cotta.
Michael's Restaurant in Santa Monica was grilling fresh sliders on the side of the tent.
You can pick up a Slider or some tasty Grilled Pork and Apple tacos to munch on as you peruse through the event site.
There's so much great eats and great Chefs at this event.  It is a must on every foodies' calendar!
The ticket prices are very reasonable for the amount of restaurants and food that you can sample in one afternoon.  It's the perfect time to try out some of the best restaurants that Los Angeles has to offer.
They have a few vineyards and alcohol sponsors as well.
I loved Karma Tequila's table.  They served margaritas in small mason jars that are so adorable that I had to have! A great gimmick as I normally don't drink but I had to find out which station was serving these little treasures up! =D
There were many famous well known Chefs like Chef Ludo Lefebrve who were demonstrating on the main stage.  It was great to see him and his wonderful wife!
They are both so sweet and great as always.  If you ever get a chance, be sure to check out his wonderful cookbooks!
This post is a bit belated, but don't worry a year will pass very soon and you will have another chance to attend the annual event.  They also have wonderful holiday events that are worth checking out!