Join 400 guests at AbilityFirst Food & Wine Festival June 5 in Pasadena featuring 20+ top restaurants, premium spirits, wines, and craft beer supporting disability programs.
When a food and wine festival combines 20+ top restaurants, premium spirits and wines, stunning historic gardens, and a mission that genuinely changes lives, you know you’re attending something special.
The AbilityFirst Food & Wine Festival presented by CHUBB returns Sunday, June 5, 2022, from 5:00-8:00 pm at the breathtaking Historic Laurabelle A. Robinson House in Pasadena, bringing nearly 400 guests together for an exquisite evening of gourmet food, craft cocktails, and purposeful celebration. F
or upscale foodies, wine collectors, and cocktail enthusiasts from Beverly Hills to West Hollywood to Culver City who want their dining experiences to make a difference, this festival delivers on every level.
Top restaurants like Alexander’s Steakhouse, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Porto’s Bakery, and El Cholo Café will showcase their signature flavors, while craft spirits from Dulce Vida Tequila, Golden Road Brewing, and Pasadena’s own Cerveceria Del Pueblo keep glasses filled with exceptional beverages. But here’s what makes this event truly meaningful: proceeds directly benefit AbilityFirst’s programs empowering individuals with disabilities to build independence, employment skills, and social connections.
You’re not just enjoying world-class food and wine, you’re helping create life-changing opportunities for people transitioning from childhood to adulthood with disabilities.
An Exquisite Evening at Pasadena’s Most Beautiful Historic Setting
The Historic Laurabelle A. Robinson House provides the perfect backdrop for this outdoor gourmet festival. Located in Pasadena, the stunning gardens create an intimate, elegant atmosphere where guests can sample exceptional food and beverages while enjoying Southern California’s perfect early summer weather.
The outdoor format allows the festival to spread across the gardens, giving guests room to explore different stations at their own pace, discover new favorite restaurants and beverages, and connect with fellow food and wine enthusiasts in a relaxed, fun-loving environment. Unlike crowded indoor tastings where you’re elbow-to-elbow at vendor tables, this garden setting encourages leisurely enjoyment—the way great food and wine should be experienced.
For Pasadena residents and visitors from throughout Los Angeles, the Historic Laurabelle A. Robinson House represents one of the area’s most treasured locations. Hosting the AbilityFirst Food & Wine Festival here elevates the event beyond typical tasting festivals, creating an experience worthy of the cause it supports and the caliber of restaurants and beverage partners participating.
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Top Restaurants Bringing Their Best Flavors
This year’s AbilityFirst Food & Wine Festival features more than 20 top restaurants showcasing signature dishes and flavors that represent LA’s diverse, world-class dining scene. The restaurant lineup includes:
Alexander’s Steakhouse brings upscale steakhouse excellence with contemporary Japanese influences—the kind of innovative fusion that makes LA’s food scene internationally respected.
Ruth’s Chris Steak House delivers their legendary USDA Prime steaks with that signature sizzle, offering festival guests a taste of classic American steakhouse perfection.
El Cholo Café, a beloved LA institution since 1923, represents authentic California-Mexican cuisine with recipes and traditions that have shaped Southern California’s culinary identity for nearly a century.
Porto’s Bakery, the legendary Cuban bakery that draws lines around the block, will showcase their famous pastries, cakes, and savory bites that combine Caribbean flavors with European baking techniques.
Gale’s Restaurant, Mi Piace, Tam O’Shanter, and We Olive each bring distinct culinary perspectives—from Italian to Scottish-themed to Mediterranean—ensuring guests experience genuine variety throughout the evening.
The dessert selection features Lark Cake Shop, Poppy Cake Bakery Company, and Nothing Bundt Cakes, guaranteeing sweet endings worthy of the savory courses preceding them [Insert Internal Link].
For serious foodies who appreciate both established classics and innovative contemporary restaurants, this diverse lineup offers something for every palate. You’re not choosing between different restaurants for dinner—you’re sampling the best offerings from 20+ establishments in a single evening.
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Premium Spirits, Craft Beer, and Curated Wines
The beverage program matches the restaurant quality, featuring cocktails, spirits, craft beer, and specially curated wines that elevate the tasting experience.
Cocktails and Spirit Tastings come from impressive sources:
1886 at The Raymond in Pasadena brings craft cocktail expertise from one of the area’s most respected bars. Their bartenders understand flavor profiles, balance, and presentation—creating drinks that complement rather than overpower the food.
Dulce Vida Tequila offers premium organic tequila perfect for sipping or mixing, representing the elevated tequila culture that’s transformed how Americans appreciate agave spirits.
Krafted Spirits and JuneShine bring innovative approaches to spirits and hard kombucha, appealing to guests seeking contemporary beverage options beyond traditional categories.
Golden Road Brewing, one of LA’s pioneering craft breweries, provides beer selections that pair beautifully with diverse food offerings.
Cerveceria Del Pueblo, Pasadena’s own brewery, will pour distinctive beers showcasing flavors and aromas from South America—offering something genuinely unique you won’t find at typical wine and food festivals.
Specially curated wines round out the beverage selections, ensuring wine collectors and enthusiasts discover new favorites while enjoying familiar varietals expertly chosen to complement the evening’s cuisine.
For guests preferring non-alcoholic options, Califia Farms and PepsiCo will serve premium beverages, ensuring everyone enjoys exceptional drinks regardless of alcohol preference.
According to the Wine Institute, California produces world-class wines that pair exceptionally with diverse cuisines—making wine a natural centerpiece for festivals celebrating culinary excellence.
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Supporting AbilityFirst’s Life-Changing Mission
Here’s what transforms this from simply another excellent food festival into something genuinely meaningful: proceeds directly benefit AbilityFirst’s targeted programming that helps individuals with disabilities successfully transition from childhood to adult life.
AbilityFirst provides:
Employment preparation, training, and experience that gives participants genuine pathways to careers and financial independence—not just token jobs, but real opportunities to build professional skills and contribute meaningfully to workplaces.
Social connections and independence through programs designed to help participants build relationships, navigate social situations, and develop the confidence required for independent living.
Recreational activities that offer both participants and their caregivers opportunities to refresh and recharge—recognizing that quality of life includes joy, relaxation, and fun alongside skill development.
AbilityFirst’s person-centered programs empower individuals to discover what is important to them in their lives and to develop the skills necessary to achieve their personal goals. This isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach; it’s individualized support that honors each participant’s unique aspirations, abilities, and potential.
For upscale audiences throughout Los Angeles who already support cultural institutions and charitable causes, AbilityFirst represents smart philanthropy. Your ticket purchase directly funds programs with measurable impact—helping real people achieve independence, employment, and fulfilling lives.
Presented by CHUBB and Supported by Leading Sponsors
The AbilityFirst Food & Wine Festival is presented by CHUBB, with additional support from sponsors including Bank of America, GHJ & Advisors, The Hartford, Longo Toyota-Longo Lexus, and others. These corporate partnerships enable the festival to maximize funds directed toward AbilityFirst’s programs while delivering the high-quality experience that attracts nearly 400 guests annually.
Corporate sponsorship of charitable events matters enormously. It covers operational costs, allowing more ticket revenue and donations to flow directly to the cause. For attendees, it signals that respected companies have vetted and endorsed both the organization and the event—providing confidence that your participation supports legitimate, effective programs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When and where is the AbilityFirst Food & Wine Festival?
A: The festival takes place Sunday, June 5, 2022, from 5:00-8:00 pm at the Historic Laurabelle A. Robinson House in Pasadena, CA. The outdoor garden setting provides a beautiful backdrop for this gourmet tasting event featuring 20+ restaurants and beverage partners.
Q: What restaurants and beverage companies are participating?
A: Restaurants include Alexander’s Steakhouse, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, El Cholo Café, Porto’s Bakery, Gale’s Restaurant, Mi Piace, Tam O’Shanter, We Olive, Lark Cake Shop, Poppy Cake Bakery Company, Nothing Bundt Cakes, and more. Beverages feature cocktails from 1886 at The Raymond, Dulce Vida Tequila, Krafted Spirits, JuneShine, Golden Road Brewing, Cerveceria Del Pueblo, curated wines, and non-alcoholic options from Califia Farms and PepsiCo.
Q: How do proceeds benefit AbilityFirst?
A: Proceeds directly support AbilityFirst’s programs helping individuals with disabilities transition successfully to adult life. This includes employment preparation and training, building social connections and independence, and recreational activities for participants and caregivers. AbilityFirst’s person-centered approach empowers individuals to discover their personal goals and develop skills to achieve them.
Q: How do I purchase tickets?
A: For more information and to purchase tickets to the AbilityFirst Food & Wine Festival, visit the AbilityFirst website directly. Given the festival’s popularity and limited capacity of approximately 400 guests, purchasing tickets early is recommended.
Taste, Sip, and Make a Difference June 5
The AbilityFirst Food & Wine Festival offers something increasingly rare: an evening where exceptional food, premium beverages, beautiful surroundings, and meaningful purpose converge seamlessly. You’re not compromising entertainment for charity or settling for mediocre experiences in the name of doing good—you’re enjoying world-class culinary offerings while directly supporting programs that change lives.
For foodies, wine enthusiasts, and cocktail lovers throughout Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Santa Monica, Culver City, and Pasadena who want their leisure activities to carry deeper meaning, this festival represents the perfect opportunity. Sample signature dishes from 20+ top restaurants, discover new favorite spirits and wines, enjoy Pasadena’s most stunning historic gardens, and know that your attendance empowers individuals with disabilities to build independent, fulfilling lives.
Nearly 400 guests will gather for this exquisite evening presented by CHUBB. Join them Sunday, June 5, 2022, from 5:00-8:00 pm at the Historic Laurabelle A. Robinson House. Visit the AbilityFirst website to purchase tickets and learn more about the organization’s life-changing programs.
Great food. Exceptional wine. Beautiful setting. Meaningful impact. That’s the AbilityFirst Food & Wine Festival—where every bite and sip supports possibility.
[…] As AbilityFirst marks this special anniversary, this year’s festival promises an evening filled with exquisite flavors, entertainment, and a vibrant celebration of AbilityFirst’s mission. […]