Nancy Oakes

L.A. Loves Alex’s Lemonade Culinary Cookout Returns!  Culinary Talents Return to Fight Childhood Cancer for Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation

Suzanne Goin, Caroline Styne and David Lentz Joined by International Chefs, Winemakers, Brewers and Mixologists to Fund Childhood Cancer Research

After a three year hiatus, L.A. Loves Alex’s Lemonade, hosted by James Beard Foundation award-winners Chef Suzanne Goin and partner Caroline Styne (The Lucques Group) along with Chef David Lentz, returns on Saturday, September 23, 2023, from 12:30 – 4:30 pm on UCLA’s Royce Quad.

L.A. Loves Alex’s Lemonade returns on Saturday, September 23, 2023, from 12:30 – 4:30 pm on UCLA’s Royce Quad.

Goin, Styne and Lentz have again enlisted the support and generosity of their culinary-superstar friends around the country who will donate their time and services to raise funds and awareness for Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) and its mission to find better treatments and cures for all kids with cancer.

The Presenting Sponsors for the cookout are Northwestern Mutual and Volvo Cars of North America.

Featuring fabulous food, wine and cocktails prepared by the nation’s best chefs, winemakers and mixologists, L.A. Loves Alex’s Lemonade is an afternoon of fantastic fare, cocktails for a cause, children’s activities, extravagant silent and exhilarating live auctions, and much more.

Returning Chefs include…

The 2023 event is guaranteed to surpass the aspirations of previous years with returning chefs Michael Cimarusti, Chris Bianco, Adam Perry Lang, Donald Link, Nancy Oakes, Nancy Silverton, Suzanne Tracht, Jon Shook, Vinny Dotolo, Rocco Whalen and Marc Vetri coming together to cook for childhood cancer cures.

First time participating Chefs…

First time participants Akasha Richmond, (LA) — AKASHA;  Dana Slatkin & Brittany Cassidy (L.A.) — Violet; Drew Deckman (Baja California, Mexico) — Deckman’s; Gavin Fine (Jackson Hole, WY) — Fine Dining Restaurant Group; Tiffany Dela Pena, Tim Cardenas and Irene Widjaya (L.A.) —  Caldo Verde and Cara Cara; Jeremy Tummel (Santa Barbara)— La Paloma Café; Mason Hereford (New Orleans) — Turkey and The Wolf; Roxana Julipat (L.A.) — Friends & FamilySarin Sing (L.A.) — Jitlada; Sergei Simonov (Santa Barbara) — Loquita; and Vivian Ku(L.A.) — Pine and Crane.

More chefs will continue to be announced, as well as leading vintners and mixologists from across the country.

Pricing for General Admission tickets is $195 until August 1, when the price increases to $255. L.A. Loves Alex’s Lemonade also offers a $1,500 premier ticket level that includes early access to the event, VIP seating and an exclusive invite to the private and intimate Welcome Dinner the evening before, on Friday, September 22.

The culinary cookout is family-friendly; children under the age of 12 are free with accompanying adult and do not need to register for the event.

For complete listings of participants and to purchase tickets for this year’s event visit the ALSF website. All proceeds will benefit the Foundation.

L.A. supporters enthusiastically responded with huge turnouts in the first ten years, sampling signature dishes of world-renowned chefs and reaching over $8 million in sponsorship, ticket and auction sales to date.

In addition to the generous backing of the community, prominent personalities from the entertainment industry – long time attendees Jimmy Kimmel, Laura Dern, Joe Mantegna, Timothy Olyphant, Kirsten Vangsness and others – have become champions of the cause. 

• More than 2,500 people, including more than 100 chefs, mixologists and vintners, attended the last cookout in 2019, which raised over 1.3 million. Those in attendance heard an inspiring speech by Jay & Liz Scott, Alex’s parents, and co-executive directors of Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation.  Three-time childhood cancer survivor and UCLA graduate, Alexandra Keir, also spoke, telling guests about her experience with cancer and how supporters can join her and ALSF in the fight against childhood cancer.

“I’m unbelievably happy that we are finally bringing L.A. Loves Alex’s Lemonade back. Suzanne, David and I have missed being able to support this amazing Foundation and bring all of our food and wine friends together again,” said co-founder Caroline Styne.

“I always say this, but this is literally my favorite day of the year.

“‘We’re so excited to be back and we’re in awe of the commitment and generosity of Suzanne, Caroline and David, all the participating chefs, vintners, mixologists and guests of L.A. Loves Alex’s Lemonade,” said Liz Scott, Alex’s mom and Co-Executive Director of the Foundation. “It is so special to celebrate an entire decade of L.A. Loves Alex’s Lemonade! Every year we move closer to achieving Alex’s vision of finding a cure for all kids with cancer!”

For information on how to become a sponsor, contact Sara Moyer at Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, (610) 649-3034 or S.Moyer@AlexsLemonade.org