L.A. Loves Alex’s Lemonade Culinary Cookout Returns

LOS ANGELES, CA — 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. 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 mixologistsL.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. The 2023 event is guaranteed to surpass the aspirations of previous years with returning chefs Michael CimarustiChris 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 (for a current list, see page 3). 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 KimmelLaura DernJoe MantegnaTimothy 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 

A selection of photos from 2019 can be downloaded HERE; PHOTO CREDIT ABImages 2019

Become a fan of L.A. Loves Alex’s Lemonade on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ALSFCulinaryEvents

Follow on Twitter and Instagram: @LALovesAlexs

Suzanne Goin, David Lentz and Caroline Styne photo credit Carolina Korman 2019

About Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation
Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) emerged from the front yard lemonade stand of 4-year-old Alexandra “Alex” Scott, who was fighting cancer and wanted to raise money to find cures for all children with cancer. Her spirit and determination inspired others to support her cause, and when she passed away at the age of 8, she had raised $1 million. Since then, the Foundation bearing her name has evolved into a national fundraising movement. Today, ALSF is one of the leading funders of pediatric cancer research in the U.S. and Canada raising more than $175 million so far, funding nearly 1,000 research projects and providing programs to families affected by childhood cancer. For more information, visit AlexsLemonade.org.

Partial List of Participating Chefs
Adam Perry Lang (Hollywood, CA) — APL BBQAkasha Richmond (L.A.) —  AKASHA
Bob Oswaks (Los Alamos, CA) — Bob’s Well Bread Bakery
Boe Delashmutt (Tilghman, MD) — Marker 5
Bricia Lopez (L.A.) — Guelaguetza
Chris Bianco (L.A. / Phoenix, AZ) — Pizzeria BiancoDana Slatkin & Brittany Cassidy (L.A.) — Violet Los Angeles
Donald Link (New Orleans, LA) — Link Restaurant Group
Drew Deckman (Baja California, Mexico) — Deckman’s
Frank Castronovo & Frank Falcinelli (Brooklyn, NY) — Frankies Spuntino
Gavin Fine (Jackson Hole, WY) — Fine Dining Restaurant Group
Giada De Laurentiis (Las Vegas, NV) — GIADA
Irene Widjaya (L.A.) — LA Proper Hotel
Jason Winters (L.A.) — Speak Cheezy
Jason Paluska (Santa Barbara, CA) — The Lark Santa Barbara
Jeremy Fox (Santa Monica, CA) — Birdie G’s, Rustic Canyon
Jeremy Tummel (Santa Barbara, CA) — La Paloma Cafe
Jon Shook & Vinny Dotolo (L.A.) — Jon & Vinny’s
Jonathan Sundstrom (Seattle, WA) — Lark Seattle
Jonathan Waxman (New York, NY) — Barbuto
Josiah Citrin (Santa Monica, CA) — Mélisse Restaurant
Kevin Meehan (L.A.) — Kali Restaurant
Kris & Sarah Yenbamroong (Venice, CA) — Night + Market SahmLaurel Almerinda (L.A.) — Huckleberry
Ludo Lefebvre (L.A.) — Petit Trois
Marc Vetri (Philadelphia, PA) — Vetri Cucina
Mason Hereford (New Orleans, LA) — Turkey and The Wolf
Matt Molina (L.A.) — Hippo
Michael Palmer (Santa Barbara, CA) — McConnell’s Fine Ice Cream
Michael Cimarusti (L.A.) — Providence
Michael Fiorelli (West Hollywood, CA) — Olivetta
Michael Schwartz (Miami, FL) — The Genuine Hospitality Group
Nancy Silverton (L.A.) — Mozza Restaurant Group
Nancy Oakes (San Francisco, CA) — Boulevard
Neal Fraser (L.A.) — Redbird
Ori Menashe (L.A.) — Bestia
Paul Kahan (Chicago, IL) — The Publican
Richard, Gloria and Beverly Pink (L.A.) — Pink’s Hot Dogs
Rocco Whalen (Cleveland, OH / Charlotte, NC) — Fahrenheit
Roxana Julipat (L.A.) — Friends & Family
Sara Kramer & Sarah Hymanson (L.A.) – Kismet
Sarin Sing (L.A.) — Jitlada
Sergei Simonov (Santa Barbara, CA) — Loquita
Sherry Yard  
Stephanie Mutz & David Lentz (L.A.) — Sea Stephanie Fish
Steve Samson (L.A.) — Rossoblu, Superfine Playa
Susan Feniger & Mary Sue Milliken (L.A.) — Border Grill
Suzanne Goin (L.A.) — AOC
Suzanne Tracht (L.A.) — JarSweet Rose Creamery (L.A)
Valerie Gordon (L.A.) — Valerie Confections
Vivian Ku (L.A.) — Pine and Crane
Walter Manzke & Margarita Manzke (L.A.) — Republique
Zachary Pollack (L.A.) — Alimento, Cosa Buona

***All chefs and vintners have graciously donated their time, food and talent to the cause for this event***