Wednesday, February 28, 2018 (11:45 am)

COSTA MESA (Feb. 28, 2018) – A new cutting-edge cooking academy has opened at OC Fair & Event Center to empower underserved youth through free culinary education and mentorship. A commercial kitchen on the fairgrounds has been transformed into Hatch Culinary Lab.

The new education program is a partnership between OC Fair & Event Center (OCFEC), CulinaryLab Cooking School, Anaheim’s Innovative Mentorship Experience program (AIME) and Spectra, the Fair’s master concessionaire.

OCFEC has invested an initial $54,000 in equivalent value in this community program that this year will provide up to 50 students with training in everything from knife skills, cookery basics and making healthy meals to safety and sanitation. The spring session started Feb. 28 with the first 20 students from Kennedy, Savanna and Western high schools working for eight weeks. A summer internship program and fall certification series will follow, culminating in an event to feed the local homeless community.

“We have an opportunity to change the lives of students through Hatch Culinary Lab and it is important for us to step in to help,” said OCFEC CEO Kathy Kramer. “Here at the OC Fair we love food, so this program is close to our hearts and ties in perfectly with our community give-back mission. I look forward to growing this program to include training for both kitchen staff and front-of-the-house positions.”

The team from CulinaryLab in Tustin is donating staff and time to the program and has created new curriculum tailored to provide students with the basics on how food works, healthy cooking skills and simple recipes they can practice at home with minimal cost and prep time. The goal is to excite students about cooking and food service and empower them to be confident individuals ready to secure employment.

“At CulinaryLab, we do everything we can to immerse students in the world of cooking with experimentation, tons of repetitive hands-on practice, and by involving local chef partners in the teaching process,” said Chef Ryan Wagner. “The goal of the Hatch program is to bring that same high-level culinary education to high school students who might otherwise not have access to it.”

The OCFEC commercial kitchen has been revamped from a solely commercial facility to a fully equipped teaching kitchen with additional cooking stations, appliances, storage, tables and cookware. The approx. 6,500 sq. ft. facility is operated by Spectra and manager Juan Quintero says the company will also donate kitchen labor, such as dishwashers, to support the program.

“The Spectra team is excited to be part of this community education program. This is really a win-win situation for us,” said Quintero. “Not only do we get to work with the student chefs and see their transformation, but we want to hire program graduates to work at the OC Fair doing kitchen prep and cooking for special events.”

Students from Anaheim Unified School District’s AIME program have been selected to participate in the first Hatch Culinary Lab sessions. More than 70 percent of AIME students come from economically challenged backgrounds and spend their time outside of school assisting their families, either at home or by working. The program will provide transportation and additional supervision for Hatch students.

There are plans for the program to expand through partnerships with Costa Mesa and Santa Ana school districts to serve up to 80 students annually. Wagner estimated that students will gain up to $20,000 worth of culinary education through the Hatch program and he is seeking to secure restaurant partners to help further students’ training.

About CulinaryLab Cooking School
CulinaryLab is a forward-focused cooking school where timeless techniques meet cutting-edge curriculum and real-world training to cook up bold, contemporary cuisine. CulinaryLab seeks to reinvent culinary training with programs that harnesses the power of today’s innovations to train tomorrow’s culinary arts and management visionaries. CulinaryLab is the first school of its kind that combines community-built curriculum, tech-savvy training, hands-on learning and a 1,000-hour apprenticeship in high level local restaurants.

CulinaryLab’s Chef Ryan Wagner is a Certified Executive Chef with 23 years of food and beverage experience, including running restaurant kitchens, high-profile event catering and various leadership roles in culinary education.

More at https://www.culinarylabschool.com/

About AIME
AIME’s mission is to partner with businesses and community organizations to provide students in the Anaheim Union High School District with mentoring experiences that will enhance their college, career, and life-readiness skills, as well as build lasting connections within the community.​​ AIME, a comprehensive mentorship program that also includes opportunities for paid summer internships, holds the promise of transforming the lives of our students as they prepare for the demands of college and career and make connections in the community.

More at http://anaheimhs.org/Anaheim/72681-AIME-Internship.html

About Spectra
Spectra by Comcast Spectacor is an industry leader in hosting and entertainment, partnering with clients to create memorable experiences for millions of visitors every year. Spectra’s unmatched blend of integrated services delivers incremental value for clients through several primary areas of expertise: Venue Management, Food Services & Hospitality, and Partnerships.

More at http://www.spectraexperiences.com/

About OC Fair & Event Center
OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa is home to the annual OC Fair. Year-round attractions include Centennial Farm, Table of Dignity, Heroes Hall and Pacific Amphitheatre. Throughout the year events ranging from recreation shows to cultural festivals are held at the fairgrounds.

Posted in: Community Programs

Friday, February 16, 2018 (4:35 pm)

At a public workshop held during the Sept. 28, 2017, OC Fair & Event Center Board of Directors meeting, three Master Site Plan Concepts were presented, and the Board provided feedback and direction to the MSP committee and staff.

The committee and staff were asked to review all elements of the plan and determine what was not feasible and what would require improvements or changes. There were also questions that the committee and staff were asked to answer.

The MSP committee, consultants and staff have been working to prepare a revised draft concept for the board to review at a public workshop during the April 26, 2018, Board of Directors meeting.

The board will be providing direction on the MSP concept. Once the concept has been approved by the Board of Directors, OCFEC will be hosting a public meeting to share the final MSP concept.

The staff has also been instructed by the committee to write and release a request for proposal (RFP) for the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) consultant that will take the approved draft concept forward through this process.

OC Fair & Event Center continues to seek public input on the Master Site Plan, our roadmap for the future. To submit feedback, please fill out the public input form. For more information, read the Master Site Plan FAQ.

Posted in: Master Site Plan

Wednesday, February 14, 2018 (6:24 pm)

The OC Fair is seeking Orange County residents or students to sing the national anthem on select City Days during the flag ceremony at the 2018 OC Fair. Performers must be able to perform “The Star-Spangled Banner” a capella. 

City Days are dedicated days during the Fair intended to honor and celebrate all the cities in Orange County. We are looking for performers from each of O.C.’s 34 cities. 

If you are interested in performing, please email khastings@ocfair.com by Friday, March 9, with your city of residence, the school in which you are currently enrolled (if applicable) and a video clip of you singing the national anthem. This video can be of a live performance at a local venue/event, or it can be from your home, but a video is required.

If you are chosen to perform, you will need to be available on a weekday in July or August from noon to 1 p.m.  We will contact you with the specific date. 

Please note: The national anthem performances are separate from the application to perform as part of the Community Entertainment program on one of the Fair stages. The application deadline to be considered for the Community Entertainment program is March 2. 

Tuesday, February 6, 2018 (10:00 am)

Here is an update on the Arlington Drive Improvement Project, from the City of Costa Mesa:

Public Services is well underway with the Arlington Drive Improvements Project.  The project is about 33% complete and the main storm drain and all storm drain laterals are completed. 

The new vegetated bioswale is currently being graded and the new southerly curb will be installed by Feb. 9. Additionally, restricted traffic control measures are currently in place, but vehicular access eastbound past the Davis Magnet School will be restored by Feb. 16.

Finally, a new concrete multipurpose trail along the south side of Arlington Drive and roadside beautification including new landscaping and water efficient irrigation systems will be constructed by June 2018.

For more of the latest news on Costa Mesa, read this week’s City Hall Snapshot.

Posted in: Latest about the fairgrounds

Monday, February 5, 2018 (10:01 am)

The 2018 OC Fair starts July 13 and goes through Aug. 12. But don’t wait to buy tickets to the performances happening on all 23 nights of the Fair!

Here’s what’s on sale now:

Straight No Chaser with special guest Jon McLaughlin at Pac Amp, July 8 (Tickets start at $27.50)

Rumours – The Ultimate Fleetwood Mac Tribute Show at The Hangar, July 13 (Tickets start at $17.50)

Dead Man’s Party – The Oingo Boing Tribute at The Hangar, July 14 (Tickets start at $17.50)

Firefall and Poco at The Hangar, July 15 (Tickets start at $20) 

Kool & the Gang with special guest Village People at Pac Amp, July 18 (Tickets start at $30)

Elton – The Early Years – A Tribute to Elton John’s Goodbye Yellow Brick Road at The Hangar, July 18 (Tickets start at $17.50)

Steve Martin & Martin Short with Steep Canyon Rangers and Jeff Babko at Pac Amp, July 20 (Tickets start at $55) 

Brett Eldredge with special guest Honey County at Pac Amp, July 29 (Tickets start at $45)

On sale Saturday, Feb. 10: 

Monster Truck Destruction Tour at Action Sports Arena, July 25-29 (Tickets start at $17.50)

Posted in Entertainment, OC Fair