Los Angeles Food & Wine Festival celebrated the beginning of a food-filled weekend with Giada De Laurentiis hosting some of the country’s best Italian chefs and their unique interpretations of Italian cuisine. Giada’s Festa Italiana was a veritable feast, pairing pasta, pizza, burrata and more with more than 200 wines, brews and spirits.

Next door to The Cosmopolitan’s two-story popup, The Slice, star chef Scott Conant dished up delicious bites from Scarpetta, located within the resort. Chef of Black Market Liquor Bar and Top Chef personality Antonia Lofaso served up piping hot Fried Squash Blossoms as well as a refreshing Pisco Punch made with pisco, Aperol, Cocchi Americano, pineapple and Champagne.

A Wayfarers-wearing Jeff Mahin danced around the Stella Rossa Pizza Bar booth, while handing out his popular Grilled Grapes & Burrata and a spicy grilled panino. Meredith Manee of Culina, Modern Italian carved up slices of perfect Porchetta, a balance of crispy skin and tender braised meat. Other notable highlights included an array of fresh pastas from LA neighborhood spot Terroni, and a delicious crispy gnocchi with fonduta and tomato jam from the venerable Michael Chiarello.

Fried squash blossoms from Chef Antonia and Black Market Liquor Bar; The Culina Modern Italian team; The infamous grilled grapes and burrata from Stella Rossa; Chef Michael Chiarello serving up a delicious crispy gnocchi with fonduta and tomato jam; The Cosmopolitan’s Slice on the Nokia Plaza; Fresh pasta from Terroni