BottleRock Exclusive: Here’s what’s really cooking on Culinary Stage in 2023

BottleRock Napa Valley announced the star-studded 2023 lineup for its incredibly popular Williams Sonoma Culinary Stage, where chefs join forces with rock stars and other celebs to have fun and make food.

The bill includes Wu-Tang Clan, Sammy Hagar, Lil Nas X, John Taylor & Roger Taylor of Duran Duran, Bastille, Keanu Reeves and his Dogstar pals Bret Domrose and Robert Mailhouse, José Andrés, Giada De Laurentiis, David Chang & Chris Ying, Roy Choi, Andrew Zimmern, Aarón Sánchez and the Voltaggio Brothers.

Yet, what promoters didn’t mention in the news release sent out on May 24 is what those celebrity chefs and rockers will actually be doing onstage during the three-day festival, which runs May 26-28 in downtown Napa.

In an exclusive interview with our publication, organizers detailed what to expect to see on at the stage.

“Every kind of food will be cooked, fried, grilled, tasted & tested — from C.R.E.A.M.sicles by the Voltaggio brothers to fish & chips with a kick by Chef Aaron Sanchez,” says Liam Mayclem, the longtime host of the Williams Sonoma Culinary Stage.

Here’s a look at some of the fun mashups happening at the culinary stage:

Sammy Hagar, Jose Andres

Get ready to scream “Tequila!” as the Bay Area’s own Red Rocker and chef Andres shake things up and make margaritas. (4:15 p.m. May 27)

Duran Duran’s John Taylor and Roger Taylor, Andrew Zimmerman

Zimmern is a definite meat guy. This time around, however, he’s going veggie — given that the two Taylors are reportedly both vegetarians. (5:45 p.m. May 27)

Lil Nas X, David Chang, Chris Ying

The hip-hop star, who headlines the big Verizon Stage on Sunday, and Momofuku restauranteur Chang and food writer Ying will be cooking up lobster pasta. (6 p.m. May 28)

Bastille, Brooklyn Peltz Beckham, Aaron Sanchez

Mayclem is referring to Bastille and Beckham collectively as the “Spice Lads,” a nod to the latter’s mom Victoria “Posh Spice” Beckham’s fabled Spice Girls group. Chef Sanchez will be leading the group in making fish tacos as well as fish & chips, with the key word of “spice” coming into play in the preparation of the dishes. (7:45 p.m. May 26)

Wu-Tang Clan, Warren G, Voltaggio Brothers, Amirah Kassem

One of the most important rap music acts of all time, which performs on Sunday at the festival, will be making C.R.E.A.M.sicles (a nod to the group’s famed “C.R.E.A.M.” song) with fellow hip-hop star Warren G, baker Kassem and the Voltaggio Brothers. (3 p.m. May 28)