Thomas Keller leads lineup of star chefs at Pebble Beach festival

Thomas Keller, Jacques Pepin, Roy Choi and more than 70 other chefs will share cooking techniques, schmooze and even play golf at the fifth Pebble Beach Food & Wine festival in Pebble Beach, Calif.

Tickets are expected to sell out for the four-day April event, which has an impressive roster of meals, cooking sessions, wine-tastings and after-hour parties. Organizers offer these tips on navigating what’s one of the more exclusive food-and-wine festivals in the state.

First-timers might want to watch chef Todd English at an hourlong cooking demonstration to pick up some new techniques and/or enjoy a wine-and-cheese pairing event with cheese expert Laura Werlin ($100 each, unless you buy a pass).

From there, indulge in a meal, such as the Michelin 3-Star Lunch prepared by Daniel Boulud and Christopher Kostow (pass-holders only), or the Stars of Los Angeles Lunch featuring Michael Cimarusti, Lee Hefter, Rory Hermann and Sherry Yard ($200).

Serious food lovers, who may be festival veterans, probably will want to attend the tribute dinner to chef Thomas Keller of the French Laundry ($1,250) and a wine-tasting of Gaja wines poured by Gaia Gaja, the winemaker’s daughter ($500).

And though the chef and winemaker golf tournament already sold out, anyone may attend to watch the action on the links.

Date: The food event is April 12-15.

Price: Starting at $100 for a single session to $4,750 for a VIP four-day pass.

Contact: Pebble Beach Food & Wine, (866) 907-3663