I went to this last year and it was very hot and humid. This year it was still hot but not as bad as last year. With that being said it would still be a much better event if they had either a cooling tent or a fully air-conditioned space. It is just very hard to totally enjoy all of the bounty when your body temperature is going through the non-existent roof.
There was just so much to choose from, so I just tried to taste a little bit of everything and picked my top 5 from the 4 events that I went to.
Field to Fork – August 30 – Day:
Hosted by Russ Parsons & Nancy Silverton. The city’s best eats are in season; indulge in the bounty of an afternoon inspired by locally sourced ingredients and the pleasures of seasonal cooking. Leading L.A. chefs specialized in their fresh-focused dishes while sharing their techniques and offered tastes.
Restaurants: 9021PHO, Ammo Café, Akasha, Blvd 16, Boa Steakhouse, Canelé, Chicken Itza Restaurant, Chipotle, Choctal, Coni’Seafood, Diablo Taco, Dog Haus, Ensaymada Project, Eveleigh, Firefly, Fred 62, Girasol, Lemonade, Loteria Grill, Lum-Ka-Naad Thai Restaurant, Mayura Indian Cuisine, Mi Piace, Michael’s On, Naples, Napa Valley Grille, Pedalers Fork, Pine & Crane, Pono Burger, Robert’s, Catering Service, Tender Greens, The Culver Hotel, Umami Burger Truck, Venice Whaler, Wood & Vine, Others: BluePrint Cleanse, Buick, Citi, Freshology, Icelandic, Whole Foods Market.
Wines, Beers & Spirits: Ascendant Spirits, Avion Tequila, Bernardus Winery, BlackMask Spiced Pacific Rum, Castoro Cellars, Château D’Esclans, Chloe Wine, Columbia Crest, Cupcake Vineyards, Don Julio Tequila, Eppa Sangria, Ferrari-Carano Vineyards and Winery, Feudi di San Gregorio, Francis Ford Coppola Winery, Goose Island 312 Urban Pale Ale, Goose Island IPA , Goose Island Sofie, Henry Fessy, Herzog Wine Cellars, Hoegaarden, Hornitos Tequila, Jean-Luc Colombo, Johnny Appleseed Cider, Kirin Ichiban, Kooksoondang Brewery: Bekseju USA Inc., Laetitia Vineyard and Winery, Leffe Blonde, Leffe Brune, Louis Latour, Matua, Mazzei, Mercer Estates Winery, Pinnacle Cinnabon Vodka, Planeta, Rocca delle Macie, Roscato, SakeOne, Shock Top Apple Wheat, Shock Top Belgian White, Stella Artois, Stella Artois Cidre, Stoli Premium, Tenuta Polvaro, Thatchers Organic Artisan Liqueurs, TY KU Sake and Spirits, Villa Maria, Vranken Pommery, ZYR Vodka.
These were my favorites:
Canele – gazpacho, very light chalk full of sweet tomatoes.
Mayura – curry combo, beautiful basmati rice with the best curry ever. I did a review last year on Mayura.
9021PHO Chef Kimmy Tang – charbroiled pork over rice, I did a review and love Kimmy and I love her food. Anything she makes is a winner.
Coni Seafood – BBQ shrimp, spicy deep flavors made this a memorable dish.
Pono Burger – what a hearty well seasoned burger.
BOA Steakhouse – tenderloin, so tender, fantastic, this was my real favorite of the day.
These were the demo’s etc: Pop-Up Bar Presented by Stoli featuring Damian Windsor (Powerhouse), Pop-Up Bar Presented by BlackMask Rum featuring Rosemarie Ruiz (Harlowe), The Taste Bar Stage: The Undiscovered Jewels of France, featuring Ira Norof, CWE and Stewart Prato, CWE, presented by Southern Wine and Spirits. Buick Culinary Stage: Cooking Demonstration presented by Bruce Kalman (Union), Citi Culinary Stage: Cooking Demonstration presented by C.J. Jacobson (Girasol) The Taste Bar Stage: So Fresh & So Clean: Cooking with Your Farmers Market Finds, featuring Russ Parsons (moderator), Josiah Citrin (Mélisse), Roxana Jullapat (Cooks County), Jessica Koslow (Sqirl), and Vincenzo Marianella (Copa d’Oro), Buick Culinary Stage: Cooking Demonstration presented by Tal Ronnen (Crossroads), Citi Culinary Stage: Cooking Demonstration presented by Nancy Silverton (Osteria Mozza/Pizzeria Mozza/Chi Spacca), The Taste Bar Stage: The Sweet Story of Success: Sweet Wines from Sauternes to Seven Sisters, featuring Carole Solomon
Dinner With a Twist – August 30 – Evening
Hosted by Jonathan Gold, Betty Hallock, John Sedlar & Julian Cox, Discover plates and pours from L.A.’s dining scene. What’s more L.A. than a swanky cocktail party on a Hollywood backlot? That’s exactly what this past Saturday evening event was. You’ll enjoy drinks that have brought Southern California’s cutting-edge cocktail culture into golden age and unique dishes from the city’s hottest chefs.
Favorites:
Churchill – Harissa Seared Scallops with pancetta, smoked almonds, pickled frisee, and hollandaise. Wow, these scallops were so big and meaty. It was the best dish of the night.
Craigs – Corn Smoked Flan with salmon caviar. Craigs does not need any more publicity. They are golden. This dish sealed the deal for me.
Tipple & Brine – delicious fried oyster with creamed corn and bacon chili jam. I tired this dish when I did a tasting a few months back. It is very hard to recreate a dish like this at a festival. You have to produce thousands, and they did a stellar job!
Rivabella – Corn ravioli with black truffles. Tried this at last weeks Food and Wine Festival, just could not get enough of this culinary master piece.
Montage Beverly Hills – Pork head croquette. Just talking to the chef about how they executed this dish was amazing! And the flavors were spectacular.
Asian Box- Lamb Meatballs, a new place to Southern California. These meatballs rocked my world!
These were the demo’s etc: Pop-Up Bar: Presented by BlackMask Rum featuring Rosemarie Ruiz (Harlowe), Pop-Up Bar Presented by VeeV featuring James Bowers (Soho House), Buick Culinary Stage;Cooking & Mixology Demonstration presented by Daniel Joly (Owner/Executive Chef Mirabelle at Beaver Creek) sponsored by Stella Artois, The Taste Bar Stage Salts and Sugars: A Look at Alternate Products and Applications, featuring Tricia Carr, presented by Southern Wine and Spirits. Citi Culinary Stage; Cooking & Mixology Demonstration presented by Ricardo Zarate & Deysi Alvarez (Mo-chica/Picca/Paiche), Buick Culinary Stage: Cooking & Mixology Demonstration presented by Michael Hung & Michael Lay (Faith & Flower), The Taste Bar Stage; Mixology Demonstration featuring Alex Day & Devon Tarby (Honeycut/Proprieters, LLC), Max Seaman & Mikki Kristola (The Varnish), and Naomi Schimek (The Spare Room) hosted by Betty Hallock & Jonathan Gold, Citi Culinary StageCooking & Mixology Demonstration presented by John Sedlar and Julian Cox (Rivera).
Restaurants: 9021PHO, Asian Box, Barbershop Ristorante, BierBeisl, BierBeisl Imbiss, BLVD 16, Bulgarini Gelato, Chaya Restaurants, Chipotle, Coni’Seafood, Craig’s Restaurant, Ditmas Kitchen & Cocktails, Dog Haus, Ensaymada Project, Faith & Flower, Firefly, Fred 62, Fundamental LA, Grilled Cheese Truck, Grub, Hamasaku, Lemonade, McConnell’s Fine Ice Cream, Michael’s On Naples, Montage Beverly Hills, Pedalers Fork, Pinches Taco, Public School 818, RivaBella, Rocio’s Mole de Los Dioses, Sotto, Sprinkles Cupcakes, The BLVD- Beverly Wilshire Hotel, The Church Key, The Churchill, The Counter Burger,The Misfit Restaurant + Bar, The Must, The Raymond 1886, The Village Idiot, Tipple & Brine. Others: 626 Night Market, Buick, Citi, Diabolo Beverages, Freshology, Icelandic, Lounge Attire Premium Cocktail Cranberries, San Luis Sourdough.
Wines, Beers & Spirits: Ascendant Spirits, Avion Tequila, Beam Family, Bernardus Winery, Black Magic, Black Spiced Rum, Black Mask Spiced Pacific Rum, Caliche Rum, Château D’Esclans, Deaths Door Spirits, Distillery No. 209, Don Julio Tequila, Don Q Rum, Double Decker Wines, entwine wines, Feudi di San Gregorio, Francis Ford Coppola Winery, Gloria Ferrer, Goose Island 312 Urban Pale Ale, Goose Island IPA, Goose Island Sofie, Herzog Wine Cellars, Hoegaarden, Hornitos Tequila, Jean-Luc Colombo, Johnny Appleseed Cider, Josh Cellars, Kirin Ichiban, KOOKSOONDANG BREWERY: BEKSEJU USA, INC, Koval Distillery, Leffe Blonde, Leffe Brune, Matua, Mazzei, Mercer Estates Winery, Mia Wines, Mionetto, Planeta, Rocca delle Macie, Roscato, Russell’s Reserve, SakeOne, Scharffenberger Cellars, Segura Viudas, Seven Daughters, Shock Top Apple Wheat, Shock Top Belgian White, Sobieski Vodka, Stella Artois, Stella Artois Cidre, Toasted Head, VeeV.
Sunday Brunch Day – August 31
Hosted by Noelle Carter & Thomas Keller, relax and let L.A.’s best chefs do the cooking. Spend your Sunday enjoying the warm SoCal sun and some of the most over-the-top breakfast and lunch tastes L.A. has to offer.
My favorites:
Areal – Chicken and Waffles. There were so many different samplings of this dish from other restaurants, but Areal really nailed it. Just the right amount of crispy fried chicken and the waffles were very fluffy.
Ramen Burger – I have never tried one of these lovely concoctions. I have to say I was really surprised. You would not think that ramen with a burger would be that good but it just is.
Firefly – Lobster Bloody Mary, the lobster was so plump and rich. It was truly my favorite dish of the day.
Asian Box – Chicken porridge tasted like something your Grandmother would make. The warm homey flavors were very comforting.
These were the demo’s etc: Pop-Up Bar: Presented by Basil Hayden’s Bourbon featuring Nathan Oliver (Butchers & Bakers), The Taste Bar Stage: California Wines: Women Winemakers and the Changing Wine Industry, featuring Margaux Kugelman, Advanced Sommelier & CSW, presented by Southern Wine and Spirits. Buick Culinary Stage: Cooking Demonstration presented by Noelle Carter (Los Angeles Times Test Kitchen Director) Citi Culinary Stage: Cooking Demonstration presented by Casey Lane (The Tasting Kitchen) The Taste Bar Stage: 20 Years of The French Laundry featuring Russ Parsons (moderator), Thomas Keller (Chef/Proprieter Thomas Keller Restaurant Group), Jeff Cerciello (Farmshop), David Breeden (The French Laundry), and Timothy Hollingsworth (Broad Museum Restaurant).Buick Culinary Stage: Cooking Demonstration presented by Karen Hatfield (Sycamore Kitchen/Hatfield’s Restaurant). Citi Culinary Stage: Cooking Demonstration presented by Melisa Nicola (Nic’s Beverly Hills) and students from C.A.K.E. (Culinary Arts Kids Eat): Tony Salas, Dulce Brito and Olympia Aguillon, hosted by Steve Lopez. The Taste Bar Stage: Learn About and Taste through Rioja – Spain’s Greatest and Most Impressive Wine Region, featuring Nina Sventitsky, presented by Southern Wine and Spirits.
Restaurants: 9021PHO, Angeleni Osteria, Areal Restaurant, Art of Tea, Artesana Popsicles, Asian Box, Choctal, Chomp Eatery & Juice Station, Coni’Seafood, Día de Campo Doma Kitchen, Farmshop, Firefly, Fluff Ice, Fred 62. Grilled Cheese Truck. Groundwork Coffee Company, La Brea Bakery, Locali Conscious Convenience , Loteria Grill, McConnell’s Fine Ice Cream, Muddy Leek, My Two Cents, Pinches Taco, Ramen Burger, Robert’s Catering Service, Silverback Coffee of Rwanda, Wilshire Restaurant, Zinc at Shade Hotel. Others: BluePrint Cleanse, Buick, Citi, Icelandic.
Wines, Beers & Spirits: Ascendant Spirits, Avion Tequila, Basil Hayden’s Bourbon, Bernardus Winery, Brancott Estate Wines, BuzzBallz, C. Mondavi and Family, Château D’Esclans, Cherry Tart Wines, Chloe Wine, Cupcake Vineyards, Distillery No. 209, Don Julio Tequila, Epica Wines, Eppa Sangria, Excelsior Wines, Feudi di San Gregorio, Geyser Peak, Goose Island 312 Urban Pale Ale, Goose Island IPA , Goose Island Sofie, Herzog Wine Cellars, Hoegaarden, Hornitos Tequila, Jean-Luc Colombo, Johnny Appleseed Cider, Josh Cellars, Kirin Ichiban, Knob Creek Rye, La Nina del Mezcal, Layer Cake, Leffe Blonde, Leffe Brune, Luna Vineyards, LVP Sangria, Mark West Wines, Matua, Mazzei, Mionetto, Pavan Liqueur de France, Pierre Ferrand Cognac, Pinnacle Cinnabon Vodka, Planeta, Purity Vodka, Rocca delle Macie, Roscato, Sammys Beach Bar Rum, Santa Margherita Sparkling Wines, Shock Top Apple Wheat, Shock Top Belgian White, Stella Artois, Stella Artois Cidre, Thatchers Organic Artisan Liqueurs, Vranken Pommery.
Flavors of LA – Sunday Aug 31 – Evening
Hosted by Jonathan Gold & Michael Cimarusti where you could find great eating around every corner. Let our hosts take you on a guided tour of the culinary melting pot that is L.A. You’ll explore an eclectic collection of the city’s best restaurants and see many of its most talked-about chefs — all without ever having to leave the Paramount lot.
Favorites:
The Gorbals – mussels with coconut green curry, green chorizo, Asian pear & cilantro. There was something about these mussels that you could not put your finger on. Spicy yet sweet, and so fresh and light. What a great accomplishment from Chef Peter Haller.
Mr. Chows – Shanghai short rib 5 spice & tofu salad. This dish was so marvelous; it just had so much compact flavor and hit all the right notes.
Manhattan Beach Post Fishing and Dynamite – Shrimp Grits poached egg and gumbo sauce. Not being a girl from the South I can’t ever wrap my head around this kind of dish but somehow I managed this time. This dish was a true symphony of great flavors.
Firefly – Beef Tenderloin with truffle butter. Hands down the greatest dish of the night – so tender. People were eating this next to me at a stand up table and we all said wow at the same time!
Rocksugar – Asian Style Meatballs. This was a great accomplishment, the meatballs had mushrooms and other delicacies stuffed into them, with a very perfect sauce.
These were the demo’s etc: Pop-Up Bar: Presented by Basil Hayden’s Bourbon featuring Christiaan Rollich (AOC/Lucques),Pop-Up Bar Presented by VeeV featuring James Bowers (Soho House). Buick Culinary Stage: Cooking Demonstration presented by Jimmy Shaw (Loteria Grill). The Taste Bar Stage: Fun with Crushed Cocktails, featuring Tricia Carr, presented by Southern Wine and Spirits. Citi Culinary Stage: Cooking Demonstration presented by Evan Kleiman (Host of KCRW’s Good Food). Buick Culinary Stage: Butchering Demonstration presented by Amelia Posada (Lindy & Grundy). The Taste Bar Stage: Backyard Bounty: Foraging & the Found Food Movement featuring Jonathan Gold (moderator), Ari Taymor (Alma), Pascal Baudar (Urban Outdoor Skills) and Wes Avila (Guerilla Tacos).Citi Culinary Stage: Fish Fight! A Sardine Cook-off between Michael Cimarusti (Providence/Connie & Ted’s) & Russ Parsons (L.A. Times Food Editor), judged by Jonathan Gold (L.A. Times Food Critic).
Restaurants: Jitlada Thai Cuisine, RockSugar Pan Asian Kitchen, The Blvd Restaurant, The Counter Burger, Restaurants, Acabar, Ayara Thai Cuisine, B Sweet, Bar Pintxo, Bibigo Food Truck, Border Grill Restaurants, Bowery Bungalow, Bulgarini Gelato, chi Spacca, Cliff’s Edge, Coni’Seafood, Connie & Ted’s, Doma Kitchen, Faith & Flower, Firefly, Fishing with Dynamite, Horse Thief BBQ, Jitlada Thai Cuisine, Joe’s Restaurant, Little Sister, Lum-Ka-Naad Thai Restaurant, Manhattan Beach Post, McConnell’s Fine Ice Cream, Meals by Genet, Mexikosher, Mr. Chow, Beverly Hills & Malibu, Mud Hen Tavern, Osteria Mozza, Pizzeria Mozza, RockSugar Pan Asian Kitchen, smoke.oil.salt, Sprinkles Cupcakes, Stella Bara, Pizzeria, The Black Cat, The Counter Burger, The Gorbals, The Larchmont, Urban Garden, Worldwide Tacos. Others: Buick, Citi, Icelandic, Mallow Mallow, San Luis Sourdough, Taiwan Tourism Bureau, Twice the Vice Spirited Chocolates, Vital Juice, Whole Foods Market
Wines, Beers & Spirits: Ascendant Spirits, Avion Tequila, Basil Hayden’s Bourbon, Beam Family, Bolla Sparkling Rose, BuzzBallz, Castoro Cellars, Château D’Esclans, Cherry Tart Wines, Cyrus Noble Bourbon, Don Julio Tequila, Feudi di San Gregorio, Fifty Shades of Grey Wine, Gloria Ferrer, Goose Island 312 Urban Pale Ale, Goose Island IPA, Goose Island Sofie, Gruppo Mezzacorona, Henry Fessy, Herzog Wine Cellars, Hoegaarden, Hornitos Tequila, Jean-Luc Colombo, Johnny Appleseed Cider, Kirin Ichiban, Knob Creek Rye, La Nina del Mezcal, Laetitia Vineyard and Winery, Layer Cake, Leblon Cachaca, Leffe Blonde, Leffe Brune, Louis Latour, Luna Vineyards, Matua, Mazzei, Meiomi Wines,Mia Wines, Min, a Real Mezcal, Placido Chianti II, Planeta, Red Diamond, Robert Mondavi Winery, Rocca delle Macie, Roscato, Russell’s Reserve, SakeOne, Segura Viudas, Shock Top Apple Wheat, Shock Top Belgian White, Stella Artois, Stella Artois Cidre, Sukkah Hill Spirits, VeeV, Wines from Rioja, Zaca Mesa Winery and Vineyards.
This year had some added extras that I really enjoyed such as the seminars, the cooking demos, and newly added restaurants. To me all of the hype is worth going to taste many exquisite dishes from chefs in the culinary world.
I have to admit I am very spoiled doing this job for a few years now. I have tasted some bombs and then some food that I can’t even write about how good it was. I try to remain open and innocent when it comes to my taste buds, and I’m always hopeful for new surprises. All in all the Taste of LA did not disappoint, so many restaurants so little time.
http://events.latimes.com/taste/
