True, The LA Beat has been showing a lot of love to the Taste of the Nation Laguna. But we wouldn’t forget our locals. This Sunday June 1st from 1-4pm the best chefs in LA will converge on Media Park in Culver City to raise money for Share Our Strength’s “No Kid Hungry” campaign to end childhood hunger in America.
Taste of the Nation LA will be hosted by Alie Ward & Georgia Hardstark of Cooking Channel’s Tripping Out with Alie & Georgia. The event will feature chefs from the hottest restaurants around LA, many of whom were recently featured on Jonathan Gold’s “Top 101 Restaurants” list.
Representing chefs include LA Beat favorites Akasha Richmond of AKASHA, Miles Thompson of Allumette, Antonia Lofaso of Black Liquor Market, Neal Fraser of BLD and ICDC, Ray Gracia of FIG, CJ Jacobson of Girasol, Kuniko Yagi of Hinoki and the Bird, Sherry Yard of iPic, Joe Miller of Joe’s, Jimmy Shaw of Loteria Grill, Jessica Koslow of Sqirl, Josiah Citrin of Melisse and Ricardo Zarate of Mo-Chica, Pica and Paiche. And what benefit would be complete without Mary Sue Milliken, Susan Feniger, and Kajsa Alger? Oh, and John Park of Quenelle will be there – it looks like there is ice cream in our future!
Beer, wine and cocktails will be provided by LA and Cali locals like Golden Road Brewery, El Segundo Brewery, Congenial Spirits and Turiya wines. For coffee-totalers there will be premium coffees from Intelligensia and Blue Bottle.
Other events include a culinary competition, and live and silent auctions. The ever-popular waiter races are back with the finest servers pouring wine, balancing glasses on trays, and sprinting down the streets of Culver City, all for bragging rights. I smell a photo op. Waiter races will be hosted by Brad Metzger Restaurant Solutions and judged by Sherry Yard, Matthew Kang and Merrill Shindler.
Proceeds from Taste of the Nation LA will go to worthy charities including Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, California Food Policy Advocates and No Kid Hungry. Tickets are available at for only $110, a small price to sample bites from LA’s best restaurants and rub elbows with some of our greatest chefs. Plus, waiter races. Kids 5-12 are only $25. If you want to be all fancy or donate more to a worthy cause, VIP tickets are available for $160 and include exclusive access to Princess Cruises’ VIP lounge, where you will enjoy cocktails served by the Soigné Group and a special appearance by inspiring young chef Flynn McGarry of EUREKA, a VIP swag bag, early entry to the event (12:30pm), and valet parking.
Photo of Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger provided by Taste of the Nation LA. Used with permission.
