Michael Fiorelli’s Peach Crumble from The Taste’s 2012 “Field to Fork”
It’s that time of the year. As one food festival ends, another begins. Although we are still posting about LA Food and Wine, we wanted to get word out to you about LA Time’s The Taste before it sells out. Five exciting Taste events are spread out over three days this weekend at Paramount Pictures Studios. Besides unlimited tastes and sips from Southern California’s best restaurants, mixologists and vintners, there will be cooking demos and panels. Friday night features an opening night soiree. Saturday afternoon is Field to Fork, focusing on fresh, local, seasonal cooking. Saturday night is Dinner with a Twist, which brings you cocktails and innovative restaurants. Sunday afternoon you can attend the Sunday Brunch and BBQ, and Sunday night is Flavors of LA.
Opening Night; Fri., Sept. 4th, 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. is a special chance to rub elbows with The Times’ renowned Food staff, the festival co-hosts and participating chefs and bartenders. Participating restaurants include BierBeisl Imbiss & Bakery, Chichen Itza, Alma, Badmaash, Belcampo Meat Co. Bulgarini Gelato, Canelé, Celestino Diablo Taco, Doomie’s Home Cookin, Eagle Rock Public House, Faith & Flower, Ford’s Filling Station, Howlin’ Ray’s and Sotto Restaurant. The night “will offer a curated selection of distinctive bites, premium cocktail and wine offerings and live entertainment.”
Field to Fork – Hosted by Russ Parsons, Times Food Writer and Columnist, and Gary Menes, Chef/Owner of Le Comptoir; Sat., Sept. 5th, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fresh local, seasonal produce is the inspiration for Saturday’s event. Restaurants include Doomie’s Home Cookin, Eagle Rock Public House, Son of a Gun, Pinches Tacos, Quenelle, Hinoki & The Bird, and McConnell’s Ice Cream. The afternoon will feature demos from Jessica Koslow (Sqirl), Pastry Chef Sherry Yard (Helm’s Bakery) and Niki Nakayama (n/naka). You can also attend a roundtable moderated by Parsons with Menes, Bruce Kalman (Union) and Ari Taymor (Alma).
Dinner with a Twist is Hosted by Jonathan Gold, Times Restaurant Critic, Jenn Harris, Times Deputy Food Editor, Michael Fiorelli, Chef of Love & Salt, and Master Bartender Vincenzo Maríanella; Sat., Sept. 5th, 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Saturday night is our favorite event. Jonathan Gold is curating some of the restaurants, so you can expect the underrated and the edgy, and it’s also a big night for cocktails. Participating restaurants include Lum Ka Naad, Mexikosher, Loteria Bar and Grill, Aqui es Texcoco, Diablo Taco, Ensaymada Project, Ford’s Filling Station, Terrine, Venice Whaler, Rocio’s Mole de los Dioses and The Churchill. Enjoy demos from Love & Salt’s Fiorelli and Marianella; The Church Key’s Steven Fretz and Devon Espinosa; and Petit Trois’ Ludo Lefebvre. There will also be a group cocktail demo.
Sunday Brunch and BBQ is hosted by Amy Scattergood, Times Food Editor, Noelle Carter, Times Test Kitchen Director, and Corina Weibel, Chef/Co-Owner of Canelé; Sun., Sept. 6th, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Participating restaurants include Canelé, Doomie’s Home Cookin’, POT, The Churchill, The Hudson, Howlin’ Ray’s, Petty Cash Taqueria, and Ray’s & Stark Bar. The schedule includes demos by Carter, Weibel, Roy Choi (Kogi/A-Frame/POT) and Neil Strawder (Bigmista’s Barbecue). Scattergood will lead a discussion with Quinn Hatfield (Odys + Penelope), Michael Kahikina (Barrel and Ashes) and Francisco Perez (Aqui es Texcoco).
Flavors of L.A. is hosted by Jonathan Gold, Times Restaurant Critic, and Carlos Salgado, Chef of Taco María; Sun., Sept. 6th, 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Another great night that celebrates the diversity of LA. Participating restaurants include Saint Martha, Bar Pintxo, CHAYA, Jar, Jitlada, Joe’s Restaurant, Plan Check, and Racion. Demos by Salgado and Wes Avila (Guerilla Tacos), plus chefs Curtis Stone (Maude) and Suzanne Tracht (Jar). Jonathan Gold will discuss “Things in a Bowl” with Alvin Cailan (Ramen Champ/Eggslut), Christine Moore (Lincoln/Little Flower Candy Co.) and Minh Phan (Porridge + Puffs).
Tickets for individual events range from $100 to $175. Buy your tickets now. LA Times subscribers save $25 on tickets for Saturday and Sunday. All events 21+
