The LA Times already gives LA The Taste, an enormous three-day food festival over Labor Day weekend. But in May, they are going balls out for the entire month. This month, Food Bowl gives us 181 food events spread out across the city. Not the entire city, mind you. Other than a few events, most activities fall within the restaurant corridor running from downtown LA to Santa Monica. According to The Times, “FOOD BOWL will celebrate L.A.’s dynamic and influential food scene while promoting awareness about food waste and hunger.” The Times is working in conjunction with other organizations to make Food Bowl happen. The events range from established festivals to restaurants offering specials that will be served in a bowl as a whimsical nod to the theme.
MAY 4th
Feeding the 5000 DTLA 11am – 4pm FREE
Not since Wavy Gravy served breakfast in bed for 400,000 at Woodstock have we seen such a huge undertaking. On May4th, Feedback with LA Kitchen will serve “a feast with a difference” in Pershing Square. Thousands of people are invited to enjoy fresh, quality food that would have otherwise gone to waste along with family activities designed to educate everyone about food waste and its environmental impact.
MAY 5th
Filipino Fridays – Street Food Night Chinatown $48 5:30pm – 10pm
AMBOY, a Filipino pop-up from Chef Alvin Cailan of Eggslut fame, presents a multicourse dinner of Filipino street food prepared by Filipino chefs in Chinatown’s Far East Plaza.
MAY 7th
Bicycle Tour of Downtown DTLA 12noon – 4pm $25
This isn’t a food crawl, it’s more of a food ride. CycLAvia takes you on a food-filled bike tour of downtown with food bites at each stop. Stops include Cafe Dulce, Lao Tao Taiwanese Street Food, Chicas Tacos, Gelateria Uli, Blossom and more. The tour will be limited to 20 people and the ride will be approximately 6 miles, with food included in the price of the tour.
Wexler’s Weekend Brunch Santa Monica 11am $40
Wexlers is one of our favorite delis, with fantastic pastrami and smoked fish. Chef Micah Wessler and Michael Kassar will be takin’ it to the streets with this Jewish Deli Brunch Block Party. There will be :music, cocktails and delicious eats, including traditional deli favorites — all cured and smoked in-house by Wexler’s using old-school methods.”.
MAY 7th
Masters of Taste Pasadena 3pm – 7pm $105/$185
Masters of Taste’s second annual luxury food and beverage festival will once again raise funds for Union Station Homeless Services. 40 Chefs like Kuniko Yagi, Tony Esnault, Katsuji Tanabe, and Michael Hung of the brand spanking new Mama Lion, will take advantage of Spring’s bounty to create small plates for your enjoyment. In addition, there will be desserts, cocktails, wine, and live music. Last year was super swank with comfy lounges and free massages. Oh, and as a bonus, it’s at the Rose BOWL.
MAY 10th
Hollywood at the Table (West) LA 8pm $15
Aren’t you dying to know the inside story of “Ludo Bites America” from Ludo himself? And how did Hollywood producer Phil Rosenthal (“I’ll Have What Phil’s Having”) end up with his own show? Join them for an intimate conversation about the intersection of food and television. A Q&A and book signing will follow.
MAY 10th – 14th $10
LA Times Night Market DTLA Hours Vary FREE
We love night markets!!! The first annual Los Angeles Times Night Market will fill Grand Park with 50 food booths from favorite restaurants, food trucks and bars. The food is not exclusively Asian, but will reflect the diversity of LA’s food scene. The event is free, and for ten bucks you can upgrade for access to premium food vendors, seating and entertainment.
MAY 12th
Common Threads Chef Takeover at Vibiana LA 6pm – 10pm $175
This is one of those “worth a splurge” events. It may seem pricy, but you rarely get the opportunity to experience a meal from such a talented group of chefs. Neal Fraser, who has home court advantage at Vibiana, Govind Armstrong of Post and Beam and Willie Jane, Texan pastry chef Amanda Rockman, James Beard award-winner and pioneer of California Cuisine Jonathan Waxman, and Richard Blais of “Top Chef” and Crack Shack. The event will be hosted by author Tamron Hall and Gail Simmons of Food & Wine and benefits Common Threads, which provides cooking and nutrition education to underserved communities.
MAY 13th
The Seventh Annual Sugar & Stilettos Bake Sale Extravaganza (West) LA 1 pm – 4pm FREE
The Sugar & Stilettos Charitable Foundation has been raising funds for the Westside Food Bank with their annual bake sale since 2011. The grass-roots fundraiser has grown every year, but still takes place at the home of Nanci Christopher, the founder of Sugar & Stilettos. These aren’t those crappy no-bake peanut butter cookies, date bars or phoned-in Rice Krispie squares of your elementary school bake sale. The baked goods are donated by LA’s best bakeries, like Bouchon Bakery, CRAFT Restaurant, Huckleberry, Sugarfina,
Sweet Lady Jane and The Apple Pan. There is also a live auction with great prizes and the traditional crowning of “Mr. Sugar & Stilettos.”
ONGOING
RESTAURANT SPECIALS:
Cassia’s Grilled Spicy Lamb Breast in a clay pot.
Craft Los Angeles Chef’s Tasting Menu
WEEKLY SPECIALS:
