Highlights of the Upcoming LA Times’ Food Bowl

Matt Groening and Jazz with Matt’s drawing of Tui at The Food Bowl (All photos by Elise Thompson)

The L.A. Times Food Bowl takes over the entire month of May with 31 days of food. The Food Bowl is a fundraiser for the L.A. Regional Food Bank, Food Forward, and the Midnight Mission. With over 100 events spread throughout the month of May, it is sure to do a lot of good.

The events are divided into categories like “Classes, Markets & Tours,” “Exclusive Dinners & Dishes,” “Panels & Talks,” “Pop-Ups & Parties” and “Things in a Bowl, where restaurants serve a month-long menu special that is served in a bowl. The dish must use the special ingredient chosen by The L.A. Times, which this year is one of our favorites–artichoke. Some of the restaurants we love that are participating in the daily “Things in a Bowl” special are Little Sister, Union, Mar’sel, Ayara Thai, and The Strand House.

It’s hard to decide which events to attend with so many to choose from, so we would like to offer up some suggestions. There are events specifically tailored to families with kids and others that are very high-end. We haven’t included either of those; these selections are geared toward adults and are reasonably priced.

4/30/19 MESAMERICA OPENING NIGHT 6:00 PM – 11:30 PM $35-$85

The Food Bowl’s opening event this year will take place at the Million Dollar Theater in downtown Los Angeles and highlight Mexico City, LA’s sister city. Following the opening, a launch party called DFiesta will be held at the Grand Central Market, where the announcements will be made for the recipients of The Gold Award and Restaurant of the Year. The L.A. Times Food staff will honor the memory of the late food critic (who was just awarded a posthumous James Beard award) by continuing the Gold Award, presented last year to Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken at the opening event.

CHINESE RESTAURANT WEEK – Times and prices vary

May 4th through 21st is Chinese Restaurant Week with specials and prix fixe menus at restaurants like Little Fluffy Head Café and Tasty Noodle House in DTLA,, JA Jiaozi Authentic Dumplings in Irvine, Nice to Meet You in Rowland Heights, and Chang’an Restaurant in San Gabriel.

FOOD BOWL NIGHT MARKET – FREE

Another big event, the Night Market, will run from May 8-12, 2019 in Grand Park downtown. Although Night Market has come to mean Asian Food locally, this Night Market will have a variety of cuisines. Admission to Night Market is free, but there will be special ticketed and themed areas like Collaboration Lab (May 8); Taco Tribute (May 9); Fried Chicken Party (May 10); L.A.’s Best Burger and Dumplings, Noodles and Rice (May 11); and All-Star BBQ (May 12). ” Go to as many of these as you can. You can sign me up for “Fried Chicken Party” and “Dumpling, Noodles & Rice” right now.

Food Festivals and Events

5/04/19 LA’s Taste of the Nation for No Kid Hungry 1 PM – 4 PM $115

5/19/19 Flavor of LA Food Festival at CBS 1 PM – 5 PM $75

5/20/19 L.A. Chef Conference 8:30 AM – 7 PM $85 – $110

5/26/19 Smorgasberg LA’s Burger Day 10 AM – 4 PM FREE Food available for purchase

Classes, Markets and Tours:

5/03/19 Tacos and Tequila 6 PM – 10 PM $105

5/04/19 The Peruvian Table Today and Tomorrow 2 PM – 3:30 PM FREE

5/15/19 Japanese Food Lab Presents Kouji Kimura: History of Sushi 6:30 – 8:30 PM $80

5/18/19 Six Taste Delicious Dumplings Tour 10 AM – 2 PM $80

5/18/19 Food Bike Tour of Downtown with Ciclavia 11:30 – 4:30 $35

5/26 Six Taste Little Tokyo Walking Tour 11 AM – 2 PM $90