Los Angeles Times “The Taste”

This coming Labor Day weekend in Los Angeles is the annual Los Angeles Times “The Taste” event being held on Paramount Studios Backlot. The festival includes three back to back evenings of amazing food, wine, spirits and chef experiences, plus unique culinary pop-ups and collaborations. Dozens of local restaurants will showcase the city's rich and diverse culinary scene by serving their best each evening. I’m looking forward to attending and covering the event this weekend.

The first nights event begins on Friday, Aug. 31, 7:30 to 10:30 p.m.:
L.A.’s pop-up and underground restaurants will take the stage with a demo of Cajun-by-way-of-Compton cuisine from chef Michael Lawless (Shad’s New Cali Catering). Ludo Lefebvre (Trois Mec, Ludo Bird) will showcase his French flair. Master of the grill, Burt Bakman (Trudy’s Underground Barbecue), will lead a barbeque how-to. Ricardo Zarate (Rosaliné) and Jonathan Yao (Kato) will provide a glimpse of what makes their dishes imminently Instagram-able. The Bar Stage will be serving up white wines of Italy with Wes Hagen of J. Wilkes Wines. Restaurants include: Amor y Tacos, Baltaire Restaurant, Bone Kettle, Casa Vega, Chao Krung, Farmhouse, Hinoki & the Bird, Otium, Pop’s Bagels and Wanderlust Creamery.

The second night Saturday, Sept. 1, 7:30 to 10:30 p.m.:
Delicious food will be the special of the night as Briana Valdez (HomeState) celebrates breakfast all day with a demo of her signature dishes. Sommelier Ira Norof will give you 101 reasons to drink wine. Restaurants include: Cento Pasta Bar, Border Grill, Crustacean Beverly Hills, Jaffa, Kali Restaurant, Madre Oaxacan Restaurant & Mezcaleria, Mayura Indian Restaurant, Prawn, Taste of Tehran, Trois Mec and Winston Pies.

For the last night, Saturday, Sept. 1, 7:30 to 10:30 p.m.:
Experience the diversity of flavors in our fair city when Sean Lowenthal (Little Beast Restaurant) and L.A. Times Test Kitchen Director Noelle Carter highlight Southern cooking, Minh Phan (Porridge + Puffs) shares her technique for elevating porridge, and Charles Olalia (Rice Bar/Ma’am Sir) gives a master class on Filipino cuisine. Niki Nakayama and Carole Iida-Nakayama (n/naka) showcase Japanese cuisine. Wine expert Christine Dalton will raise a glass to rosé. Restaurants include: 71Above, Banh Oui, Coni’Seafood, Holbox/Chichen Itza, Hotville Chicken, Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken, Inko Nito, Kobee Factory & Syrian Kitchen, Meals by Genet and Prince of Venice.
 
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This year’s event also includes a special tribute to the Los Angeles Times very own food critic, Jonathan Gold.

​For more info and to purchase tickets, click here. Hope to see you there!

All images courtesy of JS2 PR and attending on behalf of as media.