Thousands of Angelenos joined the Los Angeles Times for its sixth annual food festival, The Taste, which brought acclaimed chefs, master mixologists and award-winning restaurants together at the iconic Paramount Pictures Studios backlot over Labor Day weekend. The three-day celebration of the city’s thriving culinary scene featured five unique events showcasing distinctive aspects of the local dining culture. Throughout the weekend, attendees enjoyed unlimited bites from the region’s most renowned kitchens alongside sips highlighting local cocktail culture, as well as a dynamic series of chef-led cooking demonstrations and thought-provoking panels moderated by the Times staff.
At Friday’s intimate Opening Night fete, revelers gathered for a festive kick-off that featured a curated selection of distinctive tastes from the cream of the city’s restaurant crop, premium cocktail and wine offerings, and a live jazz ensemble. The following day, California’s bounty of fresh produce took center stage during Field to Fork, a homage to seasonal cooking hosted by Times Food Writer and Columnist Russ Parsons and Chef Menes. Nyesha Arrington (Leona), Jessica Koslow, Niki Nakayama, and Akasha Richmond (Akasha/Sambar) showcased the joys of market-driven dishes through cooking demonstrations featuring locally-sourced ingredients, while bites from community favorites like Kye’s and Tender Greens delighted guests’ locavore palates.
The city’s boldest bites and cutting-edge libations came together later that evening for Dinner with a Twist, a sold-out soirée hosted by Times Restaurant Critic Jonathan Gold and Deputy Food Editor Jenn Harris alongside Chef Fiorelli and Marianella. Attendees feasted on charred octopus with tabuleh and lemon Greek yogurt from The Bellwether and imbibed premium cocktails from a slew of pop-up bars, while also enjoying a peek into the nuanced magic of the chef and bartender duo, illuminated in a series of lively demonstrations led by the two co-hosts, Steven Fretz and Devon Espinosa (The Church Key), and Ludo Lefebvre and Helen Johannesen (Petit Trois/Trois Mec).
Over-the-top eats from some of the city’s favorite brunch purveyors and pit masters kicked off the final day of The Taste for SundayBrunch and BBQ, a nod to one of Angelenos’ favorite weekend pastimes. The renowned Flavors of LA, hosted by Gold and Salgado, closed the weekend festivities in the ultimate tribute to the depth, breadth and diversity of flavors that make Los Angeles one of the most exciting places to be a diner. Attendees were taken on a guided tour of the city’s culinary melting pot, savoring an eclectic array of globally-inspired flavors ranging from Madcapra’s wildly popular falafel to Sambar’s goat curry puri. Throughout the weekend, Knob Creek wowed with a branded pop-up bar curated by the Cocktail Academy, which encouraged festival-goers to enjoy signature whiskey cocktails or design their own custom beverages using their food preferences as guiderails.
Photo Credit: Los Angeles Times
