I never look forward to the end of Summer, but I always look forward to The Taste!
The Los Angeles Times’ signature summer event, The Taste, takes place during Labor Day weekend at the Paramount Studios lot. From Friday to Sunday they transform the backlot of Paramount into one of the largest block parties in LA with the city’s best food, drinks, and entertainment.
The weekend long party is composed of five individual events. Here’s the rundown:
- Opening Night, Friday, 9/1, 7:30 to 10:30 PM
The Taste’s most intimate soiree features a focused collection of tastings, distinctive cocktail and wine offerings, and a chance to party on the backlot with The Times’ hosts and the weekend’s participating chefs and mixologists. Restaurants include Baran’s 2239, Bourbon Steak, Chinese Laundry, Crying Tiger, Fat Dragon, Friends & Family, Georgie, Hatchet Hall, Lao Tao, Little Fatty, Mainland Poke, Scratch Bar & Kitchen, Side Chick, Simone, Tabula Rasa Bar and Tar & Roses.
- Field to Fork – Hosted by Amy Scattergood, Times Food Editor, and Sang Yoon, Chef/Owner of Father’s Office and Lukshon, Saturday, 9/2, Noon to 3 PM
Inspired by Southern California’s agricultural roots and DIY attitude, Yoon and Miles Thompson (Michael’s) will each share their farmers market savvy through individual cooking demos using their favorite bright and flavorful ingredients. This is a great time to experience The Taste with a smaller crowd and shorter lines. Just dress for the heat and hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!
- Dinner with a Twist – Hosted by Jonathan Gold, Times Restaurant Critic, Saturday, 9/2, 7:30 to 10:30 PM
L.A.’s dining and cocktail culture take the stage with a chef-bartender demo by Lofaso and Ramos, and by Allan Katz and Jonathan Whitener (Here’s Looking At You). Breana Jackson (Sugar & Spice: Baked by Bre), Danielle Bennett (Lady on the Rocks), Derrick Lewis (Not Your Mama’s Kitchen) and Chef E Dubble (E Dubble Catering/Grilled Fraiche) will celebrate urban gastronomy with a collaborative showcase of their signature concoctions, and Meredith Hayman (Michael’s), Gabriella Mlynarczyk (Accomplice Bar) and Brynn Smith (Sotto) will shake it up with a group demo. Restaurants include Barrel & Ashes, Beauty & Essex, Black Market Liquor Bar, Faith & Flower, Mayura Indian Restaurant, Pedalers Fork, Scopa Italian Roots, Szechuan Impression, The Bellwether, The Ponte and Wolf.
- Sunday Block Party – Hosted by Noelle Carter, Times Test Kitchen Director, and Sherry Yard, Chef/Owner of Tuck Room Tavern; Sunday., 9/3, Noon to 3 PM
Attend this one to get brunchy with some of LA top chefs. Among the talks being presented, the South Bay’s own David LeFevre (Manhattan Beach Post, Fishing With Dynamite) will give a master class on making biscuits. Restaurants include Cheezus, Cocobella Creamery, E.A.K. Ramen, Hotville Chicken & Chops, Hummus Yummy Food Truck, MessHall, Otium, Rosaliné, The Butcher’s Daughter and Tuck Room Tavern.
- Flavors of L.A. – Hosted by Jonathan Gold, Times Restaurant Critic, and Gilberto Cetina Jr., Chef/Owner of Chichen Itza and Holbox; Sunday, 9/3, 7:30 to 10:30 PM
The Taste closes out the summer season with a salute to the unique flavors of LA. Closing night of The Taste embraces the depth and diversity of flavors that make Los Angeles one of the most exciting places to dine through demos by Cetina, Wes Avila (Guerrilla Tacos) and the team behind Badmaash: Pawan, Nakul and Arjun Mahendro. Gold will explore Korean barbecue with masters of the grill: Jenee Kim (Park’s Barbeque) and Chris Oh (Seoul Sausage Co.). Restaurants include Chichen Itza, Frankland’s Crab & Co., Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken, Holbox, Luv2eat Thai Bistro, Meals by Genet, Pasta Sisters, Revolutionario North African Tacos, Same Same and Worldwide Tacos.
Opening Night tickets are $150. Saturday and Sunday event tickets range from $95 to $130. If you’re an LA Times subscriber, follow this link to get a $25 discount.
For all of the details and to purchase tickets, go online to latimes.com/TheTaste. Get social before the event by connecting with @TheTasteLA on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Tell them @SouthBayFoodies sent you!
