This Weekend: The Taste September 2-5

 

I wasn’t too happy with the first LA Times Food & Wine Festival last year. But it appears the organizers have listened and by combining forces with the Taste of Beverly Hills Festival, they have created an unique 4-day food festival that will span four days in three locations this weekend. Your ticket(s) include unlimited tastings and drinks. Part of the proceeds go to several charities.

This year’s festival is simply called “The Taste.”

Friday, September 2

• Burgers & Beer– 7 – 10 p.m. (Beverly Hills, $125)

Try burgers from over 30 restaurants, wine or beer from over 30 wineries and brewerys as well as cooking demonstrations and seminars.

• Art of Mixing 9 p.m. – 12 Midnight (Hollywood, $125)

Besides unlimited food and drinks, there’ll be a demo from chefs Ricardo Zarate (Picca, Mo-Chica) and John Sedlar (Rivera, Playa) with Mixologist Julian Cox. Music from DJ Jason Bentley and Mariachi El Bronx.

 

Saturday, September 3

• Secrets from the Kitchen & Cellar 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.  (Beverly Hills, $150)

Highlights include LA Times Food Editor Russ Parsons will interview Chef Ludo and Krissy Lefebvre, cooking demos from Celestino Drago, Scott Conant, Michael Voltaggio and more. Excited to see Picca, Sotto, Black Market, La Seine and two dozen other restaurants serving up food.

• Taco Tequila Tryst 7 – 10 p.m. (Hollywood, $125)

Hosted by Roy Choi, named the “Godfather of the Food Truck Movement,” this taco bonaza will also feature Kogi along with other street food bites from Street, Xioa, Corkbar and many more. I’m excited by the Don-Q rum and Bekseju, a Korean spirit I’ve only had at KBBQ before.

 

Sunday, September 4

• Fashion Bites Brunch 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. (Beverly Hills, $150)

LA’s top brunch spots including Breadbar, Fig & Olive, Canele and more serve up food along with free flowing Bloody Marys, Mimosas and Bellinis. All this along Beverly Hill’s famous Rodeo Drive.

• Street Eats 4 – 8 p.m. (Hollywood, $150)

Hosted by Street’s Susan Feniger, featured seminars include wine education including navigating the wine list with Michael Shearin of the Drago Restaurants, a panel on “Food City: The Language of LA” moderated by LA Times’ Betty Hallock, cooking demonstrations — I’d love to check out Marcel Vigneron’s Tako Taco demo and of course, lots of food. Can’t wait to try the food from Chichen Itza, Jitlada, Osteria La Buca and many, many others.

• Desserts After Dark  8 – 11 p.m. (Beverly Hills, $150)

Got a sweet tooth? Check out this event with Food Network star Duff Goldman. Among the many sweets, I’d go for a fonut, maybe a mini pie from Simplethings or try the desserts from Craft.

• Food Noir 8 p.m. – 12 Midnight (Downtown, $125)

Broadway in Downtown LA will be closed between 8th and 9th streets to host this unique film and food event. The Orpheum Theatre will show classics while people can enjoy food and drinks from 1321, The Gorbals, Yamashiro, Tasting Kitchen and bars like Las Perlas, Cana and Cole’s. There are so many more so be sure to check out the full list on the event page.

 

Monday, September 5

• Picnic in the Hills 12 – 4 p.m.  (Beverly Hills, $150)

The final event on Labor Day is a brunch hosted by Giada De Laurentiis. There will be wine education, panel discussions, cooking demonstrations including one by Ray Garcia of FIG at the Fairmont Miramar that I’m excited about. Great food from Melisse, Wurstkuche, L’Epicerie, Got Kosher and more!

 

 

The Taste

Friday, September 2- Monday, September 5

4 days. 3 locations. 9 events.

 

Tickets:

I’ve seen discount tickets online but here’s the official page to buy tickets. There are packages so you can get an all-access pass to ALL the events or just the ones in Hollywood or Beverly Hills.