Your Food Festival Round-Up Summer 2018

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I love to taste. A little bit of this and a little bit of that. It’s why I seek out restaurants with small plates, tapas, community tables and all in all sharing. My dining partners know that I survey the dinner crowd to see what is being ordered. Naturally, I ask, can I taste that? (I usually don’t ask strangers but I’ve been known to ingratiate myself so much so that I’ve actually been offered to taste what’s on their table). I love Los Angeles for its amazing tasting festivals, outdoor markets, tasting menus and diverse food halls. So, let’s dive in and check out what you need to take a taste of this month. Here’s your food festival round up.

 23rd Annual Huntington Beach Plum Festival
Sunday, August 19, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. (parking and admission are free)
Old World Huntington Beach
7561 Center Ave., Huntington Beach
Fresh plums from a Farmers Market
Desserts devoted to plums. (photo courtesy of the Huntington Beach Plum Festival)

 I just can’t get enough of summer stone fruit. Peaches, nectarines and plums...each summer week that passes by the fruit tastes sweeter and sweeter, which is why the annual Huntington Beach Plum Festival is on my radar. It’s an event celebrating all things plum featuring plum cakes (Old World German Restaurant creates its once-a-year special pflaumenkuchen), flamed plum crepes, Berliners (German donuts filled with plum jam), plum strudel, and even plum schnapps. The festival will round-out with schnitzel, brats, hamburgers, German beers and live music.

 8th Annual Los Angeles Food & Wine Festival*
August 22 - 26, 2018
Located at various restaurants and times in L.A. 
*check website for tickets and schedule

 Food & Wine Magazine and Lexus are bringing back the one of the number food events of the season. This 5 day affair brings together an impressive line-up of chefs, outstanding restaurants in town, celebrated wineries and sommeliers, mixologists and epicurean events that will give you tasting opps and demos. The festival will take you all over LA from the kick-off dinner series at Lasa in DTLA and at Big Boi on Sawtelle. And so many more great things to follow including chef appearances by Curtis Stone, Antonia Lafaso (Black Market Liquor Bar & Scopa Italian Roots) and Aarón Sanchez, Sue Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken, Casey Lane (Breva & The Tasting Kitchen), Jason Neroni (Rose Cafe), Michael Reed (Osteria Mozza & Sona). **Foodies - this is a festival giving you a close-up perspective on the magic created by both up and comers and renowned award-winning culinary talent.
Aaron Sánchez, chef/owner of Mexican restaurant Johnny Sánchez
in New Orleans, and judge on MASTERCHEF (photo courtesy of Food & Wine Festival)




Antonia Lofaso, Top Chef S4 and owner of Black Market Liquor Bar and Scopa Italian Roots in Los Angeles. (photo courtesy of Food & Wine Festival)

L.A. Times The Taste *
August 31 - September 2, 2018, 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. nightly
Paramount Pictures backlot
*check website for tickets, parking and full schedule

And bringing the season to a close, one of my personal favorites (after my husband proposed to me we went to The Taste to celebrate) is the grand dame of food festivals - The Taste hosted by the Los Angeles Times. This one is the city’s must-attend food and drink party of the summer. A special tribute is being planned each night to honor and celebrate the life of L.A. Times restaurant critic Jonathan Gold. Plan on tasting and sipping (and Instagramming) for three straight evenings as you’re wined and dined by LA’s best restaurants and chefs.  Restaurants and chefs from all over town will be offering unlimited delicious tastings and live cooking demos each night. Just to name a few chefs who will be attending: Michael Lawless (Shad’s New Cali Catering), Ludo Lefebvre (Trois Mec and Ludo Bird), Ricardo Zarate (Rosaliné), Jonathan Yao (Kato), Niki Nakayama and Carole Iida-Nakayama (n/naka), Briana Valdez (Home State), Sean Lowenthal (Little Beast Restaurant), Minh Phan (Porridge + Puffs), Charles Olalia (Rice Bar/Ma’am Sir) and L.A. Times Test Kitchen Director Noelle Carter. If you are out of town, there is another chance to experience The Taste in the OC’s Costa Mesa October 19 - 21, 2018.
(photo courtesy of L.A. Times The Taste)

(photo courtesy of L.A. Times The Taste)

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