Taste of the Nation LA

[mollyomormon]

Is anyone else going this year? I know I end up posting about this every year because it truly is my favorite food event of the entire year. The list of restaurants is outstanding again and once again, 100% of the proceeds go to help end childhood hunger so it's a great cause. I can't wait!

http://www.strength.org/losangeles/

[DarinDines]

It was my first time going this year and I was impressed...I'll be coming back next year for sure. Similar to others, some of my favs were the fried chicken from Lexington Social House, anticucho from Picca, and lamb from Culina. Loved the beer garden and cocktails too!

Recap with pictures of (almost) everything: http://darindines.com/2011/06/14/tast...

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Culina
300 S Doheny Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90048

Lexington Social House
1718 Vine St, Los Angeles, CA 90028

[tastycakes]

another great event this year. standouts for me were the kaya toast from street (that wasn't foie gras on it btw, it was soy butter - could have fooled me!), the pork sandwich from grace, the tongue sandwich from fig, the scoops yuzu strawberry beer float, pazzo gelato's strawberry mint sorbetto, mole marinated hamachi sushi from chaya, and the fried chicken plate from lexington social house. that cornbread was glazed in honey butter from heaven. go burger's lamb slider was also fantastic, as was the tropical tres leches from hatfield's. the cocktails and beers this year were miles beyond those in the past. the chocolate extravaganza from madame chocolate was simply delightful, not to mention the crowd-pleasing jacques torres himself pouring champagne for everyone and posing for pictures.

[baloney]

Jacques was charming as always. My favorites were also the fried chicken, kaya toast, the bolognese sliders from Short Order, Intelligentsia, and a few others that I'm blanking on now. It was a bit of a blur as I hit almost every stand! Must review my notes....

[mollyomormon]

In addition to the above-mentioned items, I loved the chicken lollipops from Lukshon, the octopus tacos from Tres (Jose Andres' new restaurant), and the waygu beef tongue and olive oil ice cream from ink. I thought the event was an incredible success and I'm already looking forward to next year.

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Lukshon
3239 Helms Ave, Culver City, CA 90034

[Porthos]

Speaking of Ink and beef tongue and olive oil ice cream (together or separate?)...when is it slated to open?

[mollyomormon]

They were served separately. The beef tongue was sliced thinly and served with tiny pickled onions, a pumpernickel beignet and mustard powder. I know the restaurant is currently slated to open in July and I can't wait!

[cdub]

i too thought that the lukshon chicken pops were great. the beef/veal terrine from la seine was spectacular. some of my other favorites were the chorizo stuffed chili from ray and stark. the lamb from culina. the lamb slinders from go burger were terrific. actually, lots of great food, some great beers, and great cocktails. well done event. oh, those tropical tres leches from hatfields was great too.

some of my least favorites were the sopes and shrimp from red o and the kettle corn from a frame. seemed like an easy way out.

[mollyomormon]

I forgot about the chorizo stuffed chile; that was amazing.

[baloney]

Hmm, I wasn't too impressed by the stuffed chile, maybe I just don't appreciate chorizo enough. But I did enjoy my brunch at Ray's on Saturday. I also got NO spice from the chicken pops, perhaps they forgot to spice mine?

I forgot that the chicken anticucho from Picca/Mo-Chica was nice as well. And of the two bacon frozen desserts....oh, tough call but I think I preferred Pazzo Gelato's to Scoops by just a hair!

[Porthos]

baloney- did you stop by SK's booth and whisper sweet cheese nothings in their ears?

[baloney]

Starry Kitchen? Ha, nope, I couldn't keep a straight face what with Thi wearing a ridiculous banana costume(I just kept thinking of Family Guy, totally distracting). And I didn't see Chef Laurent, if he was there, I would've begged him directly!

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Starry Kitchen
350 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90071

[mollyomormon]

I stopped by the SK booth and whispered sweet cheese nothings in Chef Laurent's ear. That's one charming (and flirtatious) frenchman.

[baloney]

At least one of us got to him! Hey, now that I think about it, there were at least TWO charming (but maybe a tad less flirtatious, what with his wife being there) frenchmen if you count Jacques Torres!

[andytseng]

I'll be going for my first time this year. Anything that I should know about? i.e. Should I arrive early and get to the front of the line (if there is a line?) Will restaurants run out of food? If so should I make sure to check out the popular ones early?

[mollyomormon]

My main piece of advice is to pace yourself. It's an enormous amount of food and if you aren't careful, you'll fill up way before you've sampled everything. I've seen restaurants run out of food toward the very end, but I've always been able to sample everything I wanted. I always try to arrive near the start of the event but no need to get there early.

[DarinDines]

I'll be going - looks like a fun event! Curious to see what Voltaggio will prepare, among others.

[baloney]

Yep, bought the tickets a few weeks ago! It'll be my first time and am very much looking forward to it. I will most likely be the one in the stretchy pants...

[mollyomormon]

Awesome! Stretchy pants or a mumu are entirely appropriate for this event as it's a massive amount of food and drink.

For people who haven't purchased tickets, there are benefits being held pre-event around town, the first one being a tasting at Hatfield's on Wednesday, May 25th, 7:00-9:00. A $50 per ticket includes passed appetizers and complementary cocktail - 100% ticket proceeds will be donated to Taste of the Nation. Taste of the Nation LA tickets will be available for $110 for VIP and $75 for General Admission.

There's also an event at Bloomingdale's in Century City on June 2 from 6-9. $50 entry gets you $25 in Bloomingdale's money, plus $25 off a TOTN ticket, plus possible % off purchases that night along with food, door prizes and a goodie bag.

[mollyomormon]

Here's the list of restaurants that will be at TOTN:

A-Frame / Beechwood

Border Grill

Campanile

Chaya Restaurant Group

Church & State

City Tavern

Comme Ça

Craft

Culina

Farmshop

Fig

Fonuts
Go Burger

Grace / BLD

Hatfield's

ink.

Jitlada / Singha Beer

LA Market

La Seine

Le Saint Amour

Loteria Grill

Lucques/AOC/Tavern

M Café

Madame Chocolat

mar'sel

District on Sunset

Michael's

MoChica / Picca

MoKo

Napa Valley Grille

Osteria Mozza

Patina

Pazzo Gelato

Public

Ray's & Stark Bar

Red O

Rivera / Playa

Scoops / Scoops Westside

Simon LA

Short Order

Sprinkles

Starry Kitchen

STREET

The Bazaar by José Andrés

The Foundry on Melrose

WP24

and beverages:

1886 Bar at the Raymond

American Tea Room

Brewery Ommgang / The Golden State

Duvel

Eagle Rock Brewery / Verdugo Bar

Firestone Walker / Library Alehouse

La Descarga

Pour Vous

Sotto

The Bruery / Steingarten LA

The Spare Room

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Border Grill
1445 4th St., Santa Monica, CA 90401

Jitlada
5233 1/2 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027

BLD Restaurant
7450 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036

Madame Chocolat
212 N Canon Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

Library Alehouse
2911 Main St, Santa Monica, CA 90405

Loteria Grill
6333 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90036

Comme Ça
8479 Melrose Ave, West Hollywood, CA 90069

Napa Valley Grille
1100 Glendon Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90024

The Verdugo Bar
3408 Verdugo Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90065

Church & State
1850 Industrial Street, Los Angeles, CA 90021

The Golden State
426 N. Fairfax Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90036

Le Saint Amour
9725 Culver Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232

Chaya
525 S Flower St, Los Angeles, CA 90071

Tea Room
12229 Ventura Blvd, Studio City, CA 91604

La Descarga
1159 North Western Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90006

The Bruery
715 Dunn Way, Placentia, CA 92870

Osteria Mozza
6602 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036

Culina
300 S Doheny Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90048

Eagle Rock Brewery
3056 Roswell St, Los Angeles, CA 90065

Red O
8155 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046

Starry Kitchen
350 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90071

WP24
900 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90015

Scoops Westside
10640 Woodbine St, Los Angeles, CA 90034

Go Burger
6290 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028

LA Market
900 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90015

A-Frame
12565 W Washington Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90066

City Tavern
9739 Culver Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232

Steingarten LA
10543 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90064

[Discokill]

Posted this in an older thread but never got a response. Can anyone comment on what the VIP tickets get you and if it's worth it (extra $50 each)? Trying to decide which tickets to get.

[baloney]

This is what I received from AMEX concierge which I asked the same question to:

Golden Apple VIP
Allows entrance into the American Express Tent and there you can taste the creations of Bazaar's Jose Andres. You will also be able to meet Top Chef's season 6 winner, Michael Voltaggio and you'll receive a gift bag.

You also get valet parking.

[Porthos]

Ask him when INK is opening please :)

[baloney]

Ha! Will do.

Pour quoi you no go, Sir Porthos?

[Porthos]

Working that weekend :(

Also, my mouth is writing checks my body can't cash. I need to ease off the gluttony un poquito...

[baloney]

After reading your Paris shenanigans, I understand! Actually, I'm in the same boat, though I am still yearning daily for that seaweed butter at Le Cinq....

[Porthos]

I'm craving some comte. Doesn't have to be Bernard Antony 48 month old. A simple 24 month old will do...

...which I've recently noticed on the menu at Fig in Santa Monica.

[baloney]

Really? I'm looking for a great cheese cart from anywhere in LA since Bistro LQ is no longer around. I agree, had some great 2 year Comte from a random cheesemonger back in September, better than the older stuff from Ledoyen. Also, would love some lait cru Epoisses...

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Bistro LQ
8009 Beverly Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90048

[Porthos]

I'm looking for a great cheese cart from anywhere in LA since Bistro LQ is no longer around.

========================

You and me both. Epoisses (doesn't say if it's lait cru), Valençay, Comte, Bleu de Causses, just to name a few...

http://figsantamonica.com/pdf/FIG_men...

See you there.

[Porthos]

Word is Starry Kitchen is going to provide a cheese selection in conjunction with LQ's cuisine...maybe you should stop by their booth and put in a couple of requests. Add a +1 for me for 24 month Comte and lait cru Epoisses please.

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Starry Kitchen
350 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90071

[baloney]

Shall do so! How awesome would that be to have those two cheeses??

[Porthos]

Tres awesome indeed!

[Porthos]

Baloney, while we're waiting for this imaginary cheese cart to materialize, just wanted to let you know I was able to get Epoisses, Comte lait cru "12-16 month", and Morbier lait cru at the Long Beach Bristol Farms. No Epoisses lait cru or Comte at my local Whole Foods btw.

[baloney]

Really?? Have you tried it any of them yet, if so, how was it?

[Porthos]

Tried them all this weekend. The Epoisses was pasteurized but still good. Even better as it warmed up to room temp. Comte was good also. Definitely satisfied my cravings.

[mollyomormon]

If you're worried about getting enough food, then you'll be fine with just GA tickets. But if you really want to meet M Voltaggio, it's a great cause so go for it!

[tastycakes]

ooh, lots of new restaurants and some of my favorite local breweries!

[mollyomormon]

they'll be announcing wineries soon too. it's such a great selection of restaurants this year!