Archive for the 'Food Event' Category

See | Hear | Taste | Transmission LA: A/V Club

Published by Gastronomer on April 20, 2012 in Downtown, Food Event, Los Angeles, Meals on Wheels, Media Event (this meal was free) and Vegetarian. 5 Comments

The Roy Choi Express made a special stop at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA in downtown Los Angeles earlier this week for a sneak peek of Transmission LA: A/V Club, a 17-day festival featuring the work of 16 contemporary artists, musicians, designers, filmmakers, and chefs curated by Mike D of the Beastie Boys.

“A/V Club,” which is free to the public and runs from now until May 6, seeks to illustrate how audio and visual art forms complement and influence each other through concerts, performances, and installations. In addition to its audio and visual components, the exhibit also includes an edible element designed by Chef Roy Choi and the Kogi Team.

A rainbow splashed “mess hall” in the spirit of A-Frame has been built just for the event. I loved how the colorful tables had built-in troughs fit for various sauces and condiments. I can’t wait to see how this baby lights up at night.

The Kogi Truck will be dishing up its famous tacos, burritos, and quesadillas for dinner on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, as well as for lunch on Saturdays, throughout the exhibit’s run.

Additionally, Chef is going to dream up weekly specials based on what inspires him at the farmers market. As a nod to Mike D’s vegetarianism, the special will always be meat-free.

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Epicurean Epicenter at Bellagio Featuring Pinot Noirs from Pisoni, Siduri, & ROAR Wineries

Published by Gastronomer on March 1, 2012 in Food Event, Las Vegas, Media Event (this meal was free) and Winery. 0 Comments

For our second evening in fabulous Las Vegas, The Astronomer and I attended a wine dinner in Bellagio‘s Tuscany Kitchen as part of the Epicurean Epicenter series. This event featured a parade of California pinot noirs from producers Pisoni, Siduri, and ROAR and a four-course menu designed by Sensi Executive Chef Royden Ellamar.

Jason Smith, master sommelier and Bellagio’s Director of Wine, not only selected the participating wineries and orchestrated the pairings, but he also served as our host this evening. Also on hand were all three winemakers. Each one was invited to speak at various points during the event to provide insights into the wine making and wine drinking process.

What made this event stand out from other wine dinners I’ve attended was the interactive live cooking component. Attendees were encouraged to ask Chef Ellamar questions about everything from ingredients to technique. The Astronomer was tempted to ask Chef why he was cooking with Malibu. I had to keep my tipsy guest in check.

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Pacific Standard Timeʼs “Art As An Appetizer” (a.k.a. Secret Menu at Playa and Rivera)

Published by Gastronomer on February 9, 2012 in Food Event, Los Angeles, Media Event (this meal was free), Mid-City, Mixology and New American. 2 Comments

Pssst! Can you keep a secret? From now until March 31, Playa and Rivera are offering a special three-course menu as part of Pacific Standard Time: Art in L.A. 1945-1980, the hugely ambitious initiative that tells the story of the birth of the Los Angeles art scene.

“Art as an Appetizer,” a collaboration between chef John Sedlar, artist Ron Cooper, and mixologist Julian Cox, is a one-of-a-kind menu inspired by artworks featured in Pacific Standard Time.

The secret menu is available for $34 at Playa and at $44 at Rivera during dinner to customers who show proof of admission to any Pacific Standard Time engagement or ask for the “Pacific Standard Time Secret Menu.” I was able to test run the menu this past weekend at a media event held at Playa.

Master mixologist Julian Cox has designed three unique cocktails for this special affair. All cocktails are priced at $12. The “47 Chevy in Wilmington, CA,” a crisp, tart, and refreshing sip, is comprised of mezcal, agave nectar, St. Vincent Orgeat, passion fruit, fresh lemon, and lavender foam.

It was inspired by Oscar Castilloʼs “47 Chevy in Wilmington, CA” (1972), which is featured in “Icons of the Invisible: Oscar Castillo” at the Fowler Museum, UCLA.

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White Truffle Dinner at Valentino Ristorante – Los Angeles (Santa Monica)

Published by Gastronomer on December 16, 2011 in Food Event, Italian, Los Angeles, Media Event (this meal was free) and Santa Monica. 4 Comments

It used to be that citrus fruits were my favorite wintertime bounty, but that was before I tasted my first white truffle. Only available October through December and priced in the neighborhood of $300 an ounce, this precious tuber is the ultimate indulgence during the cooler months of the year.

I was recently invited to an incredible dinner at Valentino Ristorante featuring an abundance of white truffles. In celebration of Piero Selvaggio‘s 40 years of successful restauranteering in Los Angeles, the finest Italian white truffles were flown in for the event, as well as wines from Beni di Batasiolo, the world’s leading producer of Barolo. Needless to say, it was an enchanting evening of food and wine.

I was greeted by an army of glasses as I sat down at the table. Stefano Poggi, the export manager at Beni di Batasiolo, was on hand this evening to pair each of chefs Luicano Pellegrini and Nico Chessa’s creations with a handsome wine. The carefully marked placemats upon which the wines rested kept diners properly organized throughout the meal.

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Eat My Blog Winter 2011: Sweet Sunny Success!

Published by Gastronomer on December 12, 2011 in Eat My Blog, Food Event and Los Angeles. 11 Comments

It was a scorcher this past Saturday at the fourth Eat My Blog charity bake sale. Even though the weather conditions were chocolate-meltingly hot, the turnout was terrific and we raised $4,323.86 for the Los Angeles Regional Foodbank. It’s really incredible to think that our baked goods have yielded more than $16,000 over the years. That equates to $80,000 worth of food to assist families in our community that need a little boost. Hip, hip hooray!

We moved the party to the east side this time around, setting up shop at Pita Jungle in Old Town Pasadena. The neighborhood proved to be a great fit for our kind of wholesome food and fun.

On the donation front, we had the biggest turnout ever. With over 50 bloggers baking their hearts out and 20 restaurants doing what they do best, the tables at Pita Jungle were lined with an impressive array of delicious and creative treats. Additionally, Crystal Geyser donated water and iced tea, while Intelligentsia provided coffee vouchers.

We were also very fortunate to have Wesley Wong donate his time to capture some beautiful snapshots throughout the day. Here are some highlights of the sweets and savories that made Eat My Blog an incredible success…

Clockwise from top left—macarons from XT Patisserie, cake pops from The Catty Critic and Rock My Palate, chocolate dipped pecan pies from Sarah the Bear, and malted milk cookie tarts from Nosh with Me.

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