The LA Food Bowl: Come Hungry.

When the month of May rolls around, foodies from all over descend on the City of Angeles for thirty-one days of culinary brilliance. If you have never experienced the Los Angeles Times Food Bowl, it is something to behold. Food lovers, visionaries and innovators from all areas of the gastronomic industry unite to bring the public an unforgettable food experience – and they do it every year.

Of the month-long schedule of events, one, if not the, most popular event is the Night Market: an outdoor celebration of Los Angeles’ diverse dining scene held over the course of five nights in downtown Los Angeles. Each night features a variety of restaurants serving up their specialty dishes among a backdrop of art installations and music.

This year, I had the pleasure of attending the fourth day of the event: L.A.’s Best Burger. Now, whether you’re a hamburger traditionalist or welcome the culinary interpretations of “America’s favorite dish,” this is the event where you’ll experience a bit of both.

The overall winner of our tasting rendezvous was the Oui burger from Banh Oui restaurant. Served on a Kaiser Roll with a perfectly prepared beef patty, caramelized onion, shredded lettuce, mint, cilantro, white cheddar cheese, pickled Fresno chili, sriracha mayo and chicken liver paté. With this explosion of flavors, it’s no surprise that this chosen as the Judges pick of the event.

Bahn Oui Burger

The second runner up on our list, and winner of the people’s pick for L.A.’s best burger, was the HiHo Cheeseburger. As a bit of a traditionalist myself, I am all about the four basic components of my perfect burger: high-quality beef prepared medium rare; a high-quality cheddar cheese; a soft, durable and slightly crispy bun; and mustard. And I must say, this burger exceeded expectations and more. 

But it wouldn’t be an LA event without the food trucks! A variety of trucks lined Broadway and joined other vendors in the general area such as Cheezus LA, Secret Lasagna, and Tacos 1986.

Now, if you haven’t had a chance to make it to any of the exceptional events hosted to date, don’t fret. You’ll be able to get your fill through the end of the month, with the final events taking place on May 31. For a full schedule of events, visit www.lafoodbowl.com and get your tickets while they are still available. But be sure to come hungry—for both food and culinary enlightenment.

Article originally posted HERE

The ‘Julia Child of Mexico’ Holds Court at LA Times Foodbowl Event

Chef and author, Diana Kennedy, is one of the leading authorities on Mexican cuisine, and she won’t let you forget it.

She has been described as the “Julia Child of Mexico” and an “ethno-gastronomer”, and at 95 years young, Kennedy is still as fervent and sentimental as ever when discussing her love of Mexico and its native fare. 

On Saturday, May 5, at the historic Million Dollar Theatre in Los Angeles, Kennedy took the stage to reflect on her life and path to becoming a renowned expert on the history and art of Mexican cooking, authoring nine cookbooks on the subject and being honored with an Order of the Aztec Eagle by the Mexican government for advocating on behalf of the cuisine and tourism of Mexico. 

Passion ran high among panel participants which included, Latin chefs and restaurateurs Bricia Lopez of Guelaguetza; Carlos Salgado of Taco Maria and Gabriela Càmara of Contramar and Cala, when the discussion turned to sustainability, economics and food politics. Kennedy stressed the importance of honoring Mexico’s traditional cuisine and preserving its abundance of natural resources for future generations.

As of 2010, Los Angeles is home to over 2.5 million residents of Mexican heritage. However, Mexican culture and cuisine has been woven into the fabric of Los Angeles since its founding over two centuries ago and now second and third generation Mexican American chefs are continuing to honor the cuisine and traditions of their lineage.

The Los Angeles Times Food Bowl pays tribute to the diversity that the city has to offer by hosting a month-long series of events throughout the month of May.

To check out the schedule of Los Angeles Times Food Bowl events visit www.lafoodbowl.com/.

Article originally posted HERE