Discovering A City Through Its Food: The Long Beach Food Festival.

How do you experience the true essence of a city? Is it through the nightlife? The activities? The people? Well, though it’s a sum of all those parts, I can tell you that the best place to start is by experiencing the food that the city has to offer. The food experience transcends just taste and matters of the palate; the experience itself facilitates an enlightening exchange between you and the identity; social and economic dynamics; and communities of the city.

Long Beach, California (LBC) is the seventh largest city in California and according to a recent study, is ranked the 10th most diverse city in America. This diversity gives Long Beach a unique vibe unparalleled by its Los Angeles or Orange County neighbors. In particular, cultural influences have a significant impact on the burgeoning food scene.

To showcase the beauty of the cultural and culinary influences of the LBC food scene, the local organization Long Beach Fresh has developed the first-ever Foodways Summit in the city. From June 1 through the 7th attendees can purchase tickets to a series of food events hosted by locals ranging from neighborhood farms to hidden gardens, famous chefs to food equity. The events series consist of talks, tastes, and tours of good food practices and topics range from reducing food waste and chef culture to urban gardening. 

The summit kicked off with the first event: an exploration of the plant-based food revolution in the Afrocentric community hosted at the lovely Organic Harvest Garden farm in North Long Beach, a true oasis in the city. Attendees enjoyed tastes from a plant-based buffet with offerings from a variety of local chefs.

Num Kom, traditional Cambodian coconut and rice dessert

The second event was a walking tour of Cambodiatown. Located at the heart of the city, this community is the largest Cambodian population outside of Cambodia and supports one of the most “vibrant local food systems in Southern California” according to Long Beach Fresh. The array of bustling markets, gardens and farms, community healing centers, and authentic cultural eateries are all run by local residents.

Vegan Food at Nor.

As a native of this city, the Foodways Summit exposed me to the hidden gems I never knew existed in my community: such as the local community gardens and diverse group of chefs that advocate on behalf of good food practices. The most illuminating piece was the education I received about cultural, social, food, and agriculture dynamics that exist within the borders of the city. There is one thing about Long Beach: if you come here with an open mind, you’ll leave here with a fuller heart. 

The Foodways Summit continues through June 7. For more information, visit www.foodwayssummit.org.

The writer’s adorable son Jackson, enjoying the Garden Event.

Article originally posted HERE

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

Chef Jose Andres Kicks Off LA Foodbowl

Waste is Wrong: that was Chef Jose Andres main message at the iconic Wiltern Theatre Monday night, in a spectacular event which kicked off the LA Times  Food Bowl, 31 days of great food, fascinating chef dialogues and more events than we can count.  

In the United States, it is estimated that between 30-40% of the food supply ends up in landfills instead of on dinner tables. In Los Angeles alone, more than half a million households live 300 percent below poverty level and often have to choose between putting food on their table or paying the rent. And according to renowned chef and philanthropist Chef Jose Andres, that is absolutely unacceptable.

Chef Andres along with L.A. Kitchen founder Robert Egger, Los Angeles restaurant critic Jonathan Gold and other prominent names in the Los Angeles food scene, took to the stage to raise awareness about the importance of food security and the Power of Food. Other guests included New Girl actress and The Farm Project co-founder Zooey Deschanel and Border Grill co-founder Susan Feniger.

The event featured a panel discussion on the topics of food sustainability and accessibility and a sous chef cook-off, where the challenge was to create a dish of limited ingredients that can be distributed to thousands of people during a post-disaster relief effort.

This event launched the Los Angeles Times Food Bowl, a month-long food extravaganza, in partnerships with LA’s best bars, cafes, hotels, markets, restaurants and top chefs, to raise awareness and funds to combat food waste, hunger, food insecurity and promote sustainability.

Food at the event was prepared and served by L.A. Food Kitchen students and Los Angeles restaurant Todo Verde and Everytable.

The Los Angeles Times Food Bowl runs the entire month of May at various locations around Los Angeles. To check out the schedule of events visit www.lafoodbowl.com/.

Article originally posted HERE

You Don’t Have to be a “Hardcore” Vegan to enjoy the Vegan Street Fair

For the carnivores out there, the term may incite images of bland, weirdly textured food items made from pulverized vegetables and nuts. But for the staunch herbivores or adventurous omnivores, we know that menu options have vastly expanded (beyond just tofu) and that some of the most beloved animal protein based dishes have been “veganized” and taste so close to the original recipe you find yourself asking “Are you SURE there is no meat in this?” 

Established for vegans and non-vegans alike, the Vegan Street Fair has something for everyone and is a great opportunity to venture out and experience all things vegan in your city! The fair brings together local vegan and vegan-friendly restaurants, vendors, and products in one place. Guests are able to sample a plethora of food options, either in full or bite-size portions, as well as a variety of vegan-friendly products.

Ceviche de Palmitas

The first fair to kick off the series took place in Los Angeles on March 25th and featured over 200 vendors from the Los Angeles and Orange County areas. Though it was virtually impossible to eat my way through the entire event (but not without the lack of trying), I was able to experience some amazing plant-based dishes! 

Food Art by Lauren’s beautifully plated “Popcorn Chik-In” is made with tender cauliflower florets breaded and fried to a golden brown served with a tangy buffalo sauce. The savory Mac and Cheese bites from the Word of Mouth food truck was fried to crunchy perfection and served with a delicious cashew ranch. The mouthwatering shitake dumplings from Bling Bling Dumplings were so tasty and tender, that I went back for seconds.  And, Todo Verde’s fresh and vibrantly flavored Ceviche de Palmitas, a vegan twist on traditional seafood ceviche, was made with hearts of palm, tomato, avocado, cucumber, cilantro, and lime juice. The vegan dessert options were plentiful as well. My favorite, and my toddler concurs, was the gluten free Karma Cakes from Karma Baker. It looks like the Hostess Cupcake you ate as a kid, but a lot healthier and without sacrificing the taste!

Author’s son Jackson with ‘Karma Cake’

The Vegan Street Fair will be back in Los Angeles for a LA Nights event on September 1 and 2. They will also host events in New York, San Diego, Las Vegas and Seattle. Visit www.veganstreetfair.com for more information.

Article originally posted HERE