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