Downtown LA: Artisanal LA Was Blissfully Delicious

Artisanal LA was a food lover’s carnival. The community event held in the Cooper Design Building this past weekend showcased some of LA’s most interesting food artisans with handmade wares ranging from chocolates and baked goods to cheese and pickles. Even better, there were plenty of samples.

The event was a pretty low-key experience-there were no relentless crowds or long lines. Of course, that probably won’t last. This event is sure to become a bigger draw as word of mouth spreads though food-crazy Los Angeles, but this time was blissfully delicious.

Here were some of my favorite sights and tastes from Artisanal LA:

Tartist had one of the most beautiful displays of the day. I believe that marscapone cheese lies below those apples and honey-vinegar glaze on top. Sigh. As if that weren’t enough, all the fruit and herbs used to make it came from Tartist Xárene’s (and her friends’) very own garden. No pesticides or fertilizers used in the growing process and the dairy used is sourced from Santa Monica Farmers’ Market.

One of my favorites of the day was Medina Chocolatier. And not just because I know the great couple behind these gourmet chocolates. The unique flavors created by chocolatier Patty Medina are undeniable. I loved the sweet spiciness of Mango-Habanero and the warmth of the Spiced Chai. And trust me, their Fleur de Sel Caramels are not to be missed.

I’m not really big on costumes, but I love Halloween cupcakes. With a passion. There were no shortage of fall-inspired baked goods at Artisanal LA, so my eyes had a feast. The candy corn pumpkin cupcakes are from Cookie Casa Bakery, and these leafy ones are from Sweet Dreamery Desserts.

These Coconut Clouds from Bakelab deserve a best-in-show award. This picture is a little fuzzy, but I couldn’t resist posting it because they’re just so adorable. There’s no other way to put it. Underneath all the pink coconut is chocolate cake and vanilla butter cream. I bought a Halloween cupcake decoration kit from Bakelab that I’ll be using this week. Pictures to follow.

But it wasn’t all cupcakes and tarts at ArtisanalLA. There was also a big focus on gardens and produce. Winnetka Farms was there with a large collection of Italian heirloom seeds for garden edibles.

Silverlake Farms was also in attendance. I found out they offer garden workshops and cooking classes along with their home garden consulting. Check out their blog, which has lots of great tips and recipes.

-Valentina