Events
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Event: Creative Seeds-An Exploration of Hunger
Nov 05 2011
Starting Monday, Downtown LA’s Cornerstone Theater will host Creative Seeds, a two-week event all around LA that brings together artists, food activists, farmers, chefs, food critics and thought leaders to explore a wide array of hunger issues.
I’m especially honored (and totally humbled) to be included in the November 15th panel, which includes Jonathan Gold, Good Food’s Evan Kleiman and Elina Shatkin of LA Weekly. Our panel will be held at the Bootleg Theater in Historic Filipino Town from 12-2 and will be hosted by performance artist and writer Luis Alfaro-the topic is “What do different generations of food critics hunger for?“
Other panel topics include:
How do we get food to people that are hungry?
How does our relationship with farmers shape our relationships with hunger and with food?
How are culture, ethnicity and class linked to experiences of hunger and fulfilment?
From multinational corporations to the corner store, what are the links between access, food choices, and money?
There’s a lot more too. Check out the program schedule and book tickets (it’s FREE!) to the stuff that interests you because seats are limited.
See you there!
-Valentina
Save the Date: 4th Annual Feria de los Moles—Puebla vs. Oaxaca
Sep 22 2011
Remember this? Last year, I had a gluttonous time at the 3rd Annual Feria de los Moles, and when I posted about it, a lot of you asked me to make sure I let you know when it came around again.
Promise kept: the 4th Annual Feria de los Moles takes place at Olvera Street on October 9th. At the all-day event, you’ll have a chance to try 13 different moles from Oaxaca and Puebla. If you’ve only had the sweet kind, you’re in for a treat—last year I had green mole for the very first time, and I was instantly a changed woman. There’s also folk dancing and live music, so it’s festive. Visit their website.
I’ll definitely be there. And if you need more inspiration, check out my post from last year.
Here’s the flyer:
-Valentina
Highland Park: Galcos Introduces White Rose Cream Soda
Aug 09 2011
If you remember, a while back I encouraged you all to attend the Soda Pop Tasting at Galco’s to support the Friends of the Southwest Museum. At the event, which was attended by about 600 people and super fun, Galco’s owner John Nese unveiled White Rose, a new cream soda bottled especially for the Highland Park “Soda Pop Stop.”
White Rose is a limited edition release (2,500) and the first to come in the “Highland Park’s Own” line, which plans to release it’s next flavor in 2012. Clad in a re-created vintage label, the cream soda pays homage to the history of Highland Park—The White Rose Springs Water Company and White Rose Soda were bottled on Figueroa Street until the late 1960s.
Events: East LA Meets Napa 2011
Jul 15 2011See the key to this collage at the end of the post.
Lately, I’ve been steering clear of food festivals. As much as I love to gorge, I don’t have the patience for marathon line standing or the competitive streak required to elbow my way to a fresh tray of sliders, fried balls, mini grilled cheese, etc. etc. In short, I don’t have the “in-it-to-win-it” spirit you need for a successful food festivaling.
However, I made an exception for this year’s East LA Meets Napa event, which was held last Friday at Union Station. I’ve always wanted to go, so when I got an invite, I couldn’t resist. Thankfully, this AltaMed fundraiser wasn’t your average food festival-no long lines, no pushing, and no food shortages. Just lots of great LA Mexican food (though not all East LA restaurants by any means) and wine from Latino-owned vineyards in California.
One of my first bites of the night was a sweet green corn tamale with cheese (I want to say aged cheddar) and mole. I was a little surprised with how much I enjoyed this dish. I’m usually pretty ambivalent about El Cholo-I love the fact that it’s a historical LA restaurant, but they’re food never really wowed me. This tamale was ridiculously moist, though, and it ended way too soon. I guess it’s pretty famous, but nobody told me.
Save the Date: Soda Pop Tasting at Galco’s
Jun 08 2011
Summmmertime.
It’s sort of here, but just like last year, it’s proving to be mild. In my heat-hating mind that’s a good thing, but I know all you summer lovers get disappointed by this sweater weather. But I offer you a reprieve— here’s something fun, summer-y and community-boosting for you to do in July.
Galco’s, Highland Park’s soda pop mecca, is hosting a Summer Soda Tasting event with Galco’s owner John Nese. According to The Eastsider, you’ll be tasting new products and flavors from Hanks, Fentimans, Bundaberg, Waialua Soda Works and Red Ribbon.
Proceeds from this event go to benefit The Friends of the Southwest Museum, a very dedicated community group with a mission to save the Southwest Museum, which has been more or less closed to the public for a couple of years. Plus, it’s a good excuse to take your friends to Galco’s if they’ve never been. The old-timey candy and shelves and shelves of soda are pretty fun to behold.
You can buy your $12 ticket online through Paypal with this link.
-Valentina
Save the Date: Taste of the Eastside
Apr 14 2011
I’ve got some good news and some bad news. First, the good news: you have something really fun to do on May 15. The sad part is that I won’t be there because I’ll be on vacation. I know, I know, but you must soldier on, my friends. Food awaits!
Taste of the Eastside is a community food event, featuring some of your favorite local spots, including Eagle Rock Brewery, Silverlake Wine, Intelligentsia Coffee, Malo’s of Silverlake, Auntie Em’s, Forage, Cookbook, Elf, and Hugo’s Tacos. KCRW’s Garth Trinidad will be spinning and local authors will be on hand signing books.
Proceeds go to SEE-LA, which aims to increase community access to nutrition, support sustainable food choices and create jobs, Children’s Hospital of LA, Barnsdall Art Park, and Rose Scharlin Co-op Nursery.
Sounds like a great time! I’m sad to miss it.
-Valentina
Taste of the Eastside 2011
Food | Wine | Beer | Music
Sunday, May 15, 2011 from 1 – 5 pm
Barnsdall Art Park, 4800 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90027
$25 General Admission | $65 VIP
$5 kids ages 2-12 | 2 & under FREE
Street Food Mondays: Antojitos de mi Abuelita
Mar 16 2011
Last summer I had a dramatic mole experience at the 3rd Annual Feria de Los Moles. Well, a few actually, but the most pivotal of all happened when I sunk my teeth into a succulent piece of pork souped-up in Pueblan mole verde from Antojitos de mi Abuelita. “Divine” is the only word that accurately describes the moment.
And the only word that can describe the moment I found out that the North Hollywood food truck would be showcased at the last installment of Street Food Mondays is “YAY!” It was enough to make me leave my house on a Monday night. Hosted by Street Gourmet LA’s Bill Esparza and Evan Kleiman of KCRW’s Good Food, Street Food Mondays brings the city’s best street food to Kleiman’s Angeli Caffe in the form of a 3-course meal.
Go Eat, Go Drink, Go Out: Eastside Restaurants Support a Great Cause Tonight
Feb 24 2011
Okay, so this is kind of late notice, but tonight would be a good night to eat out in Silverlake and Echo Park. You’ll be supporting a good cause if you head out to Masa of Echo Park, Local or Allston Yacht Club, all of which are participating in Go Eat, Go Drink, Go Out, a one-day fundraising event to provide financial support to those suffering with HIV and AIDS. The goal is to prevent homelessness and hunger—Aid for AIDS and The Serra Project are behind the effort.
Each restaurant is donating a percentage of tonight’s profits (Local is donating 100%), so you can feast on, say, a deep dish pizza at Masa, the Duck and Mushroom Ragout at Local, or the Pulled Pork Tostada at Allston….all in the name of sweet (and savory) charity.
If you don’t live on the eastside, there are plenty of restaurants all around town participating. Click here to find one near you.
-Valentina
Visions of Sugar: Photos from Eat My Blog Charity Bakesale
Dec 07 2010Whoopie pies from G-ma’s Bakery
I was lucky enough to be a part of the 3rd Eat My Blog Charity Bake Sale this past weekend. It’s a great event that raises money for the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, and I had a fun time baking and volunteering for it.
I was pretty amazed at the tons of inventive and irresistible treats that fellow food bloggers and local businesses donated for the cause-to the tune of $3,700 raised. I bought a bunch of stuff, including bacon caramel popcorn with cashews from Chow Balla, holiday bark from Pardon my Crumbs, and vanilla marshmallows from Dishing up Delights. I shared them with my family at the UCLA/USC game that night, and they were pretty stoked.
Kudos to the Eat My Blog committee (Cathy Chaplin of Gastronomy Blog, Amy Luu from the Roaming Belly, Laurie Hartzell from G-Ma’s Bakery, and Diana Hossfeld of Diana Takes a Bite) for pulling off such a awesome event.
Here are some yummy sights from the bake sale. Just click on any photo you want to expand:
[cincopa AwLAGaaUH4EX]
You can read a big roundup on Gastronomy Blog.
-Valentina
Things to Do This Weekend in LA: Pie & Beer, Eat My Blog Bake Sale, Holiday Cocktails and More Ideas
Dec 03 2010 My Candy Cane Cream Faux-reos for the Eat My Blog Charity Bake Sale this weekend.
There’s lots of stuff to do this weekend around LA—a few things on the Eastside and a few that require driving:
Eagle Rock: Pie & Beer is popping up at Eagle Rock Brewery on Sunday from 12-6pm. I Heart Pies will be selling their popular sweet and savory pie varieties, which all go great with handmade beers.
Echo Park: Stop by Allston Yacht Club for some holiday cocktails. They’re mixing up drinks with names like Figgy Pudding and The Accursed Fruitcake. You can read more about them here.
Maybe after, you can walk over to Xoia for some Bunrria, a new dish they’re debuting this weekend. Chunks of beef are marinated birria style and served in a rich beef broth with Bun noodles. You can garnish with onions, cilantro and salsa. They’ll even add a tortilla if you’re so inclined.
Downtown LA: Taste of Mexico is hosting a celebration of 200 Years of Mexico’s Cuisine at the Cathedral of Saint Vibiana on Saturday from 5-10pm. They’ll be food from the likes of Guelaguetza, tequila, mariachis and Oaxacan dance performance. Tickets are $100 at the door or $75 presale.
Hollywood: LA Street Food is teaming up with MAMA to host Less Mall More Melrose. Food trucks like Lobsta Truck and Me So Hungry will feed you while you shop for deals on Melrose, between Fairfax and La Brea.
West Hollywood: LA food bloggers and restaurants will be selling their baked goods in front of Tender Greens on Saturday from 10am-4pm. Menu includes: eggnog muffins, candy cane mashmallows, whoopie pies, bacon brownies and tons more. Plus, there’ll be dog treats! Proceeds go to Los Angeles Regional Food Bank.
Have a great weekend, and eat good stuff!
-Valentina
