Could it have been the Ernesto Burger, a fresh ground ribeye and short rib patty with beer-battered jalapeno, aged Gruyere, grilled pork belly, caramelized kimchi and charred onion aioli on a smoked salt-and-pepper brioche bun? Or maybe it was Hyde Sunset’s roasted veal with pickled shallot and mustard greens.
And then there was Taco Maria’s tostadita de ceviche, with cured Japanese seabass on a crispy seaweed and corn wafer. And how about the insanely delicious deviled eggs topped with white truffles from The Blvd. at the Beverly Wilshire? Or the grilled gulf shrimp with watermelon and mezcal gelee from Demitasse in Hollywood? Then there was Dog Haus’s “Tiny Swiney,” a mini-hot dog with Hatch green chile on a Hawaiian bread bun.
Those were just a few of our favorite dishes at the food orgy known as The Taste LA, presented by the Los Angeles Times on the backlot of Paramount Pictures Studios in Hollywood over Labor Day weekend.
With five sessions over three days, the choices of culinary creations from more than 100 of Southern California’s top restaurants were overwhelming—as was the selection of beer, wine and spirits poured by dozens of top liquor purveyors and wineries.
Thousands of guests also had the chance to attend participatory cooking demonstrations by top chefs and craft cocktail workshops conducted by noted mixologists, where audience got to partake in the results of their craftsmanship.
The Times’ Pulitzer prize-winning food critic Jonathan Gold shared hosting duties for the events with colleagues Jenn Harris, Noelle Carter and Amy Scattergood, along with noted chefs Mary Sue Milliken, Kris Yenbamroong, Michael Cimarusti, Ray Garcia and Michael Lay.
The sessions included Opening Night, Field to Fork, Dinner with a Twist, Sunday Block Party and the Sunday night closer, Flavors of LA.
Each night, more than 40 restaurants and nearly as many brands of liquor participated in The Taste.
It would be an understatement to say that spirits were high on the lot, as guests cheerfully waited in line at booths meticulously preparing and then serving a diverse selection of delicacies. A number of vendors provided photo booths to memorialize the occasion.
KTLA sponsored a booth where guests could record a video tribute to legendary sportscaster Vin Scully, who is retiring from announcing Dodger games at the end of this season.
There were huge queues for a unique take on surf and turf, a lobster burger from Snapfish. Chef Andrew Gruel and his team prepared 2,500 of them at Flavors of LA.
Among other popular tastes were the smoked brisket from Maple Block Meat Company and mojito, sweet corn and cookie dough churned-to-order ice cream from Smitten.
Stella Artois is a longtime pillar of The Taste, serving a variety of beers and ciders in its iconic chalices at two different locations on the lot. Other spirits providers included Hornitos and Avion tequilas, Knob Creek and Suntory premium whiskeys, Grey Goose, Ocean Organic, Sobieski and Zyr vodkas, Roederer Estate, Santa Margharita, Mionetto, Grand Marnier, Bombay, Bacardi and Zaca Mesa—to name just a few.
Citi, the event’s presenting sponsor, provided a lounge for cardholders with a wine tasting and the Times took over a storefront for its lounge.
Getting back to that Ernesto Burger, it will be a bit difficult to replicate the experience of biting into one of the best burgers on the planet. It’s the creation of Chef Ernesto Uchimura for Princess Cruises, served aboard luxury liners.
Otherwise, you can cruise over to any of the participating restaurants to relive the deliciousness that was The Taste.
