Los Angeles Food & Wine Festival

Oh what a doozie of an event for an epicurious individual like myself. I will say it over and over again, but LA is one of the best food cities in the country, if not the best. So many amazing chefs live and cook in this city and it will take my the rest of the life to hit up all of the great places here. 

That's why an event like Los Angeles Food & Wine Festival is a amazing for getting greatness in small bites - and booooooy did we indulge in all the goodness it had to offer. 

Amy and I were fortunate enough to be invited to the Lexus presents LIVE on Grand Hosted by Curtis Stone, which was in DTLA on Grand Avenue between 1st and 2nd Street. We got a little lost with parking, but luckily we convinced the Lexus car service at the Westin that we were VIP and they gave us a lift over to the event.

At this particular event (the entire festival is four days) we were graced with 25 different chefs and 200 different wineries, which is more than enough food and booze to put you into a coma - and we gave it our best effort to enter the ultimate food coma.

Alright - this is a lot of text. Let's get to the good stuff!!

Amy and I with our ~first~ glass of wine of the night

Michael Mina - MICHAEL MINA

Duck confit spring roll

 Franklin Becker - Little Beet 

Melon, tomato, and feta salad

Gregorio Stephenson - NOBU

Red Snapper Sashimi with a Scotch Bonnet

Amy about to dive right in

Abalone with Uni Risotto

Curtis Stone - TBD but in LA!

Ahi Tuna with Guacamole and Cilantro

Oh yeah - and he's quite the babe too!

Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken - Border Grill

Summer squash and Pork Belly on a Tostada

Mariah Swan - BLD

Cereal Milk Doughnut

 George Mendes - ALDEA

Amy doing her best Vanna White with Grilled Octopus and Potato

 Kerrygold Cheese Spread

Dubliner cheese with stout beer

Verite Mazzola - Taberna Arros y Vi

Roasted red peppers on Pumpernickle Crustini (I forgot the protein!)

Kamal Rose - Tribeca Grill

Summer Vegetable Soup with Cucumber

Roberto Liberato - STK Los Angeles 

Kobe Beef skewer with Cherry Tomato

Bart Vandaele - Belgacafe

Pork Belly on Rice

Richard Reddington - REDD

Chocolate mousse with Mango and Cream

Kris Morningstar - Ray's and Stark Bar

Harissa Lamb Tar Tar with Pistachio Yogurt and Saffron Rice Puffs

 John Sedlar - Rivera Restaurant

Corn Flan with Morels and Green Beans

John Cox -  Seirra Mar

Smoked Baby Abolone Escabeche

Neal Fraser - Redbird

Japanese style Waygu Beef 

Levi Mezick - Restaurant 1833

Hen egg with Pancetta and Truffle Spread on Brioche

Mike and Geri Czoka - Sweet Lucies

Strawberry Mint Popsicle and Pistachio Ice Cream with Truffle Caramel

If I had to pick some favorites - this is how it would all shake out (in no order)

• Levi Mezick's hen egg on brioche
• Roberto Liberato's kobe beef skewer 
• Kris Morningstar's harissa lamb tar tar
• George Mendes' grilled octopus with potato
• Michael Mina's duck confit spring roll
• Georgio Stephenson's red snapper sashimi
• Mariah Swan's cereal milk doughnut
• Neal Fraser's waygu beef

After we ate our brains out and had a couple tastes of wine (and some champagne) we were treated to a special performance by Gavin Degraw which was kind of awesome. But to be honest, but after being there for a couple of hours, my dogs were barking and I had to take my belt off... so it was time to go.

Cheers (and stuffed to the bone),

Kate