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Masters of Taste 2023 Promo!

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(Gerry Furth-Sides) People always ask me where to go and eat and here it is with a PROMO CODE! The event: the sixth annual better than perfect Masters of Taste,  on Sunday, April 2nd, 2023 at the iconic Rose Bowl field! And here’s the deal: You experience so many of the best places at one time yourself and decide and meet the chefs, bartenders and owners!

Masters of Taste is introduces Chef Michael Reed and Kwini Reed as Hosts of Masters of Taste 2023 which also marks the 6th Anniversary of this celebrated event. 

Executive Chef Michael Reed and Kwini Reed, Hosts of Masters of Taste 2023 (photo courtesy of Masters of Taste)

The cause: 100% of the proceeds directly benefit Union Station Homeless Services, a non-profit organization celebrating 50 years of providing homeless services and housing for thousands of neighbors. Click the link to find out more!

Masters of Taste 2023 with 100% of the proceeds benefitting Union Station Homeless Services (photo courtesy of Master of Taste)

The place: THE ROSE BOWL FIELD! Iconic! Worth the price of admission on its own.

Walk up the ramp to the sky at the Masters of Taste 2023
And the view of Masters of Taste 2023 will take your breadth away. I promise you.

Poppy + Rose and Poppy & Seed 2023 Hosts Chef Michael Reed & Kwini Reed – Downtown Los Angeles, Anaheim

Poppy + Rose and Poppy & Seed 2023 Host Chef Michael Reed

Angelenos’ Wood Fired Pizza Chef Carmen Samaniego – Los Angeles

Arth Bar + Kitchen Chef Mihir Lad – Culver City

Arth Bar + KitchenChef Mihir Lad – Culver City

Ayara Thai Chef Vanda Asapahu – Westchester

1212 Santa Monica Chef Luca Maita – Santa Monica

Agnes Restaurant and Cheesery Chef Thomas Kalb – Pasadena

Alexander’s Steakhouse Chef Richard Archuleta – Pasadena

Alexander’s Steakhouse Chef Richard Archuleta – at Pasadena at Masters of Taste 2023

Casa Cordoba Chef Rebelino Villalta – Montrose

Celestino Ristorante Chef Calogero Drago – Pasadena

Celestino Ristorante The brilliant, charismatic Drago brothers! – Pasadena at Pasadena at Masters of Taste 2023

Champion’s CURRY Chef Yoya Takahashi – Downtown Los Angeles

Chili John’s Chef Stephen Hager – Burbank

City Club Los Angeles Chef Victor Munoz – Downtown Los Angeles 

Fat Boys Chef Michael Gray – Pasadena, Los Angeles

Gabi James Sarah Gabriele & Adam Aro – Redondo Beach

Georgia’s Restaurant Nika Shoemaker-Machado – Anaheim, Long Beach

Georgia’s Restaurant – Anaheim, Long Beach at Masters of Taste

Great Maple Chef Scott Floyd – Pasadena, Anaheim, Newport Beach, San Diego

Gus’s World-Famous Fried Chicken – Burbank, Long Beach, Los Angeles

Hank’s Chef Isaias Peña – Pacific Palisades

Hank’s wonderful Chef Isaias Peña – Pacific Palisades at Masters of Taste 2023!

Interstellar Chef Angie Kim – Santa Monica

La Bohéme Chef Atsushi Kenjo – West Hollywood

Lunasia Chef Lee Han Fu – Pasadena, Alhambra, Cerritos

Marlou Chef Louis Huh & Chef Marcos Spaziani – Downtown Los Angeles, Koreatown

Mercado Chef Jose Acevedo – Hollywood, Los Angeles, Manhattan Beach, Pasadena, Santa Monica

Per L’Ora Chef Courtney Van Dyke – Downtown Los Angeles

Pez Cantina Chef Bret Thompson – Downtown Los Angeles

Pez Cantina Mrs. Bret Thompson – Downtown Los Angeles

Pez Cantina Chef Bret Thompson – Downtown Los Angeles

Ramen Tatsunoya Chef Ryuta Kajiwara – Pasadena, Silver Lake

Santuari Restaurant Chef Seth Greenburg – Toluca Lake 

Smoke City Char Bar Chef George Huynh – Downtown Los Angeles

Soulmate Chef David Joyce – West Hollywood!!

Soulmate Chef David Joyce –Our new favorite Spanish place in West Hollywood!!

Taishi Hainan Chicken Chef Theo Shio – Redondo Beach, Long Beach

The Green Room Chef Czarina Sico – Burbank

The Peppered Goat Chef JohnPaul Arabome – Van Nuys, Las Vegas

VCHOS Wendy Centeno – Los Angeles

West Side Bahn Mi/Street Kitchen Chef Jack Ourfalian – Los Angeles

World Empanadas Chef Matthew Hirtz – Burbank

Yardbird Chef Eduardo Osorio – Los Angeles

Yuca’s Restaurant Socorro “Mama Yuca’s” Herrera – Pasadena

Los Angeles Top Sweet Masters will showcase an assortment of delectable desserts such as Bertha Mae’s Brownies, handcrafted pudding from Better Together Sweets, Creamy Boys Ice Cream, plain funnel cake from Drizzle, custom cakes and desserts from Butter Cake Shoppe, French macarons and gourmet cookies from Etoile Filante Patisserie, I Like Pie Bakeshop, Läderach Chocolatier Suisse,deliciously scrumptious scratch baked custom cakes and cupcakes from Lark Cake Shop and Nothing Bundt Cakes, Nomad Ice Pops, Pazzo Gelato,Porto’s Bakery & Café, and more.

Porto’s Bakery at Masters of Taste 2023!

Some of this year’s participating Beverage Masters include:

Bars & Spirits: Some of L.A.’s top bartenders and cocktail bars will be creating first-rate craft cocktails and top brands showcasing their finest spirits at Masters of Taste will include Amaro Angeleno, Beam Suntory, Dulce Vida Tequila, Empress 1908 Gin, Knox & Dobson, Krafted Spirits, Maker’s Mark, Maple Block Liquor Bar, Mario’s Hard Espresso, Mezcal 33, Mi Piace, Neft Vodka, Nosotros Tequila & Mezcal, Qué Padre, Raicilla La Reina,Smoke Lab Vodka, Tequila Juegos Mexicanos, The Raymond 1886, Xoloitzcuintle Tequila, and  Woodford Reserve.

The Raymond 1886 will be at Masters of Taste 2023!

Brewmasters: Beverage Masters who specialize in barley and hops will be presenting top-notch ales, lagers, pilsners and more for guests to sample, sip and savor all throughout the event, including Southern California favorites 14 Cannons Brewing Co., L.A.’s All Season Brewing, Arrow Lodge Brewing, Arts District Brewing Company, Pasadena’s Cerveceria Del Pueblo, Downtown’s Homebound Brew Haus, Juneshine, Kanazawa Hyakumangoku Beer, LFG Seltzer, MacLeod Ale Brewing Co., Arcadia’s first Microbrewery Mt. Lowe Brewing Co., Native Son LA, Over Town Brewing Co., San Fernando Brewing Co., and Tarantula Hill Brewing Co.

Wineries and Sake: A specially curated collection of Wine and Sake Masters will be showcasing their finest varietals including Akagisan Sake, premium boutique winery Ascension Cellars, Bodegas de Santo Tomas, CRŪ Winery, Golden Star Vineyards, Hitching Post Wines, I Love Wine Collections, Moraga Bel Air Vineyards, Anderson Valley’s Navarro Vineyards, Sake High!, Tercero Wines, Veso Aperitifs, Vincola Casta de Vinos,Warson Wine Company, and more.

Non-Alcoholic Beverages: A variety of premium non-alcoholic Beverage Masters will also be on hand for those who wish to hydrate, caffeinate or regenerate with All Phenoms, Yerba Mate from Erva Brew Co., Humm Kombucha, fresh juices from Summit Juice Co., and boba milk tea fromSunright Tea Studio and Bearology, and more.

Please read about Masters of Taste 2023 Culinary Master and Host Chef Michael Reed  and his wife and co-owner, Kini Reed Root of All Food in our chef spotlight!

Masters of Taste 2023!

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(Gerry Furth-Sides) The sixth annual Masters of Taste premier outdoor food and beverage festival is on Sunday, April 2, from 3 to 7 p.m. promises to be as exciting as ever this year! Just look at the Media Preview below!

Please see www.MastersofTasteLA.com for details and tickets. General Admission opens from 4 to 7 p.m. Tickets start at $155. 1001 Rose Bowl Drive (626)791-6677.

The “priceless” event Rose Bowl venue for Master’s of Taste 2023!

The stage for this one-day event in the historic Rose Bowl stadium features 100 culinary and beverage masters. The hosts for the 2023 Masters of Taste are chef Michael Reed and Kwini Reed, known for their two restaurants Poppy + Rose in downtown LA, and Poppy & Seed in Anaheim.

Michael Reed and Kwini Reed of Poppy + Rose in downtown LA, and Poppy & Seed in Anaheim.

The restaurants and wineries are each unique and “put out a spread” to impress and delight guests. Below Chef Richard Archuleta of exciting Alexander’s Steakhouse; Chef Isaias Pena from Hank’s;  Event Host and Chef Michael Reed of Poppy + Rose, DTLA, Poppy + Seed, Anaheim;  Paul Watson of Moraga Winery, Bel Air off the 405, (shown here with Philip Dobard, Center for Culinary Culture

Masters of Taste 2023: Los Angeles’ finest chefs and wineries including chef Michael Reed, David Joyce of Soulmate WeHo, chef Isaias Pena from Hank’s and chef Richard Archuleta of Alexander’s Steakhouse.

Sample culinary delights from Pez Cantina. Owners Lucy and Bret Thompson’s spirits alone are worth the ticket!

Owners Lucy and Bret Thompson of Pez Cantina previewing Masters of Taste 2023

More than 25 spirit brands are participating, and a premier 50-yard-line cocktail bar will offer select wines, local craft beers, cold-pressed juices, cold brew coffee and live entertainment.

Know & Dobson front and center at Masters of Taste 2023!

In the last five years Masters of Taste has raised over $2.7 million in support of Union Station Homeless Services life-saving programs. The event continues to provide 100% of the proceeds to Union Station Homeless Services to help rebuild homeless lives and provide housing.

The pied piper who sparks the media get the Masters of Taste 2023 word out, Lawrence Moore.  

Guests will receive their own utensils and hand sanitizers will be provided throughout the event. This 21+ event has a VIP Power Hour from 3 to 4 p.m. General Admission opens from 4 to 7 p.m. Tickets start at $155 at mastersoftastela.com. 1001 Rose Bowl Drive (626)791-6677.

Masters of Taste Celebrates Ethnic Fare “Live” in 2022!

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(Gerry Furth-Sides) “They had me” at the Rose Bowl Event site. “They had me” at the free parking. And that’s even before reading the Masters of Taste 2022 of over 3,000 food and beverage enthusiasts together for one afternoon. This exhilarating festival 100- plus  Culinary Masters and restaurants, along with a huge variety sweets prepared by L.A.’s top Sweet Masters and Beverage Masters.

We are at the Rose Bowl! Masters of Taste 2022 coming up

The very top Beverage Masters Vendors will be featuring signature handcrafted cocktail tastings from over 25 spirit brands and bars, along with select wineries, local craft breweries, cold-pressed juices, cold brew coffee, live entertainment.   

We are at the Rose Bowl arriving in the tunnel! ! Masters of Taste 2022 coming up

The most amazing thing about Masters of Taste is that 100% of the proceeds go directly to benefit Union Station Homeless Services and not many food festivals can say that. Union Station Homeless Services is committed to ending homelessness in Los Angeles.”

Masters of Taste2022 will take place on Sunday, April 3rd, 2022. A VIP Power Hour will be held from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm and General Admission will be from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Tickets to this event are only available for guests 21+ and over. For more information on Masters of Taste 2022 or to book your tickets directly, please visit//mastersoftastela.com/tickets/.

Down the stairs in the Rose Bowl ! Masters of Taste 2022 coming up

You are able to check out the individual restaurants by pressing on their website below:

The A-List of eateries at Masters of Taste 2022

Ayara Thai 2022 Host Chef Vanda Asapahu – Westcheste


Ayara Thai 2022 Host Chef Vanda Asapahu – Westchester 786 Degrees Chef Ali Haider – Pasadena, Sun Valley 1212 Santa Monica Chef Luca Maita – Santa Monica Agnes Restaurant and Cheesery Chef Thomas Kalb – Pasadena Alexander’s SteakhouseChef Richard Archuleta – PasadenaArth Bar + KitchenChef Sagar Ghosh – Culver City Bone KettleChef Erwin Tjahyadi – PasadenaCelestino RistoranteChef Calogero Drago – Pasadena Champion’s CURRY Chef Yoya Takahashi – Downtown, Los Angeles Drago Centro Chef Celestino Drago – Downtown, Los Angeles Five 55 Chef Austin Lee – Monterey Park Gabi James arah Gabriele & Adam Aros Redondo Beach Georgia’s Restaurant Nika Shoemaker-Machado – Anaheim, Long Beach

Georgia’s Restaurant Nika Shoemaker-Mac

Gracias Madre Chef Justin Haefler – West Hollywood, Newport Beach Granville Mark Dix – Studio City, Burbank, West Hollywood, Pasadena Gus’s World-Famous Fried Chicken  – Burbank, Long Beach, Los Angeles

Hank’s Chef Isaias Peña – Pacific Palisades Holy Basil Chef Wedchayan “Deau” Arpapornnopparat & Tongkamal “Joy” Yuon – Downtown, Los Angeles Iron Teapot Dim Sum & Bar Sally Chan – Los Angeles Kye’s Feel Good Food Jeanne Cheng – Santa Monica La Bohéme Chef Atsushi Kenjo – West Hollywood Little Llama Peruvian Tacos Chef Jean Valcarcel – Downtown, Los Angeles Lunasia Chef Lee Han Fu – Pasadena, Alhambra, Cerritos Luv2Eat Thai Bistro Chef Somruthai “Fern” Kaewtathip & Chef Noree “Pla” Burapapituk – Los Angeles Mercado Chef Jose Acevedo – Hollywood, Los Angeles, Manhattan Beach, Pasadena, Santa Monica Mi Piace Chef Gille Saulnier – Pasadena Open Face Food Shop Chef Lene Houck – West Adams, Los Angeles

Otus Thai Kitchen & Coffee Chef June Intrachat – West Hollywood Pez Cantina Chef Bret Thompson – Downtown, Los Angeles Poppy + Rose and Poppy & Seed Chef Michael Reed – Downtown, Los Angeles, Anaheim Qué Padre Chef Isaias Peña – Pacific Palisades Ramen Tatsunoya Chef Ryuta Kajiwara – Pasadena, Silver Lake Ruam Mitr Kwanklao Disbanchong & Benchawan Phoungtai – Los AngelesSantuari Chef Seth Greenberg – Toluca Lake Stand-Up Burgers Chef Kajsa Alger – Berkeley, Los AngelesTaishi Hainan Chicken Chef Theo Shio – Redondo Beach, Long BeachThe Colony Club and SO.PA Chef Michael Hung – Palm Springs The Raymond 1886 Chef Gabriel Cappelli – Pasadena

True Food KitchenChef Stephanie Nguyen – PasadenaVegan Sunday Supper Richard Klein – Los AngelesWe Olive Ervin Galvan – Pasadena World EmpanadasChef Matthew Hirtz – Burbank Yardbird Chef Eduardo Osorio – Los AngelesY uca’s RestaurantS ocorro “Mama Yuca’s” Herrera – Pasadena

Food Trucks: KabobaholicAli Pooya – Los Angeles, Orange CountyOkamoto Kitchen Gerald Abraham – Los AngelesThe Tropic TruckLauren Saravia – Los Angeles VCHOS Wendy Centeno – Los Angeles Wings N Waffles Jontae Vinson – Los Angeles, Orange County

Sweet Masters: A select group of Los Angeles Top Sweet Masters will showcase an assortment of delectable desserts such as Bertha Mae’s Brownies, unique Indian treats from Banana Leaf, handcrafted pudding from Better Together Sweets, custom cakes and desserts from Butter Cake Shoppe, French macarons and gourmet cookies from Etoile Filante Patisserie, deliciously scrumptious scratch baked custom cakes and cupcakes fromFantasy Frostings, Lark Cake Shop, Chocolatier Mignon Chocolate, Nomad Ice Pops, homemade premium sorbets from Pop’s Artisinal Creamery,  Nothing Bundt Cakes, and more. 

Bars & Spirits: 2022 Masters of Taste Platinum Sponsor Beam Suntory will be premiering their House of Suntory Tiny House on the 50 Yard Line along with a Maker’s Mark Lounge, and more. Some of L.A.’s top bartenders and cocktail bars will be creating first-rate craft cocktails, including Maxwell Reis ofGracias Madre and Miguel Perez of 1886 Bar at The Raymond. 

Top brands showcasing their finest spirits at Masters of Taste will include American Born Whiskey, Dulce Vida Tequila, High Road Spirits serving Lucky Dog Sake Juice Boxes, Knox & Dobson, Krafted Spirits, Nosotros Tequila & Mezcal, Pomp & Whimsy, Smoke Lab Vodka, Ventura Spirits, Veso Aperitifs, Wild Roots Organic Vodka, Xoloitzcuintle Tequila, and  Woodford Reserve will be exclusively featured in the Rose Bowl Court of Champions.

Wineries and Sake: A specially curated collection of Wine Masters will be showcasing their finest varietals including premium boutique winery Ascension Cellars, CRŪ Winery,Ferguson Family Wines, Golden Star Vineyards & Winery, Hitching Post Winery, Kikusi Brewery (Sake), Obvious Wines, Anderson Valley’s Navarro Vineyards, Seisyu Akagisan Sake,Tobias Glen Vineyard, and more.

Non-Alcoholic Beverages: A variety of premium non-alcoholic Beverage Masters will also be on hand for those who wish to hydrate, caffeinate or regenerate, such as Yerba Mate from Erva Brew Co., Humm Kombucha, distilled and elegantly blended non-alcoholic beverages from Optimist Drinks, boba milk tea from Sunright Tea Studio and Bearology, natural ginger beer from TrueRoots Brewing Co., handcrafted beverage starters from The Base Co., and more.

April 5th Masters of Taste 2020 Mega Event at the Rose Bowl

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Come celebrate and be part of the fourth annual Masters of Taste 2019, L.A.’s premier outdoor, luxury food and beverage festival on Sunday, April 5th, 2020 from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm at the Rose Bowl Stadium field. The event will be hosted by Master Chef, Vanda Asapahu.  It is the time to try so many new ethnic chefs, to try new dishes from familiar restaurants or stores, and to meet the people in the kitchen.  When you add up generous samples for the ticket cost, it is super low.

Masters of Taste brings together thousands of food and beverage enthusiasts for one afternoon full of the finest fares from over 45 Master Chefs including, but not limited to, Culinary Masters Chef Erwin Tjahyadi (Bone Kettle), Chef Kyle Johnson (Bourbon Steak), Chef Calogero Drago (Celestino Ristorante), 2019 Host Chef Michael Hung (Faith & Flower) and Chef Lee Hau Fu (Lunasia Dim Sum House.) The event is restricted to guests 21+ years of age and will also feature LA’s top Sweet Masters and handcrafted cocktails and tastings from 40+ Beverage Masters.

Chef Kimmy Tang at Masters of Taste 2020 Preview

Host Chef Vanda Asapahu,  chef and owner of Ayara Thai Cuisine, has participated since its inception in April 2016. Asapahu went to college at UCLA and to graduate school at Yale, then she spent four years living, traveling, and working her way through Thailand before returning home to Los Angeles. During Asaphu’s stay in her native country, she took extensive notes, which included absorbing the Bangkok street food scene and reviving old family recipes. After cooking with relatives and eating her way through the streets and countryside, Asapahu brought back these treasured old recipes and new flavors to share at Ayara Thai, and in May 2019 Ayara Thai Cuisine was named one of Michelin Guide California’s 2019 Bib Gourmands.

100% of the proceeds from Masters of Taste 2020 will directly benefit Union Station Homeless Services, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to helping homeless men, women and children rebuild their lives. Union Station is part of a premier group of human services agencies in L.A. County that are leading the way to end  homelessness in our community. Union Station offers an array of services including street outreach, meals, shelter, housing, case management and career development.

General Admission: $105, $89 Early Bird Special

  • Festival access from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm.
  • Unlimited tastings of food, wine, craft beer, and cocktails.

VIP Admission: $164, $149 Early Bird Pricing

  • Admission to Masters of Taste at 3:00 pm, a full hour before General Admission begins.
  • Option to purchase an exclusive ticket upgrade for the seated Wolfgang Puck Experience, a unique 4-course “wine and taste” pairing delight. For more information, click here.
  • Access to VIP lounges and seating.
  • Special Access to limited release tastings (while supplies last) and unlimited samplings of food, wine, craft beer, and cocktails.

Tickets can be purchased at www.MastersofTasteLA.com.

  • Cost: $89-165

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