10th Annual LA Food Fest June 29th Brings Mexican Superstar Chefs

The 10^th Annual LA Food Fest takes place on Saturday, June 29^th, 2019 from 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm on the grassy infield of historic Santa Anita Park. The event features the best of Mexican cuisine from Mexico’s most highly-rated chefs and restaurants.

 The 10^th Annual LA Food Fest also brings 5,000 foodies and 100+ restaurants, carts, stands, trucks, bars, beer, wine and craft-cocktail makers together including some of the city‘s Top Chefs, Restaurants and International Guest Chefs.

Highlights from this year’s 10^th Annual LA Food Fest include top ethnic bites.

The Nuevo Gastropub guest chefs include grill guru Dante Ferrero (Dante Brasa y Fuego, Mexico City) returning for his third year; Olivier Deboise (Aperi, San Miguel de Allende) with his eclectic approach on sustainable cuisine; Sergio Meza (Villanos en Bermudas, Mexico City) co-owner of one of Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants, and, one of the youngest executive chefs in the world, Rafael Covarrubias (Hexagon and 7 Enoteca, Ontario, Canada).

Joining the team are Eduardo Morali (Pangea, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon) executive chef of one of 2019’s Best Restaurants in Mexico according to Latin America’s Best 50 Restaurants 2019, and the talented French pastry chef Emmanuelle Deboise (La Casa Caramel, San Miguel de Allende). All will bring unique dishes created just for the event and an unforgettable culinary show.

The theme for this year’s Nuevo Gastropub is “parrilada” (translates to BBQ), and will include dishes for every palate, from Dante’s primal cuts grilled over coals on site, to organic vegan tacos, ethnic bites (Charbroiled shrimp tostada with peanut salsa macha, mushrooms and grilled onions duxelle, dill aioli; Grilled Street Corn with black garlic and huitlacoche), experimental appetizers (Charbroiled beet with mascarpone cheese, pistachios and black lemon dust) and refreshing fusion desserts (Grilled banana sandwich with avocado mousse, fresh goat cheese, and honey). As in previous years, the Nuevo Gastropub will also feature an extensive Top Shelf Tequila Tasting and Mexican beers like Border X, Cabotella and CALIDAD.

 As in past years, the Fest will also help a number of New Chefs and Restaurants make their debut including Cuizina (Filipino street food), Quiadaiyn (authentic vegan mole), The Burristas, Cevicheria las Olas, African Chop, El Chef Taco, Ken’s Ramen, POKEBAR, Big Grandma’s Kitchen, Sushi Roku, Oak Smoke BBQ, EK’BALAM Yucatan Cuisine (formerly Delicias Yucatecas), The Vegan Salvi and Always Coffee, alongside neighborhood faves like Maquina Taco, Pasta Sisters, Eagle Rock Public House, Comfort LA, Pinches Flautas, Barranco Lounge by Chef Walther, Fishin for Brews, Low Key Burritos, Luckdish Curry, Takami Sushi, Bearology, Humbleburgerz, Bite Me Gourmasian, Pez Cantina, Padthai Boran, Mama Musubi, Nature Well, Café de Leche and more.

The Ice Cream Social is back with treats from The Donuttery, Pie Hole, You Had Me at Helado, Communitea Bakery, Down South Treats, Dearly Beloved Confections, Tastee Flavors New Orleans-style shaved ice, Uncle Tetsu’s Japanese Cheesecake, 12 Oaks Desserts and many more.

The LA Food Fest was born as the LA Street Food Fest in 2009 founded by Shawna Dawson, Founder + CEO of Angeleno, Inc. (Sauce LA, LA Food Fest, Artisanal LA and Clean Made). She officially kicked off her very first event in Downtown Los Angeles in February 2010 at the Los Angeles Center Studios. With the lofty goal to not only to fill a gap in the event scene by creating something that was the first of its kind, Dawson created a culinary community and a platform to support independent small businesses.

LA Food Fest was also the first event to support their vendors by subsidizing nearly every participant, leading many other events to do the same. And in 2016, Dawson made LA Food Fest LA’s first Zero Food Waste event.

This year, guests will also get a very special taste of Gordon Ramsay’s UNCHARTED, featuring an exclusive preview of the upcoming National Geographic series and sample dishes inspired by the show in the NatGeo Lounge.

To keep the party going, Birds & Bees and Mister O’s Rafael Jonathan Barba brings some amazing bar talent to the mix alongside bars from local Citrus Grove Distillers doing both cocktails and mocktails, Revel Spirits and Broken Shed Vodka. Plus Pez Cantina micheladas (Light beer, Clamato juice, lime juice, tajin spice rim).

For the wine drinkers, local Riboli Wines return, plus a new Wine Garden sponsored by Obvious Wines featuring acoustic tunes from Sylvia Bosco and games of pétanque from La Boulisterie Los Angeles. And for the beer drinkers there’s the Stella Airstream, Golden Road, Eagle Rock Brewery, CALIDAD, Border X, Elysian Brewing IPA, Glutenberg Beer, Hop Valley Brewing and Michelob Gold Organic, plus Common Cider and Hard Kombucha. Plenty of non-alcoholic drinks will be on hand from Spindrift, KeVita, Honest Tea and more.

A portion of the proceeds from the 10^th Annual LA Food Fest will directly benefit Food Forward, this year’s charity partner. Food Forward fights hunger and prevents food waste by rescuing fresh surplus produce, connecting this abundance with people in need and inspiring others to do the same, heading into their third and final year of being LA’s only Zero Food Waste event.