Ethnic Food Ambassador Star Power at FLAVOR of LA

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(Gerry Furth-Sides) The engaging FLAVOR of LA celebration on the CBS studio backlot proved that even in the current food event-saturated market (there was at least four major one’s competition with it the same time, including another LA TIMES Food Bowl program), a well organized, a community-focused fundraiser can still feel charming and fresh.

Even the cool, slightly overcast weather cooperated to make it a “cool” day for happy guests mingling up and down the venue, and at the garden tables right under homes made famous on TV shows.

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The buzz started at the studio lot entrance with a “very important” show of ID to exchange needed at the gate to gain entrance!

The ticketing table inside the parking lot officially started the party with an easy walk to the guests-friendly park-like venue through an awesome car show from The Television Motion Picture Car Club.//flavorofla.com.

FLAVOR of LA walk from the parking lot to the food stands through a collection of vintage cars

The party air, complete with 70’s rock n roll music,  continued on through to the lane of food stations holding straightforward boldly flavored food samplings from the best local restaurants, along with craft beers, wine and cocktails.

The lane’s flat surface running the length of the event made it easy to enjoy and see all of the booths. No rugged hills of Universal or Paramount here!  Guests found garden seating mid-way and cocktail tables at the end.

Jardesca’s booth  looked the spirit of the spiffy, garden party afternoon

A light start to the day.  Sun Cafe’s owner-chef Rob Russell proved that his delicious kale shake,  my intro to kale as a food and not as a garnish, was just as good this time around.  I first had it as a Sprout’s nutritional event we promoted when it opened.   I had seconds — and so did just about everyone else.

Cheers to Chef-owner Rob Russell of organic Suncafé

SunCafe’s owner-chef Rob Russell and his signature kale smoothie – my second helping

Casa Vega’s NEXT GENERATION owner, Christy, with the youngest of her four sons

FRIDA MEXICAN CUISINE continued the Latin beat with an array of tacos.  Each one delivered on a separate, bamboo plate with a choice of sauces.

Care and detail went into every FRIDA MEXICAN CUISINE plate

BBQ was another theme of the day.  Full plates with the best fresh coleslaw and dense cornbread on the side.

Long-time Studio City Chef-owner Aaron Robbins’ Boneyard Bistro, was joined by his newer, contemporary cuisine SOCA.  

 

A new Boneyard Bistro favorite:  clever, filling double Hickory Smoked Bacon pieces,  dense with flavor

Chef Robbins could not make it this afternoon and his charming wife took his place

SOCA manager and pastry chef

Tacos from The Front Yard

What a surprise to find that the helpful gentleman behind The Village table was Frank Leon, owner of the Studio City landmark La Loggia – and was wearing very Italian pink pant. 

Frank Leon of The Village and the legendary La Loggia Restaurant in Studio City

One of the most popular new restaurants in the neighborhood, Granville, served their Uptown Mac n-Cheese with aged cheddar, gruyere, chicken, asparagus and peas.   Will it become as much of a signature at events as Gino Angelini’s Spinach Lasagna?

Granville Restaurant’s popular star “uptown” mac n’ cheese was deserving of its title

Granville salad with local greens

 First generation ethnic foods dotted the lane from Chef Kimmy Tang’s Bistro Mon Cheri and Bollywood Bites to Lusy’s Mediterranean.

 

The vibrant Chef Kimmy Tang, now at Bistro Mon Cheri in Pasadena

Armenian Lusy at popular Lusy’s Restaurant served a range of Mediterranean food.

  
We’ll count
 

The family-owned Fish Trap restaurant, straight from New Orleans

 

Dessert! It could be eaten halfway through as a refresher course.

Sweet Cheese croissants to-go at Cake Bash Studio

 No lines at this Salt & Straw early on, anyway.   SALT & STRAW offered their signature salted caramel and newer James Coffee and the woodsy Greenbar distillery Slow Hand Whisky in a perfect pairing of two must-have food groups: coffee and ice cream.

 

Salt n’ Straw’s Coffee and Bourbon!

 

Ube (purple sweet potato) ice cream, smooth and creamy with an almost floral hint, and mango sticky rice on ube waffle cones

Wanderlust “travels” from their valley store to DTLA Smorgasburg every Sunday and lots of fundraisers

At the very end was Angelina’s Pizza, all the way from Orange County.  They even brought their wood-burning ovens.

The Angelina  chef told us he liked to be “at the end of the food station line because it gave him room to talk with the guest.”

Angeina Pizza and meatball — chicken and pork

Ammunition  wines 

All the way from Sonoma – A toast to Ammunition Wines- generously sharing the corks from their limited edition wines

 The hours floating by like minutes at this historic CBS Studio Center back lot, studio home to hits from Gunsmoke and Gilligan’s Island to Seinfeld and Will and Grace.
A portion of all ticket sales benefits charitable partner this year – L.A. Kitchen.  L.A. Kitchen believes that neither food nor people should ever go to waste. By reclaiming healthy, local food that would otherwise be discarded, training men and women who are unemployed for jobs, and providing healthy meals to fellow citizens, L.A. Kitchen empowers, nourishes, and engages the community.


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