The month of May can’t come soon enough. May is a month we all look forward to for a countless amount of reasons – the weather gets nice and warm, the flowers are blooming, and it’s also when the renowned Los Angeles Times hosts its month-long food festival, the LA Food Bowl! Now in its fourth year, the LA Food Bowl will once again wow foodies with 31 days of dining pop-ups, epic collaborations, panel discussions and other food-tastic inspired events across Los Angeles. Each year, Los Angelenos get to try a feast of delicious treats as the Los Angeles Times honors both hometown favorites and international culinary talent.
To get everyone extra excited for the month-long celebration, the Los Angeles Times hosted its annual LA Food Bowl Industry Launch Preview Event on February 4, 2020 at the Firehouse Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles, California. The Los Angeles Times announced the participating chefs and amazing highlights that food enthusiasts can look forward to in May.
While hearing about all of the fun that awaits in May, attendees at the event were able to snack on some delectable bites. What’s a food event without some food, right?! All Day Baby, an American restaurant located in Silver Lake, had guests’ mouths watering with their scrumptious bacon-cheddar biscuits. Yes, you read that right. It’s definitely not your average biscuit – it’s a bacon-cheddar one! The biscuit also had pimento cheese and smoked ikura. Los Angeles pita pop-up, Zoe Food Party encouraged everyone to “bend to the pita” and threw a big ‘ol pita party with yummy and dynamic pitas. Not only was Zoe Food Party’s pitas oh, so tasty but they were equally as beautiful to look at (and snap an Instagram photo of) with all of the fantastic garnishes added.
Arts District American restaurant, Bon Temps had everyone at the Industry Launch salivating over their “Everything Croissant.” Think about your beloved everything bagel combined with a croissant and you get this outstanding treat. Korean restaurant, Spoon by H served up flavorful Yubuchobap, a Korean version of inari sushi.
Attendees also woke up to a cup of joe with freshly brewed coffee from Braun and drinks from House of Suntory.
One of the many magnificent things about the Los Angeles Times‘ LA Food Bowl is that throughout the 31-day celebration, Los Angelenos are able to be acquainted with food they may have never tried before, and in the process, learn more about diversity and the different cultures and cuisines from around the world.
The Los Angeles Times food section team including Editor Peter Meehan, Deputy Editor Andrea Chang and Senior Writer Jenn Harris were all in attendance to share the excitement they have in store for the upcoming Food Bowl, and for the acclaimed newspaper. Meehan and Chang discussed the innovative ways that the Los Angeles Times is expanding the newspaper’s impact onto different platforms including their video series, “Off Menu,” which focuses on regional cuisines in Los Angeles neighborhoods. The Los Angeles Times has another video series on their YouTube channel titled, “The Bucket List” with Jenn Harris, which focuses on the best fried chicken in Los Angeles and the stories behind the people who make it.
According to the press release, “L.A. chefs including Jordan Kahn (Vespertine), Ori Menashe and Genevieve Gergis (Bavel and Bestia) and Josef Centeno (Bar Ama, Orsa & Winston, Bäco Mercat, Amá•cita) will host events and one-off collaborations. Other Los Angeles restaurants such as Apollonia’s Pizzeria, Guelaguetza, Hui Tou Xiang, La Morra Pizzeria and Mian will also participate. Visiting chefs, including Ana Roš (Hiša Franko, Slovenia), Zaiyu Hasegawa (Den, Japan), Sean Sherman (The Sioux Chef, USA) and Ben Shewry (Attica, Australia), will make rare local appearances as part of the festival.”
From the fan-favorite Night Market to events bringing awareness towards food access, sustainability and waste reduction, the LA Food Bowl will have Los Angelenos’ calendars jam-packed with fantastic, food-filled events.
Take a look at a few of the many highlights from the 4th Annual LA Food Bowl below. (source: press release)
- Food Bowl Opening Night: Collaboration Lab, April 30th
To launch this year’s festival, chefs and restaurants will come together to create special bites for this tasting event.
- “I’ll Have What She’s Having: The Jewish Deli,” May 1st
An evening featuring tastings and storytelling themed around the history of the Jewish deli. The event is presented in connection with The Jewish Deli exhibit coming to the Skirball Cultural Center.
- Food Bowl Night Market, May 14th – 17th in Grand Park
This Food Bowl favorite is a bustling, free-to-attend outdoor food market — featuring dozens of food vendors, musical performances, art installations and DJs. Themed ticketed events will include Middle East Feast, LAFiesta, Pizza & Pasta, Dumplings, Noodles & Rice, and All-Star BBQ.
- Dentucky Fried Chicken
Zaiyu Hasegawa from the restaurant Den in Tokyo will bring some of his signature dishes to town for a series of events with Japan House Los Angeles.
- Outstanding in the Field
A series of long-table feasts inspired by locally-sourced ingredients set in spectacular locations, including downtown L.A. and Weiser Family Farms in Tehachapi.
- Additional events for this year will include the return of Wine Bowl, curated by Eric Wareheim; Vespertine Symbiosis with chef Jordan Kahn and special guests; a collaborative dinner with visiting chefs Sean Sherman (The Sioux Chef) and Ben Shewry (Attica); panel discussions at Now Serving with The Times Food team; UCLA’s Science and Food lecture series; dinners at select restaurants from The Times 101 Best Restaurants list; and food-themed neighborhood walking tours spotlighting the city’s cultural diversity.
The full line-up for the 2020 LA Food Bowl will be announced in April at lafoodbowl.com. Alexisjoyvipaccess had a remarkable time covering the Los Angeles Times‘ LA Food Bowl Industry Launch Preview Event. The LA Food Bowl features an endless amount of phenomenal events for the whole family to enjoy. It’s 31 days of a food lover’s heaven!
Check out some more photos below from the Los Angeles Times‘ LA Food Bowl Industry Launch Preview Event. Join in on the conversation by using #LAFoodBowl and #31DaysOfFood on social media.
Photo Credits: Vivien Best
