I had the pleasure of attending Taste of the Nation this Sunday. More than 16 million children in America struggle with hunger and the funds raised at this event support Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign. The campaign aims to build public awareness about the issue, increase local participation in public nutrition programs and teach families how to cook affordable healthy meals through Share Our Strength’s Cooking Matters program. The event features restaurants and bars from around Los Angeles that each serve a tasting dish. I volunteered through an equally amazing oranization called Boobs4Food. I highly recommend getting involved with either of those organizations if you are looking for ways to give back.
If volunteering isn’t your thing, the event itself is worth the $110 dollar ticket. I guarantee a restaurant you have wanted to try was at the event. There’s food, drinks, music and an auction. It’s a classy, well-organized event where I am almost positive everyone had a great time. While every dish was a mouth melting experience some my favorites came from Blue Cow Kitchen, Mo-Chicka, BLD and Waterloo & City. Below is my entire collection of pictures from the day, I will be going back and trying many of these restaurants soon!
My trusty eating buddy who came up with our strategy on how to taste everything! (Share!)
Wilshire – Citrus cured snapper crudo-caper, piquilla, celery and ver jus (dressing) Two Forks
Sean and I with Nyesha the Chef at Wilshire who was my Top Chef fav (wish she had advanced farther)
Whist at Viceroy Santa Monica – Chili-fried chicken, spring vegetable kimchee
Waterloo & City – Gazpacho, avacado mousse, chopped shrimp salad (Best gaspacho I have had)
Veev cocktails shaken in mini mason jars
Tres by Jose Andres – Cold olive oil and lemon soup Two Forks
Simon LA – Prosciutto wrapped yellowtail with shishito pepper and kumquat sambal
Ray’s and Stark Bar – Squid pasta with Calabrian chilies, sun gold tomatoes and octopus Two Forks
Public Kitchen & Bar – Strawberry gazpacho, foie gras, balsamic, black pepper, olive oil crisp
Maya with Plan Check – Fried chicken and pickled okra (Might have to re-asses Plan Check after this taste)
Night + Market – Chieng Rai herb sausage w/ mortar-pounded relish (will be going to this restaurant ASAP)
Mo-Chica – Morcilla crostini with huancaina (cheese) sauce and fried quail egg (Favorite of the day) Two Forks
Michael’s – Cucumber and yogurt gazpacho with pico de gallo and chamoy (fruit sauce) Two Forks
Lukshon – Mongolian lamb tartare cumin, MaLa flavors pickled chilies with puffed black rice crisp
Loteria Grill – Sea of cortez scallops in crudo, thinly sliced and marinated in lime juice with serrano chiles and aguas frescas
Lexington Social House – Mary’s fried chicken with green cabbage slaw
Intelligentsia Coffee & Tea – Cappuccino (Amazing!)
Hollywood Cocktail Co. – Makers Mark peach julip Two Forks
Global Cuisine by Gary Arabia – Crab cakes with mango salsa, pan seared sea bass with a miso glaze, and poached heirloom tomato with burrata cheese
FIG Restaurant – Chorizo con huevo
Farmshop – Fried pastrami sandwiches with spring hill cheddar, green tomato ketchup & pickle salad
Cooks County – Grilled beef skewer with smoked tomato and zhoug (similar to a chimichurri)
Campanile – Skuna Bay salmon rillette
Border Grill Restaurant & Truck – Cacique cheese and squash blossom quesadilla Two Forks
Blue Cow Kitchen & Bar – Pitman Farm’s duck wings with amazing sauce at the bottom (Will be eating here ASAP)
BLD – House smoked pastrami ruebens (they cure the meat for 17 days in house and the sauerkraut is also homemade) Best Rueben I have EVER tasted! Two Forks
Bar Pintxo – Paella with saffron bomba rice, chicken, little neck clams and chorizo bilbao
Areal – Charred octopus with warm chickpea mash and harissa (best octopus I have ever eaten)
AOC – Pistachio orange cupcakes with arbequina olive oil buttercream, cookies and confections
The entire day was a resounding Two Forks Up! If you have the opportunity to go to a Taste of the Nation event in your hometown I highly recommend attending.
