I gave you guys fair warning NOT to miss LA Food and Wine this year. I was looking out for you as your friend, trying to prevent some serious #FOMO on your behalf. And if you were the super smart spoonie I know you are, you were there and you gobbled down everything in sight. So let’s compare notes!
These were my absolute favorite dishes I tasted at this year’s LA Food and Wine events (in no particular order):
1. Corn Agnolotti with Fresh Shaved Black Truffles
Served by Chef Ian Gresik of Drago Centro, this vegetarian dish is both sweet and savory and damn right orgasmic.
2. Garganelli Pork Sausage, Fennel Pollen and Parmesan
Photo by Jessi Jordan
Prepared by Chef Ian Gresik of Drago Centro, this dish is what dreams are made of. If you have never had pasta made in a huge wedge of perfectly aged Parmesan cheese then you truly haven’t lived.
3. Curry Salmon topped with Salmon Roe and Gold Leaf
Photo by Jessi Jordan
It is almost too beautiful to eat. I said almost.
4. Spicy Fried Chicken Wings with Hot Chili Oil
Photo by Jessi Jordan
Offered by our host for the Thursday Evening Event: Amazon presents Emeril Eats the World, Emeril Lagasse no doubt knows how to make a kick ass chicken wing.
5. Spaghetti Alla Chitarra with Brazil Nut Pesto
Photo by Jessi Jordan
To my utter awe and disbelief Chef Fernando Darin from Ray’s and Stark Bar tirelessly rolled out thousands of portions of fresh pasta. His labor of love was devoured in seconds by every single guest, many stood in line again for a second serving.
6. Curry Donuts
Photo courtesy of @stirandstyle on instagram
You don’t usually expect to find curry on the list of ingredients for doughnuts. However, these delicious babies are dusted with curry and sugar and served hot. Created by ICDC Beverly, they will surely have you rethinking everything you thought you knew about doughnut flavors.
7. California Shrimp and Grits
Photo courtesy of @stirandstyle on instagram
Literally the best shrimp dish of your life, I had the absolute pleasure of being fed personally by Chef Tyler Florence. #fangirling
8. Rice Balls and Fresh House made Ricotta Crostini
Photo by Jessi Jordan
This seemingly simple Italian dish was mind blowingly delicious. I want to know what EXACT tomatoes Chef Antonia Lofaso used to make this marinara sauce, and I want to buy them, and save the seeds, and grow them myself for the future all of mankind. It was THAT good. Her house made ricotta was sweet and fresh with the right amount of salt for flavor.
9. Clam Sandwich
Photo courtesy of @stirandstyle on instagram
Just look at that buttery grilled bread, soft on the inside and toasty on the outside, holding up the most flavorful the fried clam I’ve ever had in my life. I want the recipe for that batter.
10. Salted Caramel Ice Cream
Photo courtesy of @ilovelucies on instagram
What dinner would be complete without dessert? I must confess that I ate multiple desserts from Sweet Lucies both at the Amazon presents: Emeril Eats the World event and the Live on Grand with Tyler Florence events. They offered Raspberry and Piña Colada popsicles, a variety of ice cream sandwiches and several ice cream flavors. I OD’ed on multiple servings of their fabulous salted caramel ice cream.
11. BLT Salad
GIF by Jessi Jordan
I LOVE BLTs and I indulge in them every chance I get, but when I have to cut carbs for a little while to maintain my girlish figure I do miss them. Chef Elizabeth Falkner rocked my world at the Lexus Grand Tasting with her BLT salad that was super fresh and topped with lemon zested bread crumbs in a way that gave the salad a crunch even better than I ever expected. How did she do that? Chef Magic.
That is just a small sampling of all the delicious dishes served up at the LA Food and Wine festival. It was all so good, I cannot wait to see how the chefs can possibly top themselves next year.
Missed out on these awesome LA Food and Wine events? Watch what happened below: