Since 2017, this paper has brought together chefs from Southern California and sometimes farther afield for a food-and-drink festival that the late restaurant critic Jonathan Gold jokingly called the Food Bowl. The name stuck. This year’s festival centers on a weekend of food and drink at the Paramount Pictures Studios Backlot, Sept. 20-22 (5515 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles). Between bites and sips, make your way to the Food Bowl stage for cooking demonstrations and, on Friday night, the presentation of two special honors, the LA Times Restaurant of the Year and the Gold Award. You can buy tickets on the LA Times Food Bowl website. Here’s a rundown of what to expect.
Friday, September 20th
VIP admission 7:00 p.m., general admission 8:00 p.m. for those over 21 years of age.
ON STAGE
(For all ticket holders)
Raul Ortega holds a golden shrimp taco outside his food truck in Boyle Heights.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
20:20 h: LA Times Gold Award presentation to Raul Ortega of Jalisco Seafood For helping make taco culture an integral part of the Los Angeles culinary landscape, Ortega will be serving food from his truck on Friday night.
Chef Kwang Uh, right, and Mina Park, owners of Baroo.
(Silvia Razgova / For The Times)
8:30 p.m.: LA Times Restaurant of the Year presentation to Baroo Owners Kwang Uh and Mina Park will be serving samples of the restaurant's seven-course “cycle of life” tasting menu in the Baroo lounge throughout the weekend.
Cookbook author Josh Scherer eats French onion ramen in the Los Angeles Times test kitchen.
(Andrea D'Agosto / For The Times)
9:00 p.m.: Josh Scherer cooking demonstration and book signing by content creator and author of “Rhett & Link Present: The Mythical Cookbook.”
22 hours: Mar Nguyen cooking demonstration and book signing by social media star, chef of DiDi and author of the new cookbook “Di An.”
VIP SNACKS AND SURPRISES
Level 8, Meteora, Pasjoli.
Jordan Kahn, chef and owner of Vespertine, Meteora and Destroyer, prepares Cuban sandwiches in the Los Angeles Times test kitchen.
(Christina House/Los Angeles Times)
SNACKS AND SURPRISES OF ALL KINDS
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1. Ivan Flores, left, and Juan Garcia of the Goat Mafia. 2. Marcel Rene Michel, left, and Rhea Patel Michel, co-owners of Saucy Chick. After joining forces with Goat Mafia, they opened a restaurant in Pasadena and will be present at the Food Bowl's opening night on Sept. 20. (Oscar Mendoza / For The Times)
Spanish Amiga Amore, Azizam, Ban Ban Burger, Bee Taqueria, Cento, Chao Krung and Tuk Tuk Thai, Checker Hall, Crudo e Nudo, East Side Cheesecakes, Evil Cooks, Guelaguetza, Guzzu Bento-Ya, Hatchet Hall, Holey Grail Donuts, HomeState, III Mas Bakery & Deli, Jitlada, Luv2eat Thai Bistro, McConnell's Fine Ice Creams, Mírate, Paradise Dynasty and Le Shrimp Noodle Bar, Perilla LA, Pink Taco, Rita's Deluxe, Ronan, Saltie Girl, Saucy Chick/Goat Mafia, Si ! Mon, SoulPhil, Spoon & Pork, Sushi Nikkei, Villa's Tacos, Esposa y Sommelier.
Saturday, September 21
VIP admission 6 pm, general admission 7 pm 21 years or older.
ON STAGE
Tamron Hall photographed at ABC Studios in New York.
(Caroline Xia / For The Times)
19:20 h: Tamron Hall and Lish Steiling demonstration and signing his new cookbook, “A Confident Cook.”
20:15 hours: Demonstration by Adrienne Borlongan and William Tew and book signing by the founder of Wanderlust Creamery and author of “Wanderlust Creamery Presents: The World of Ice Cream,” joined by Cathay Pacific’s culinary design chef.
21:10: Owen Han demonstration and bookplate signing by the “Sandwich King” and author of the upcoming book “Stacked: The Art of the Perfect Sandwich.”
VIP SNACKS AND SURPRISES
Anajak Thai, Kato, Look at you.
Kato's Jon Yao, left, at the 2023 Food Bowl kickoff party at Lemon Grove on the rooftop of Aster in Hollywood with a key member of his kitchen staff.
(Laurie Ochoa / Los Angeles Times)
SNACKS AND SURPRISES OF ALL KINDS
Hospital Group 626, Bar Chelou, Baroo, Bistro Na's, Sephardic Borekas Cakes, the Sushi Brothers, Budonoki x Mini Kabob, Burritos La Palma, Chichén Itzá, Cobi's, Donna's, Dulanville Food Truck, El Ruso, Evil Cooks, Fluffy McCloud's, Heng Heng Chicken and Rice, Holbox, Holy Basil, Hui Tou Xiang, Jeff's Table, LaSorted's, Lei'd Cookies, Little Fatty & Fatty Mart, Love & Salt, Moo's Craft Barbecue, OyBar, Pizzana, Poltergeist, Ponchos Tlayudas, Steep LA, Stella, Trophies Burger Club, Tsubaki, Wanderlust Creamery, XUNTOS.
Sunday, September 22
VIP admission at 11:00 a.m. General admission at 12:00 p.m. All ages.
ON STAGE
Sara Kramer and Sarah Hymanson, chef-owners and cookbook authors of Kismet.
(Catherine Dzilenski / For The Times)
12:20 pm: Demonstration by Sarah Hymanson and Sara Kramer and book signing by Kismet chef-owners and authors of “Kismet: Bright, Fresh, Vegetable-Loving Recipes.”
13:15 h: Demonstration by Yumna Jawad and book signing for the author of “The Feel Good Foodie Cookbook.”
Nancy Silverton-Rodriguez
(Illustration by Lindsey Made This / for The Times; photo by Katrina Frederick / HexClad)
2:10 pm: Demonstration by Nancy Silverton and book signing by the chef and co-owner of the Mozza Restaurant Group and author of the best-seller “The Cookie That Changed My Life.”
VIP SNACKS AND SURPRISES
CUT Beverly Hills, Damian, Level 8, by Wolfgang Puck.
SNACKS AND SURPRISES OF ALL KINDS
Socalo and Alice B. co-owners and chefs Susan Feniger, left, and Mary Sue Milliken.
(Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)
All About Cinnamon, Amphai Northern Thai Food Club, Apollonia's Pizzeria, Ayara Thai, Baar Baar, Baroo, Brique French Toastery, The Brothers Sushi, Alcanfor, Ceci's Gastronomia, Cha ReDefine, Dino's Famous Chicken, Domestic, El Ruso, Evil Cooks, Grá, Hamasaku, Janté Cheesecakes, LaSorted's, Lucky Bird, Lustig, Maison Matho, Mayura Indian Restaurant, Ocean Prime Beverly Hills, OyBar, Petit Trois, Petramale Pizza, Pop's Bagels, Socalo, Steep LA, Stir Crazy, Tacos 1986, Voodoo Vin , The Waterfront.
