Restaurants

Masters of Taste 2026:  The Talent Lineup

admin Chefs, Dine, Food & Wine Events, Restaurants

With the much anticipated culinary festival Masters of Taste 2026 on Sunday, April 19 approaching fast, the lineup of participating Masters and Restaurants keeps getting more impressive and building up the excitement!

Heading the lineup are 2026 Event Hosts Chef Vanessa Tilaka Kalb & Chef Thomas Tilaka Kalb of Agnes Restaurant and Cheesery in Pasadena. 

Joining them are:  Alexander’s Steakhouse Chef Edgar Reyna of  Pasadena, Palo Alto, San Francisco, Cupertino,  Angelenos’ Wood Fired Pizza Chef Carmen Samaniego of Highland Park, Arth Bar + Kitchen Chef Mihir Lad of Culver City,  Ayara Thai Chef Vanda Asapahu & Chef Cathy Asapahu of Westchester, Bianca Sicilian Trattoria Chef Michele Galifi of Downtown Los Angeles, BOA Steakhouse Chef Brendan Collins of West Hollywood, Santa Monica, Manhattan Beach, Austin, Bone Kettle Chef Erwin Tjahadi of Pasadena, Casa Cordoba Chef Eric Zeda of Montrose, Celestino Ristorante Chef Calogero Drago of Pasadena, Chaaste Family Market Chef Christian Esteban of Pasadena, City Club Los Angeles Chef Armando Quiroz of Downtown Los Angeles, Descanso Restaurant Chef Rob Arellano of Los Angeles, Costa Mesa, Dorasti Caviar of Los Angeles, Emporium Thai & Emporium Thai Market Chef Jane Sungkamee & Chef Gina Sungkamee of Westwood, Los Angeles, Fat Boys Chef Michael Gray of Pasadena, Los Angeles, Fitoor Santa Monica Chef Imran Khan of Santa Monica, San Jose, Granville Pasadena Chef Marc Dix of Pasadena, Burbank, Studio City, West Hollywood, North Hollywood, Harold & Belle’s Chef Ryan Legaux of Los Angeles, Le Shrimp Noodle Bar Chef Eddie (Boon Chun) Foo of Glendale, Costa Mesa, Irvine, Love & Salt Chef Chris Feldmeier of Manhattan Beach, Lunasia Dimsum House Chef Han Fu Lee of Pasadena, Alhambra, Cerritos, Torrance,  Mama M Sushi Chef Supachai Paengkariya of Pasadena, Maple Block Meat Co. Chef Rodolfo Suazo of Culver City, Marina Chef Sandro Hernandez of Pasadena, Mercado Chef Jose Acevedo of Pasadena, Hollywood, Manhattan Beach, Paloma Chef John Parker of Santa Barbara, Paradise Dynasty Chef Joe Chan & Chef Hoi Kin Li of Glendale, Panda Inn Chef Aiguo Yang of Pasadena, Pez Cantina & Pez Coastal Kitchen Chef Bret Thompson of Downtown Los Angeles, Pasadena, Poppy + Rose Chef Michael Reed of Downtown Los Angeles, Porto’s Bakery & Café of Pasadena, Northridge, Buena Park, Burbank, Downey, Glendale, West Covina, Ramen Tatsunoya , Chef Ryuta Kajiwara of Pasadena, Costa Mesa, Rice Balls of Fire Chef Jorman Herrera of Arieta, STK Steakhouse Chef Dennis Cruz of Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Topanga, StopBye Café of Lynwood, Sushi Roku Chef Tetsu Terashima of Pasadena, Santa Monica, Manhattan Beach, Newport Beach, Palo Alto, and Thai Mex Cocina of Los ngeles,  The Exchange Restaurant Chef Narita Santos of Downtown Los Angeles, The Italian Deli Co. Chef Lalo of Pasadena, The Second Wind Chef Theo Shio of El Segundo, Truffle Brothers Michael Pietroiacovo & Marco Pietroiacovo of Los Angeles, Ubatuba Acai Chef Daniela Demetrio of Pasadena, Melrose, Santa Monica, Koreatown, Silverlake, Studio City, UCHI West Hollywood Chef Joel Hammond of West Hollywood, Union Station Homeless Services Chef Marisa Gamboa of Pasadena, Wife and the Somm Chef Frank Ryan Saporito of Glassell Park, Yakiya Chef Hualing Zhang of Pasadena, and Zira Uzbek Kitchen Chef Azim Rahmatov of West Hollywood.

The Sweet Masters lineup includes: All About the Cinnamon, Bertha Mae’s Brownies, deliciously scrumptious scratch baked custom cakes from Cakes By Chanté, Delight Pastry, Hello You’re Welcome, ID-Éclair, Läderach Switzerland, cupcakes from Lark Cake Shop, Magpies Softserve, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Pazzo Gelato, Perlas Ice Cream, Porto’s Bakery & Café, Rico Rico Snack Carts, and The Pink Cookie by The Pink Everything.

Participating Beverage Masters include Bars & Spirits: Above Board Liqueurs, Broda Vodka, Broken Shaker at Freehand Los Angeles, Burden of Proof (Non-Alcoholic Bottle Shop & Market), Dulce Vida Tequila, Empress 1908 Gin, Knox & Dobson, La Bay Gin Distillerie Californienne, Lyre’s (Crafted Non-Alcoholic Spirits), Mario’s Hard Espresso, Nosotros Tequila & Mezcal, Old Hillside Bourbon Company, Savage Rabbit Distribution, Shelter Distilling, Shinju Japanese Whisky, Smoke Lab Vodka, Subourbon Life, The Raymond 1886, Ventura Spirits and Xoloitzcuintle Tequila.

The Brewmasters lineup includes All Season Brewing, Arts District Brewing Company, Boomtown Brewery, Bücha Whole Fruit Hard Kombucha, Pasadena’s Cerveceria Del Pueblo, HOP WTR (Non-Alcoholic, Zero-Calorie, and Carbonated Beverage), Arcadia’s first Microbrewery Mt. Lowe Brewing Co., Paperback Brewing Co., and San Fernando Brewing Co.

Wine and Sake Masters showcasing their varietals include Akagisan Sake premium boutique winery Ascension Cellars, Clif Family Winery & Farm, CRŪ Winery, LMA Wines, Meadows Estate Vineyard & Winery, Anderson Valley’s Navarro Vineyards, Sake High!, San Simeon Wines, and Warson Wine Company.

Non-Alcoholic Beverage Masters include Exclusive Water Master PepsiCo, refreshing Bawi Agua Fresca, Fever-Tree, Pucker Up Lemonade Company, boba milk tea from Sunright Tea Studio, and Good Intentions Coffee.

The Masters of Taste event will be open  4:00 pm to 7:00 for General Admission, with a VIP Hour one hour earlier from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm.  Every dollar raised at the 2026 Masters of Taste event will benefit the work of Union Station Homeless Services fighting to end homelessness, raising over $3.5 million over the last seven years.

For more information and tickets, you can download the official Masters of Taste App on the AppStore or Google Playplease, or visit https://mastersoftastela.com/tickets.

Masters of Taste

Mona Day Chefs, Dine, Food & Wine Events, Restaurants

Los Angeles’ much anticipated food and beverage festival Masters of Taste will return for its eighth annual edition to the  Pasadena Rose Bowl Stadium  on Sunday, April 19, 3:00-7:00pm.  It is expected to attract over 3,000 food and beverage enthusiasts.

The festival will feature tastings from over hundred Culinary Masters and desserts by Sweet Masters, with a long lineup including:  Agnes, Alexander’s Steakhouse, All About The Cinnamon, Ayara Thai, Bertha Mae’s Brownie Co., Bianca Sicilian Trattoria, BOA Steakhouse, Cakes By Chante, Casa Cordoba, Celestino Ristorante, Chaaste Family Market, City Club Los Angeles, Delight Pastry, Descanso Restaurant, Dorasti, Emporium Thai, Fitoor Santa Monica, Harold & Belle’s Restaurant, ID-Eclair, Knox & Dobson, Lark Cake Shop, Love & Salt, Lyre’s, Magpies Softserve, Marina Restaurant, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Paradise Dynasty,  Paloma, Pazzo Gelato, Perlas Ice Cream, Pez Coastal Kitchen, Poppy + Rose, Porto’s Bakery & Cafe, Ramen Tatsunoya, Rico Rico Snack Carts LLC, Sushi Roku, STK Steakhouse, The Exchange Restaurant (Freehand LA), The Italian Deli Co, The Raymond 1886, The Second Wind, Truffle Brothers, Uchi West Hollywood, and Zira Uzbek Kitchen.  More are expected to be added on. 

Beverage Masters will offer signature handcrafted cocktail tastings from over 25 spirit brands and top cocktail bars, wineries, local craft breweries, cold-pressed juices, and cold brew coffee.  The list includes Above Board Liqueurs, Akagisan Sake, All Season Brewing Company, Arts District Brewing Company, Broda Vodka, Broken Shaker, Bücha Whole Fruit Hard Kombucha, Burden of proof, Empress 1908 Gin, Fever Tree, Good Intentions Coffee, La Bay Gin Distillerie Californienne, Laderach, Meadows Estate Vineyard And Winery, Navarro Vineyards, Old Hillside Bourbon, Paperback Brewing, Paloma, Paperback Brewing, Pucker Up Lemonade Company, and Sake High! 

This year’s host chefs are acclaimed husband-and-wife team Chef Thomas and Chef Vanessa Tilaka Kalb of Agnes Restaurant & Cheesery who are known for their ingredient-driven approach and for their impact on Pasadena’s dining scene and have earned a devoted following.

All event proceeds directly benefit Union Station Homeless Services, a non-profit organization that for over 50 years has provided  homeless housing and services.  Over the last seven years, Masters of Taste has raised over $3.5 million, helping countless families and individuals find a secure place to call home, along with supportive services.

General Admission is from 4:00-7:00 pm, with a VIP Hour from 3:00-4:00 pm. For more information and tickets, please visit https://mastersoftastela.com/tickets.  You can also  download the official Masters of Taste App on the Apple Store or Google Play.

Emporium Thai

Mona Day Chefs, Dine, Food & Wine Events, Restaurants

Emporium Thai launched its 26th anniversary celebration on Monday, March 16, 2026 marking  over two decades of bringing the bold, vibrant flavors of Southern Thailand to L.A.’s Westside dining scene.

Founded by John and Jane Sungkamee on March 16, 2000, Emporium Thai has grown from a neighborhood eatery into a cornerstone of Los Angeles’ Thai dining scene, earning widespread recognition. It holds Thai Select certification from the Royal Thai Government and has been named among the Top 100 Best Thai Restaurants in the United States.   

Over the past 26 years, the family run restaurant has also become a gathering place for West Los Angeles locals, visiting chefs, celebrities, and Thai food enthusiasts.  They come for the  Southern Thai signature dishes like Phuket Wings, Pad Thai Prawn, Crispy Honey Duck, Thai Crab Curry with Jasmine Rice, Drunken Noodles, and the celebrated Thai Crab Omelette. Other dishes pay homage to celebrity fans, including Akon Salad, Blackpink’s Lisa Meatballs, and the Cardi B Mango Sticky Rice.

To commemorate this milestone, Emporium Thai will be offering a Two-Course Prix-Fixe Lunch Menu ($26 per person) and a Two-Course Prix-Fixe Dinner Menu ($36 per person), available Monday, March 16, 2026, through Sunday, March 29, 2026, alongside other celebratory specials highlighting the restaurant’s most loved signature dishes.

Beverage Director Honeybee Sungkamee, brings creativity and cultural flair to every pour. Drawing inspiration from Thai herbs and flavors, she has crafted a lineup of signature cocktails that are both inventive and balanced.  They include the Lemongrass Gimlet, Thai-Tea-Ni, and Thai Basil Mojito. Her extensive collection of signature mocktails have become  crowd favorite, offering vibrant, flavorful alternatives. 

As it celebrates Emporium Thai’s 26th anniversary, the Sungkamee family in January took another bold step launching a sister restaurant  Emporium Thai Market,  on bustling Sawtelle Boulevard nearby. 

Here’s wishing the family many more anniversaries to come!

Emporium Thai Market

Mona Day Dine, Restaurants

The popular Emporium Thai Market in Westwood has established a brand new outpost on the section of Sawtelle Boulevard that is already a bustling hub of Asian markets and eateries.  

The restaurant specializes in Southern Thai cuisine, highlighting the region’s signature balance of heat, acidity, aromatics, and depth.  Its signature dishes include Seafood Hor Mok, a fragrant, savory and spicy dish featuring a rich, smooth, custard-like mixture of seafood served as individual bites of shrimp, crab meat and scallop in a sweet coconut curry.  Jane’s Wings are crispy chicken wings glazed in a tangy, house sauce.   Other crowd pleasers are Phuket Wings, Kra Duk Moo Tod, deep fried marinated pork, BLACKPINK’s Lisa Meatballs, Tom Saap Pork Rib Soup, Khao Soi, a rich, creamy, coconut curry noodle from Northern Thailand, Honey Ribs, Choo Chee Salmon, and the Bangkok Jay Fai’s style Thai Crab Omelette.

Southern Thai dishes from the owners’ hometown are known for intense spice and rich flavors, expressed in the restaurants’ specialties like Kua Kling Gai Sab, a dry curry with ground chicken, Gaeng Som, a sour orange curry with catfish fillet, Pad Sa Taw Goong, stir-fried stink beans with shrimp – a dish not for newbies, Southern Thai Crab Curry with  fresh crab lump, and Pla Tod Kamin, a crispy whole Red Snapper with turmeric and garlic. 

Desserts range from Sweet Roti, a buttery, crisp Thai flatbread with sweetened condensed milk and sugar, and the crowd-favorite Cardi B Mango Sticky Rice.

The bar program is integrated with the restaurant’s cuisine, drawing on Thai herbs like galanga, lemongrass, turmeric, basil, and mint.  Signature cocktails include the Galanga Sunrise, Lemongrass Lavender Margarita, Coconut Espresso Martini, Dragon Fruit Martini, and Strawberry Yuzu Martini with Lychee.

They are complemented by an eclectic selection of wines, draft beers that include aromatic Thai lemongrass brews, Japanese imports, as well as local brews, and a lineup of zero-proofs. 

The restaurant’s architecture pays homage to its Thai cultural heritage with the exterior recalling traditional Thai rooflines graced with an elephant motif , which continues inside with a bold elephant mural. An outdoor patio provides an option for al fresco dining. 

The Los Angeles Wine & Food Festival

Mona Day Chefs, Dine, Food & Wine Events, Restaurants

The Los Angeles Wine & Food Festival returns for its second year with three sessions over the weekend of Friday, November 7 – Sunday, November 9. Friday and Saturday will feature Grand Tasting events while Sunday will conclude with The Final Bite: Peroni’s Italian Affair, an Italian-themed celebration hosted by Peroni, the official beer partner of The Los Angeles Wine & Food Festival. 

The 2025 Los Angeles Wine & Food Festival will bring together a star-studded lineup of notable chefs from across the nation and Southern California including culinary icons and rising stars shaping the future of LA dining.  Each of the three sessions will feature over thirty chefs presenting their signature bites along with  beverage selections from top regional and

 award-winning wineries, and craft cocktails from top mixologists at  walk-around tastings that will also include other immersive pop-ups and brand  installations.  Live entertainment will include top DJ sets will round out the experience.  

Featured chef personalities include Stephanie Izard, Gabe Bertaccini, Antonia Lofaso, Giorgio Rapicavoli, Brooke Williamson, and brother duo Michael and Bryan Voltaggio. appearances from Ludo Lefebvre of Petit Trois, Michael Symon of Lola, Claudette Zepeda of Leu Leu, Rashida Holmes of Bridgetown Roti, Avner Levi of CENTO Pasta and Raw Bar, and Jazz Singsanong of Jitlada. AWFF is produced by a21, the team behind some of the country’s top culinary festivals. 

This year’s event will be co-hosted by Tastemade, known for its leading food and lifestyle brand engaging audiences on major social and streaming platforms.  

The Los Angeles Wine & Food Festival is proud to support Event Zero Inc., a non-profit organization to help make the festival more sustainable.

Guests can choose between General or VIP admission. VIP pass holders enjoy early entry one hour before general admission and access to exclusive lounges offering exclusive bites and cocktails.  A special weekend pass maximises savings by offers access to all three days.  

For tickets and more information, visit https://www.lawineandfood.com/.

The Food Event

Mona Day Chefs, Dine, Food & Wine Events, Restaurants

Los Angeles magazine will host its 19th annual The Food Event at the iconic Calamigos Ranch on Sunday November 16th, 12:00 – 3pm. 

The much-anticipated epicurean extravaganza will feature samples from some of the city’s finest restaurants, along with premier wines, spirits and cocktail tastings, craft beer, live music, and more.

The lineup of participating chefs and restaurants represent the diverse and vibrant Los Angeles culinary scene.  They include All About The Cinnamon, Ayara Thai, Arth Bar + Kitchen, BOX Chicken, City Club LA, Descanso Restaurant, Emporium Thai, Fitoor Santa Monica, Gentry Market, Hansen’s Cakes, La Popular, Mastro’s Restaurants, Nobu Los Angeles, STK Steakhouse, Telefèric Barcelona, The Ranch Club, Uchi West Hollywood, WeVINO, and Wife and the Somm.

For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit LAMag.com/TheFoodEvent2025.

Eighth Annual Tito’s Fiesta Mexicana

Mona Day Dine, Entertainment, Food & Wine Events, Restaurants , ,

Tito’s Handmade Vodka and Tito’s Tacos will celebrate the eighth annual Tito’s Fiesta Mexicana on Saturday, October 4, from 3:00pm – 8:00pm at the iconic restaurant in Culver City to raise critical funds for the Culver City Arts Foundation in supporting a wide range of art, culture, and local artists. 

At the Fiesta guests 21+ can sip on Tito’s Handmade Vodka cocktails while savoring Tito’s Tacos’ award-winning cuisine. The celebration will also feature five hours of live entertainment headlined by world-class mariachi group, Mariachi Sol De Mexico de Jose Hernandez, folklórico dancers, and a traditional piñata station. 

A formal program will feature remarks from Brian Herlihy, Field Sales Director at Tito’s Handmade Vodka; Lynne Davidson, Co-Owner of Tito’s Tacos; Wirt Morton, Co-Owner of Tito’s Tacos; and Jim Clarke, Board Chair at Culver City Arts Foundation.

Two ticket options are available:  The Responsible Partygoer ticket for $35 includes general admission, three Tito’s Tacos food items, and three refreshing Tito’s Handmade Vodka specialty cocktails.  The Non-Alcohol Partygoer ticket for $20 includes general admission, three Tito’s Tacos food items, and a soft drink.

An annual tradition since 2018, 100% of the event’s gross proceeds benefit the Culver City Arts Foundation supplementing several programs including Creative arts and performing arts grants, Culver City Arts Projecting Possibilities Program (a program that enables local artists to display their art at the Helms Design Center), and Culver City Arts Book Festival.  Over the past seven years, Tito’s Fiesta Mexicana has raised over $113,000, with $23,000 in 2024 alone.

Founded in 1959 by Benjamin Davidson and now run by his granddaughter Lynne Davidson, Tito’s Tacos is an iconic Mexican fast-casual restaurant in Los Angeles. Known for its “folded” hard shell tacos and burritos loved by celebrities, locals, and visitors alike, Tito’s menu features classic Mexican fare – crispy beef tacos, tamales, burritos, enchiladas, tostadas and guacamole, and more. The award-winning cuisine is made from scratch using original recipes and served to thousands of loyal fans daily, often by employees who have been with Tito’s for decades.

For more information and tickets, please visit https://titosfiestamexicana.net/  

La Popular’s Hollywood Debut

Mona Day Chefs, Dine, Restaurants

Mexico City’s celebrated modern Mexican dining concept, La Popular is making its much anticipated debut in the heart of Hollywood at the newly reimagined Ovation Hollywood, formerly Hollywood & Highland. 

Executive Chef Arevalo unveils a menu that celebrates traditional Mexican dishes with bold, inventive tweaks. 

Starters range from the Ahi Tuna tostadas with chipotle aioli and crisped leeks to the seafood ceviche brightened with citrus and serrano. 

The Soups & Salads section features a richly layered tortilla soup with fried ancho chiles and chicharron, and Corn Off The Cob Salad dressed in Tajín-lime vinaigrette. 

Taco Plates features classics like carnitas and ribeye along with the more inventive creamy chipotle shrimp taco with refried beans and rice. 

Enchiladas too upgrade tradition in smoky short rib Colorado, the Queso, the Suizas shrimp and pulled hicken. 

Mexican staples in Platos Especiales include braised quesabirria with consommé, a hearty burrito with birria, carnitas, or chicken,  the Asada with chimichurri butter, and the  chicken mole Poblano with sesame and spice. 

Sides recall the street culture with street corn, Tajín fries, and golden fried plantains.

A special Kids Menu features favorites like chicken or steak tacos, a gooey cheese quesadilla, a hearty chicken bowl with rice and beans, and a classic kids burrito with flour tortilla, rice, beans, and cheese that help make La Popular a family outing.

Dulces favorites include warm Churros dipped in rich chocolate and silky cajeta sauce, and flan topped with vanilla ice cream and caramel. There’s also a decadent Turtle Pie with peanut butter, chocolate, caramel, and candied pecans.  

The beverage portfolio emphasizes single-origin tequilas and mezcals, barrel-to-glass sourcing of  agave spirits in all their diversity.  The equila & Mezcal collection spans Blancos, Reposados, Añejos, Cristalinos, Rosas, and rare Single-Origin Mezcals from Espadín to Tobalá and Arroqueño.

There’s a  curated wine list and a craft-forward beer selection that integrates both Mexican and local producers.  Inventive cocktailslist complement both the menu and evolving guest preferences that incorporates a sophisticated non-alcoholic craft selection.

La Popular will officially open on Monday, September 22nd, 2025, Sunday through Thursday from 11:00 am to 11:00 pm, and Friday and Saturday from 11:00 am to 12:00 midnight. 

For more information and reservations, please visit www.LAPopularCDMX.com.