Where to Find Love and Salt, L'Antica Pizzeria da Michele, Pop's Bagels, Tumbi Craft Indian Kitchen

This three day epicurean food festival hosted by the Los Angeles Times editorial staff presented many of Southern California's finest restaurants with over 70 friendly vendors offering unlimited food samples, cocktails, beer and wine.

On Friday August 30 (730-1030 PM) there was an impressive Italian cooking demonstration with Chiara Soldati (La Scolca) and Georgia Sinatra and Paola Da Re (Pasta Sisters) I sampled a few of LA Times' cooking from Editors Genevieve Ko's flagrant Indian cooking with Pawan, Nakul & Badmaash spices.

I had a wine "Tour De France" sample of a delightful glass of Cabernet Sauvignon while hearing Mark Oldman, the LA Times Wine Club and America's wine expert share a few wine tips and tricks

There were lavish food samples from restaurants including: Church & State,Tar & Roses, Bibigo Kitchen, Gus's Famous Fried Chicken , Lady M Cake Boutique, Love and Salt, L'Antica Pizzeria da Michele, Tacos 1986, Pop's Bagels, Tumbi Craft Indian Kitchen and many more.

Saturday August 3 (730-1030 PM) there was a spicy Southern Thai cooking class with a snazzy jazz sing along with Senior Food Writer Jenn Harris and Sugar Sungkamee .

Courtney Kaplan (Ototo and Tsubaki) and La Time's Jenn Harris directed an informative "Sake 101"

I had an unforgettable sweet tooth experience sampling of a Catalonian sundae made with Arbequina olive oil ice cream from Wanderlust Creamery. I could not resist sampling their bergamocello Tuscany inspired ice cream that had an enchanting orange flavor

Saturdays' samplings from restaurants included Faith & Flower, Mister O'S, Ocean Prime Beverly Hills, Roberta's Pizza, Madre, Nic's on Beverly, Wanderlust Creamery, Baltaire, Viviane, Wurstkuche and quite a few more

Sunday, September 1 (730-1030 PM) had the opportunity to delve into Spanish inspired cuisine and tasty tapas with LA Times' Staff Writer Amy Scattergood and Teresa Montano (Otono)

Ira Norof (Southern Glazer's) Lara Tagliairina (Coastal Pacific Wine & Spirits) and Chiara Soldati (La Scolca) chatted about "Wine and Women" at the Bar Stage over numerous glasses of Rose wine

In my opinion the most the most sumptuous and innovative presentation was the Phillip Frankland Lee's Sushi Bar pop-up ( VIP)

On Sunday evening at the VIP area of the Taste, these top Sushi chefs created a very avant-garde experience by having 5 guests at a time come up to the Sushi bar and talking about each gourmet dish he was preparing before serving it. There were 4 different fish samples of their restaurant's trademark nigirl before serving a desert of a piquant green tea ice cream. The long line at this Sushi bar was well worth the wait

Sundays fine restaurants included: Pasta Sisters, Holbox, Homestate, Jitlada, BOURBON Steak Los Angeles,Apollonia's Pizzeria, Banh Oui,The Bazaar by Jose Andres, Chao Krung, Chicken Itza, EVE, Gabi James,Same Same, Yours Truly and many more.

This food bon vivant festival was held at the Paramount Pictures Studios Backlot at 783 N. Van Ness Avenue , Los Angeles 90038