I love a good food fest, so I was happy to hear that LA Weekly’s annual food and wine event is back for a fifth year. It will take place on Sunday, March 3rd from 1-5pm, at the Peterson Automotive Museum. Previously called “The Gold Standard” before the departure of LA Weekly’s food critic Jonathan Gold, the yearly event is now known simply as “Plate” and it promises to once again be one of the top LA food events of the year. There will be unlimited tastings from more than 40 of the city’s best and most interesting restaurants and unlimited wine (in addition to beer and spirits) from over 30 top-shelf wineries curated by Downtown LA’s BUZZ Wine Beer Shop.
As far as these kind of events go, this one is relatively inexpensive. Tickets are $75 for General Admission and $95 for VIP Admission, which enables you to enter an hour earlier than the General Admission people and gets you a gift bag. If you’ve never been to one of these fun events before, this is a great one to start with. Some of my favorite restaurants, including Mo-Chica, Jitlada, Chichen Itza, Hungry Cat, Wurstkuche, and Philippe’s will be participating. A portion of the receipts goes to the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank so you’re actually doing a good deed by filling your belly with delicious food and drinking lots and lots of wine.
You can buy tickets by going to LA Weekly’s website or by clicking here. Tickets will not be sold at the door.
UPDATE: Plate 2013 was a success! Here are a few highlights:
My hero Roy Choi announces the opening later this year of Chego, his gourmet rice bowl restaurant, in Chinatown
Gilberto Cetina from Chichen Itza served up Tacos de Cochinita Pibil
Ricard Zarate and Stephane Bombet from Mo-Chica and Picca were serving amazing food and talking about their now restaurant Paiche, which will open shortly in the old Mo-Chica space.
Ricardo Zarate’s Quinoa Salad with Roasted Vegetables and Miso Dressing was my favorite dish of the event.
8 Colorful Flavors of Pork from Korean restaurant Palsaik
Chef Jazz from my favorite Thai restaurant in LA, Jitlada, served up Spicy Chicken Curry.
Nguyen Tran from Starry Kitchen served Shrimp Chips with Grill Beef Bites in a homemade costume.
Where’s Spritle and Chim Chim? The event took place in the Peterson Automotive Museum.
