THE TASTE LA

THE TASTE LA KICKS OFF TONIGHT IN BEVERLY HILLS!

Head to Beverly Hills tonight, Friday, September 2, 2011 for Burgers & Beer, wine, spirits, and food tastings from some of your favorite LA restaurants. Then, head to Hollywood for the Art of Mixing and more tasty bites from more of your favorite LA restaurants and chefs. See details for Friday’s events below:

Burgers & Beer

See how Los Angeles’ most celebrated restaurants and chefs interpret what a ‘burger’ means to them. Try creations from Ford’s Filling Station, The Tasting Kitchen and more then vote on your favorite L.A. burger. Find out which craft beers Christina Perozzi and Hallie Beaune, also known as “The Beer Chicks,” have selected for the evening. And don’t miss Marc Boussarie, The Counter’s Executive Chef in a cooking demo on building a unique burger. Check below for scheduling details, a list of top L.A.’s restaurants as well as wineries, breweries and distilleries that will be at this event.

Beverly Hills, 9900 Wilshire Blvd. | 7-10 pm | $125

Your all-inclusive ticket offers:
• Unlimited tastings from over 30 of L.A.’s best restaurants/chefs
• Unlimited samples from over 30 top wineries, breweries and spirits
• Unlimited access to beer seminars
• Live musical entertainment
21 and over only

Art of Mixing

Hit up this event early because KCRW’s Jason Bentley will drop beats as the opening DJ. After setting the vibe, the Latin-inspired punk band, Mariachi El Bronx will keep the tempo up throughout the evening. Attend an exclusive cooking/mixology demo with Chef Ricardo Zarate, John Rivera Sedlar and Julian Cox. Enjoy spectacular food, music and learn the secrets behind mixing a show-stopping beverage. See below for scheduling details and a list of L.A.’s restaurants as well as wineries, breweries and distilleries that will be at this event.

Hollywood, The Studios at Paramount | 9 pm-12 am | $125

Your all-inclusive ticket offers:
• Unlimited tastings from over 30 of L.A.’s best restaurants/chefs
• Unlimited samples from over 30 of your favorite wineries, breweries and spirits
• Cocktail demos where mixologists work their magic and share their secrets
• Live musical entertainment
21 and over only

For complete details on THE TASTE LA, visit: http://www.latimes.com/thetaste

Previous features about THE TASTE LA…

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“LOS ANGELES TIMES AND FOOD & WINE’S THE TASTE”

LAUNCHES “CHECK IN TO THE TASTE” HAPPY HOUR EVENTS AUGUST 17-25, 2011

Sneak Preview “Sunset Hour” Party at Montage Beverly Hills Kicks Off Promotion at Restaurants Citywide

(LOS ANGELES, August 15, 2011)- In anticipation of THE TASTE‘s Labor Day culinary extravaganza, epicureans are invited to indulge, imbibe and “Check In to THE TASTE” via a weeklong happy hour promotion that begins with a celebratory event to be held at Montage Beverly Hills on August 17^th. Participating TASTE restaurants across Los Angeles are welcoming diners to take advantage of a special TASTE ticket promotion through August 25, 2011. Full details are now available online and include:

THE TASTE Sunset Hour – Held at Montage Beverly Hills’ rooftop poolside lounge on Wednesday, August 17^thfrom 5-8 p.m., guests will enjoy specially priced cocktails, courtesy of ABSOLUT® ORIENT APPLE and complimentary small bites (served 6-8 p.m.) from the Montage culinary team, including participating TASTE chef, winner of Food Network’s “Last Cake Standing,” and Scarpetta Executive Pastry Chef Richard Ruskell. The party is designed to offer attendees a chance to sample specialty dishes and cocktails that will be featured at THE TASTE, and a 20% discount code will be offered for THE TASTE tickets.

Check In to THE TASTE – Guests who “check in” (via Foursquare or Facebook Places) to one or more participating restaurants* during their regular happy hours August 17-25^th and post “I’m checking in to THE TASTE Happy Hour” in the optional message box will receive a 20% discount on tickets for THE TASTE. Proof of check-in is required (screenshots of users’ Foursquare history pages or Facebook profile pages displaying the check-in are accepted) and must be sent to taste@wagstaffworldwide.com by 12 a.m. on August 26, 2011. Eligible participants will receive a promotional code via email, which can be applied online athttp://lattaste.eventbrite.com/ and must be redeemed before 12 a.m. on September 2, 2011. Participating restaurants include Scarpetta, Delphine, BOA Steakhouse, Sushi Roku, Napa Valley Grille, Lexington Social House, Public Kitchen & Bar, M Street Kitchen, Stella Rossa Pizza Bar, Street, STK, Corkbar, Palate Food + Wine,Wood & Vine, RockSugar Pan Asian Kitchen, Moko, Joe’s Restaurant, Akasha, and more.

*A full list is available at Facebook.com/THETASTELA, in the “Notes” section.

A portion of the ticket sales from THE TASTE will benefit Share Our Strength, Beverly Hills Education Foundation, Collins College of Hospitality Management at Cal Poly Pomona, Los Angeles Times Family Fund’s Summer Camp Campaign and Los Angeles Conservancy.

For updates on all of the weekend’s activities, please visit www.latimes.com/THETASTE,Facebook.com/THETASTELA or follow THE TASTE on Twitter: @THETASTELA.

Stay tuned for interviews with Top Chefs from THE TASTE on Bikini Lifestyles on 790 KABC with The Bikini Chef^®… Sponsored by Fladeboe Automotive Group of Irvine http://www.fladeboe.com and Fortun Finishing Touch Sauces http://www.fortunfoods.com