Jonathan Gold, the king of all foodies and LA Weekly‘s Pulitzer Prize-winning food critic, has handpicked 30 of his favorite Los Angeles restaurants for a very special food event on March 8 at Smashbox Studios in West Hollywood.

It’s called the 2009 LA Weekly Gold Standard and will feature the likes of Animal, Hungry Cat, Jitlada, the two Mozzas, Palate Food and Wine and Providence to name the blessed few. There will also be a dj and wine and beer tastings.

I sooo wanted to go to this but that $60 ticket price scared me away. Thankfully, eagle-eye blogger estarLA spotted the Goldstar discount where you can buy the ticket for $36 (not including service cost)! Awesomeness! So I got my ticket! estarLA and H.C. from L.A. and O.C Foodventures will be there, too. Better get yours before it sells out. Word is already spreading like wild fire on Twitter.

EVENT: SUNDAY, MARCH 8 from 3 to 7pm

Smashbox Studios
1011 Fuller Avenue
West Hollywood, California 90046 (map)