Will Nguyen of Starry Kitchen sport the banana at this year's LA Street Food Fest?
Carmaggedon. Autopocalypse. The 405 freeway closed the whole weekend from the 101 to 10? What’s a Westsider who wants to hit up foodie favorite event LA Street Food Fest in Pasadena on July 16th to do?
Feel the Lure of LA Food Fest
A Sailor Jerry Rum bar if you want something other than beer, gin or tequila.
I mean, who would want to brave what’s being touted to be the clusterfuck from hell even if LASFF is a fun event featuring the food of LA’s most popular food trucks like Great Balls on Tires, Grilled Cheese Truck and The Frymsith?
And sure, restaurants Mo-Chica/Picca, Pal Cabron, and Starry Kitchen will also be serving up food and there’s even an Ice Cream Social with Scoops and Batch From Scratch, Bulgarini Gelato, CoolHaus and Ice Ice Shavie, the new mixology-driven shaved ice truck… Oh dear, that’s pretty hard to resist. (List of participants)
The things that may just push any booze-loving Westsider over the edge though? The Tequila Tasting Tent showcasing 13 tequilas as well as the Hendrick’s Gin sponsored Test Kitchen Luxe Lounge with Chef Farid Zadi and renowned mixologist Julian Cox (Rivera/Playa). Julian will be mixing up some unique specialties just for the event including his Gin y Hendrix with Hendrick’s gin, lime, mint, agave, salt and cucumber espuma as well as his Peat Rose with Hendrick’s, lemon, cane sugar, seltzer, lemon verbena, Islay Scotch and rose air. Now, do you still want to hole up at home with all this going on?
As Much as You Hate the Word, Call It a Staycation
The mayor will be returning to the food fest this year sans cast.
If you’re finding it hard to stick to your side of town but really don’t want to worry about driving either, LASFF organizer Shawna Dawson, the city of Pasadena and even Mayor Villaraigosa are trying to convince Westsiders to just take a “staycation” by booking a hotel room in the vicinity of the event.
The Courtyard Marriott in Old Town Pasadena is offering a special discount rate of $119 a night as well as a free shuttle to get to the event (perfect, considering that tequila tent). Well, it could be fun exploring what the ‘Dena has to offer. Hmm, I would be able to actually drink more at 1886 without having to worry about the long drive back home since the bar is just an affordable cab ride away from the Marriott.
Fun Things To Do in the ‘Dena During Your Stay
And Ms. Shawna, who herself is a resident of the 626, offered up other fun things to do, see, eat in Pasadena.
Take in a movie at luxurious movie theaters: Gold Class Cinemas and ArcLight Theater.
Relax at the Langham Hotel’s Huntington Spa with either their new summer Lemon Mint Swedish Massage (60 minutes for $110) or a Chuan back, neck and shoulder massage (30 minutes for $95).
Must-do beer destination Lucky Baldwin’s Pub & Café is in the midst of its Xmas in July Beer Festival which features Christmas and rare vintage beers through July 17.
Get an All-Out-Diva Pedicure ($60) at Dashing Diva to treat your feet after walking all over the festival.
Enjoy vino at Heritage Wine Company, “the most comfortable Pasadena wine bar.”
And if you still feel like eating after the festival, there’s the Hat‘s infamous chili cheese fries.
Maybe if I could get a friend to split that hotel room it won’t be too bad. Thinking, thinking.
Giveaway!
***CONTEST CLOSED***
To those who won’t be intimidated by a little traffic, I offer up the following: TWO tickets to the afternoon session (2-5pm) of the LA Street Food Fest this Saturday, July 16. Regular price is $60 a person and it includes food, drinks, cocktails, beer, music and parking but if you win you and your buddy get in for FREE!
No VIP tickets to give away this year but since the event is divided into three sessions with a limited capacity of 1,500 a sesh, it’ll be equivalent to what VIP was last year. Shorter lines and more elbow room! You in?
All you have to do to enter this giveaway is the following (do both steps to qualify):
- Leave a comment below saying how you plan to spend Carmaggedon this weekend (besides at LA Street Food Fest of course) and include your Twitter handle. (There is no right answer; I’m just looking for suggestions, heh.)
- Tweet: “#Carmaggedon be damned, I wanna go to @LAFoodFest, @carolineoncrack! https://wp.me/pNkdL-27M”
I’ll randomly pick a winner via Random.org on Friday at 10am and notify the winner via email. If I don’t hear from you by 2pm this Friday, I’ll draw another winner so check your email, Tweeps!
EVENT: SATURDAY, JULY 16 from
10am–1pm: Picnic in the Park (All Ages, Family Friendly)
2pm–5pm: Family Fun Day (All Ages, Family Friendly)
6pm–9pm: Date Night (21+)
The Rose Bowl
360 North Arroyo Boulevard
Pasadena, California 91103 (map)
Tickets: $60
Facebook: LA Street Food Fest
Twitter: @LAFoodFest