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A Re-Cap and Picture Roundup of this Year’s The Taste at Paramount Studios. (2015).


By: Maren Swanson • September 10th, 2015

L.A. Times The Taste at Pararmount Picture Studios 2015.

Maren Swanson
Chef Noelle Carter at The Taste (Los Angeles)

This year’s The Taste, hosted by the Los Angeles Times, was yet again a sumptuous success. Countless vendors, including restaurants, bars, wineries and distilleries, lined up this past Labor Day Weekend to showcase their best to hundreds of hungry and thirsty attendees.

L.A. Times The Taste at Pararmount Picture Studios 2015.
L.A. Times The Taste at Pararmount Picture Studios 2015.
Knob Creek Specialty Cocktails at L.A. Times The Taste at Paramount Picture Studios.

I was one of those attendees, and I did my best to try and many sips and dishes as I could – it sort of became my obsessive objective! It all started at the Dinner with a Twist event hosted by Jonathan Gold and Jenn Harris. Luckily, my guest and I arrived on the early side, so we were able to walk in and get some pictures next to the big chalkboard wall before the Paramount Studios back lot became swarmed with people.

Stella Artois Beer
Ascendant Spirits at L.A. Times The Taste (Pararmount Picture Studios 2015).
Hornitos Tequila at L.A. Times The Taste.

Saturday night seemed to be the most packed and it didn’t seem to bother anyone because everybody was busy sipping on specialty cocktails from the Don Julio Tequila Airstream trailer and Knob Creek’s custom cocktail bar (drinks made by Cocktail Academy). There was a lot of booze, and of course, the Stella Artois line was always full with anxious patrons excited to grab a full glass of beer and take home their classy glasses. I was stoked to get tthe opportunity to meet with Chef Daniel Joly at the Stella Artois tent and get a behind-the-scenes look at his culinary tricks and beer pairing suggestions.


Chef Daniel Joly and Maren Swanson  (LoveHappyHour.com) at The Taste 2015.
Mezcal El Silencio at The Taste 2015
L.A. Times The Taste at Pararmount Picture Studios 2015.

I definitely enjoyed the interactive photo booth options this year; Hornitos had a fake donkey and fun garb to wear and The Weinstein Company made a custom flipbook of me doing the “robot” while wearing cooky oven mitts.

Shrimp and Grits.
L.A. Times The Taste (Pararmount Picture Studios 2015).
L.A. Times The Taste.

But let’s get to the foodie highlights of the entire event. At Sunday’s Brunch and BBQ, Howlin’ Rays, a California-based food truck, left my mouth tingling – literally. They served up a deep fried free-range chicken "bomb" doused with flavor and spice. Wowza.

Fried Chicken Sandwich from Free Range LA at The Taste 2015.
Howlin' Rays at The Taste 2015.
Ocean Prime's Crab Dish at The Taste 2015.

On Sunday night, The Badmaash line was long as usual but worth the wait for their butter chicken with basmati pilaf and housemade pickles. Free Range also served up a deep fried chicken sandwich with pickled onions that was fantastic. I also must mention that this is the second event I've tried food from Estrella Restaurant, and I'm now becoming a big fan!

Jitlada (Thai) had everyone’s mouths on fire, but they all must have loved the pain, because they kept going in for more bites and then continued to talk about how hot it was. Ocean Prime had a fresh crab teaser with mango that was a perfect bite under the blazing Sunday sun. Seriously, everyone was fighting for a shaded spot.

Pizza Prove at The Taste 2015.
Estrella Restaurant at The Taste 2015.

Otherwise, Public School threw down some rockin’ fall-off-the-bone ribs, Slapfish had a scrumptious Lobster BLT tostada, Taco Maria had a perfectly prepared Scallop in Aquachile and Pizza Prova killed it with their oven-fired. P.S., thanks Pizza Prova boys for that last slice you whipped up for me even when things were shutting down.


Overall, I had a blast! The Taste is really one of the easiest ways to taste some of the best in L.A., and all in one spot. How can you go wrong?


Thanks @thetastela - I had a blast tonight! #tasteLA #foodie #LA #fun #paramountstudios #blogger #video #dinnerwithatwist

A video posted by Maren Swanson (@lovehappyhour) on