Recent trips to Thailand, England and Scotland have kept me busy editing thousands of (mostly food) photos. Hopefully I’ll be back to regular blogging at the beginning of the year, but until then I’m still posting daily on Instagram and Pinterest.
Thanks so much for your ongoing support! Cheers, Jo
Filed under Little Bites
I thought Josef Centeno’s Bäco Mercat (in downtown L.A.) was simply a sandwich and soda shop.
I was SO very wrong…
Of course we begin with the Bäco flatbread sandwich: Pork Belly, Beef Carnitas, Salbitxada (Catalan sauce of tomatoes, almonds and garlic). Peter and I first tried Chef Centeno’s Bäco when he opened the Lazy Ox Canteen in Little Tokyo.
Bäco Mercat is the home of the “bäco,” the signature flatbread sandwich that was developed by chef Josef Centeno. The original bäco was the crispy pork belly and beef carnitas with caraway pepper. Since then, the bäco bread has taken center stage and works as a vessel for all things delicious: pork, beef, poultry, seafood and vegetables. (more on the website)
Sugar Snap & Pear Salad w grapefruit, burrata, dill walnut.
Half Rack Baby Back Ribs w chili vinegar.
Pork Belly, Soujouk with Ricotta Cavatelli.
Caesar Brussels Salad, Pecorino, Anchovy, Garlic.
Toron, with oxtail hash, pickle, cheddar and “tater” (it’s like a big homemade tater tot)!
Black Rice Risotto: Squid, Fine Herbs, Creme Fraiche.
Pulled Confit Goose Leg with blood oranges, arugula and pickled cherries.
Pineapple Upside Down Cake, Szechuan Peppercorns, Whipped Cream, rice balls.
Bäco Ginger, Orange, Juniper Soda Pop!
Absolutely charming (and casually romantic!) inside and out. Peter and I will be spending many, many evenings downtown this summer!
Please read Jonathan Gold’s Bäco review at L.A. Weekly
Bäco Mercat
408 S Main St
Los Angeles, CA 90013
(213) 687-8808
website
Follow @BacoMercat on twitter
Filed under Eating Out
What exactly is Taste of the Nation?
“Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation Los Angeles is one of 55 events across America dedicated to ending hunger in America. Each summer, LA’s hottest chefs and mixologists donate their time, talent and passion at the Taste of the Nation event at Media Park in Culver City to raise the critical funds needed to end childhood hunger by supporting our local recipients.” more info
Tickets cost $125 this year. Where does the money go?
“In Los Angeles, 100% of ticket sales will be divided among five charities that are working to end hunger. Among them are Los Angeles Regional Food Bank and Los Angeles Coalition to End Hunger & Homelessness.” more info
Was it worth it?
ABSOLUTELY. Besides supporting the wonderful cause, we got to eat some delicious samples from some of L.A.’s top dining spots including (to name a few): Akasha, Angeli Caffe, Animal, The Bazaar, Beso, BLT, Church & State, Craft, Fig, Ford’s Filling Station, Fraiche/Riva, Gelato Bar, Grace/BLD, Jar, Katsuya, Mozza, Rivera, XIV Michael Mina and more!
If you missed it this year, please enjoy these photos… and definitely think about joining the fun in 2010.
The first booth at Taste of the Nation? My pals at the Bazaar!
The Bazaar’s Jamon Iberico
The Bazaar’s Felix Meana next to the Liquid Nitrogen!
Lucas Paya making the Nitro Margarita with Salt Air
Nitro Margaritas with Salt Air
Tomatos with Liquid Mozzerella Pipettes, Liquid Olives “Ferran Adria”
The Bazaar’s Chef Jorge Chicas
First row of restaurants at Taste of the Nation
Ford’s Filling Station’s Booth
Ford’s Filling Station’s Meyer Angus Beef Sliders with Hook Cheddar Cheese
Confit Duck with Farro and Cherry by Fig Restaurant
Locanda Del Lago’s Vitello Tonnato: Roasted and Sliced Veal Tenderloin in Creamy Tuna-Caper Aioli
The always cheerful Chef Walter Manzke (Church at State) with his awesome PIG burgers!!
Rivera’s BEAUTIFUL Tortillas Florales with Verde Shrimp Salsa by Chef John Sedlar
On the grill: Rivera’s Tortillas Florales
Katsuya’s deep-fried roll of Tuna & Foie Gras with micro greens
Katsuya’s Tuna Chirashi
XIV – Michael Mina’s Sweet Corn Soup (with pork belly)
Craft’s CRISPY Pork Belly with Summer Corn and Tomato Medley
Nobu’s Famous Miso Marinated Black Cod with Butter Lettuce
Lobster with Caviar and Potato Gaufrettes
Simon LA’s Ahi Tuna with Fava Bean Puree and Tomato Olive sauce
Gelato Bar’s Allessandro Fontana, Gail Silverton and Joel Gutman (love the Lemon-Basil)
Akasha Restaurant’s Meyer’s Hanger Steak, Mcgrath Farms Red Butter Lettuce, Heirloom Tomato, Mustard Oil, Shaft Blue Cheese Bacon Dressing
Chef Akasha Richmond of Akasha Restaurant.
Jar’s Chef Suzanne Tracht (currently on Top Chef Masters) : Roasted Pork Belly with watermelon salad
Jar’s Crispy Roasted Pork Belly
Animal’s Amberjack, Nectarine, Jalapeno, Citrus and Mint
My favorite dessert in Los Angeles! Mozza’s Butterscotch Budino (with the rosemary pinenut cookie on the side). It’s sweet, it’s salty and the cookie crunch make it perfection!
Mozza’s Nancy Silverton in photo.
Event Date: Sunday June 14, 2009
Share Our Strength / Taste of the Nation
Los Angeles Regional Food Bank
Los Angeles Coalition to End Hunger & Homelessness
Suzanne Tracht on Top Chef Masters
Akasha | Angeli Caffe | Animal | Bazaar
Beso | BLT | Church & State (website error)
Craft | Fig | Ford’s Filling Station
Fraiche | Gelato Bar | Grace | Jar
Katsuya | Mozza | Rivera | XIV Michael Mina
All my Taste of the Nation ’09 Photos on Flickr
Filed under Food Events (festivals, classes, etc.)
