The L.A Times Food Bowl, a festival that celebrates the vibrant and diverse food scene of Southern California, came back for it’s 8th Annual event and was proudly presented by City National Bank. The Vulkan Magazine team was excited to be part of this culinary experience, which took place over three exciting days from September 20 to 22 at the iconic Paramount Pictures Studios Backlot.

This year’s Food Bowl was a spectacular celebration of culinary artistry, featuring the incredible talents of both local food legends and rising culinary stars, creating a true feast for the senses.

Each all-inclusive ticketed event offered attendees an unforgettable experience, with unlimited tastings from over 40 exceptional restaurants. Guests indulged in a diverse selection from premier wineries, breweries, and distilleries. The excitement didn’t stop there; attendees also had the opportunity to engage in cookbook signings and watch live demonstrations by renowned culinary personalities, making the event even more interactive and enriching.

To keep the energy high, lively DJ sets filled the atmosphere, ensuring a vibrant experience for everyone. Various ticket options were available, including general admission, VIP tickets, and weekend passes, catering to all preferences and allowing everyone to immerse themselves in this culinary extravaganza. 

The lineup for the Food Bowl was nothing short of spectacular:

**Friday, Sept. 20**
The weekend celebrations kicked off with a special awards presentation recognizing The Times Restaurant of the Year, Baroo, and the Gold Award honoree, Mariscos Jalisco. Hosted by The Times Food team, this evening featured curated bites from both restaurants, with exclusive tastings available for early VIP entrants. The L.A. Times Food Stage was alive with demonstrations and cookbook signings from award-winning chefs and social media food stars, including Josh Scherer (“The Mythical Cookbook”) and Tue Nguyen (@TwayDaBae) (“Di An”).

Participating restaurants for Friday night included Amiga Amore, Azizam, Baroo, Cento, East Side Cheesecakes, Evil Cooks, Hatchet Hall, Holey Grail Donuts, HomeState, III Mas Bakery & Deli, Jitlada, Luv2eat Thai Bistro, Mariscos Jalisco, Meteora (VIP lounge only), Mírate, Perilla LA, Rita’s Deluxe, Saucy Chick Goat Mafia, Si! Mon, SoulPhil, Spoon & Pork, Wife and the Somm, and many more.

**Saturday, Sept. 21**
The festivities continued on Saturday night with an array of unlimited tastings from over 40 restaurants, alongside engaging demonstrations and cookbook signings featuring culinary stars such as Tamron Hall and Lish Steiling (“A Confident Cook”), Owen Han (“Sandwich King”), and others. Participating restaurants included 626 Hospitality Group, Baroo, Bar Chelou, Budonoki + Mini Kabob, Burritos La Palma, Cobi’s, Donna’s, Evil Cooks, Heng Heng Chicken Rice, Jeff’s Table, Lei’d Cookies, Luv2eat Thai Bistro, OyBar, Ponchos Tlayudas, Saucy Chick Goat Mafia, Steep LA, The Brothers Sushi, Trophies Burger Club, Wanderlust Creamery, and more.

**Sunday, Sept. 22**
The grand finale of the Food Bowl featured an afternoon filled with tastings, live music, and interactive demos suitable for all ages. Attendees enjoyed cookbook signings and culinary demonstrations by acclaimed chefs like Nancy Silverton (“The Cookie that Changed My Life”), Sara Kramer, and Sarah Hymanson (“Kismet: Bright, Fresh, Vegetable-Loving Recipes”), among other special guests. Participating restaurants for this final day included Baroo, Ceci’s Gastronomia, CUT Beverly Hills (VIP lounge only), Damian (VIP lounge only), DOMESTIC, Evil Cooks, Hamasaku, Lustig, Maison Matho, OyBar, Petit Trois, Pop’s Bagels, Steep LA, Stir Crazy, The Brothers Sushi, and many more.

Don’t miss out on the chance to be part of this undefined celebration of food and drink next year!