Tastemakers event brings slices of Asian and Pacific Islander cuisine to Costa Mesa

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Andrew Huskey from Tackle Box restaurant serves pulled pork with braised vegetables during the second annual Tastemakers of Orange County event, a cultural celebration and all-you-can-sample food festival benefiting the Orange County Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance at SoCo and the OC Mix in Costa Mesa on Wednesday.

(Don Leach / Staff Photographer)

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A decorative sculpture carved from a watermelon is on display Wednesday at the Taco Mesa booth during the second annual Tastemakers of Orange County event at SoCo and the OC Mix in Costa Mesa.

(Don Leach / Staff Photographer)

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Poke served in a martini glass was among the offerings during the second annual Tastemakers of Orange County cultural celebration and food festival benefiting the Orange County Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance on Wednesday at SoCo and the OC Mix in Costa Mesa.

(Don Leach / Staff Photographer)

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Break of Dawn restaurant grills lemongrass meatballs during the second annual Tastemakers of Orange County food festival and benefit for the Orange County Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance on Wednesday in Costa Mesa.

(Don Leach / Staff Photographer)

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Lemongrass meatball skewers from Break of Dawn restaurant line up during Wednesday’s Tastemakers of Orange County event, a cultural celebration and all-you-can-sample food festival benefiting the Orange County Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance.

(Don Leach / Staff Photographer)

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Guests sample Asian and Pacific Islander cuisine during the second annual Tastemakers of Orange County on Wednesday at SoCo and the OC Mix in Costa Mesa.

(Don Leach / Staff Photographer)

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Andrew Huskey, right, from Tackle Box restaurant serves smoked pulled pork to hungry visitors during Wednesday’s Tastemakers of Orange County food festival benefiting the Orange County Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance.

(Don Leach / Staff Photographer)

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Chef Dee Nguyen from Break of Dawn restaurant hands out samples of lemongrass meatballs during the second annual Tastemakers of Orange County event at SoCo and the OC Mix in Costa Mesa on Wednesday.

(Don Leach / Staff Photographer)

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Guests sample the fare on Wednesday at the second annual Tastemakers of Orange County event, a cultural celebration and food festival in Costa Mesa benefiting the Orange County Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance.

(Don Leach / Staff Photographer)

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Chef Dee Nguyen, right, from Break of Dawn restaurant checks on the progress of lemongrass meatballs with cook Angel Chao, center, and Troy Hashimoto during Wednesday’s Tastemakers of Orange County food festival at SoCo and the OC Mix in Costa Mesa.

(Don Leach / Staff Photographer)

By Luke MoneyStaff Writer

Sept. 21, 2017 1:20 PM PT

Chefs from award-winning restaurants throughout the area flaunted their culinary craftsmanship Wednesday during Tastemakers of Orange County 2.0 in Costa Mesa.

The second annual food festival at SOCO and the OC Mix was held to benefit the Orange County Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance and celebrate those communities’ heritage and, of course, cooking.

“The Asian community has become so diverse in the last 20 years,” OCAPICA Executive Director Mary Anne Foo said this month. “You have Asians mixing with other races, the second-generation, younger chefs and longtime restaurant owners who have really transformed the county. What binds them all is their commitment to the community and wanting to give something back.”

The event, which organizers said drew about 500 guests, also celebrated the 20th anniversary of OCAPICA, which seeks to enhance the health and socioeconomic well-being of Asians and Pacific Islanders in Orange County.

The group is based in Garden Grove and has offices in Costa Mesa and Buena Park.

luke.money@latimes.com

Twitter @LukeMMoney

Tastemakers event brings slices of Asian and Pacific Islander cuisine to Costa Mesa

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