The Taste is coming, you’d better be hungry

Some of Los Angeles’ best chefs demonstrating what they do best, dozens of great wineries and cocktail specialists pouring their wares, a broad cross-section of the Southern California restaurant scene — from temples of fine dining to the most popular neighborhood joints. That’s what you’ll find at the fifth edition of Los Angeles Times’ The Taste food celebration coming Labor Day weekend.

Among the chefs who will be cooking are Mozza’s Nancy Silverton, Providence’s Michael Cimarusti, the French Laundry’s Thomas Keller and David Breeden, Rivera’s John Sedlar, Top Chef C.J. Jacobsen from Girasol, and Karen Hatfield from Hatfield’s and Sycamore Kitchen.

Tickets for the events, which once again will be held on the back lot at Paramount Studios, range from $100 to $175. Los Angeles Times subscribers receive a $25 discount for most events.

The three-day festival kicks off Friday night with a limited-ticket VIP party that will let you mingle with many of the weekend’s participating chefs including co-hosts Silverton, Cimarusti and Sedlar. Among the restaurants offering samples will be Jitlada, Alma, Chichen Itza, Hamasaku, Hinoki & the Bird, Phorage and more.

Saturday morning’s Field to Fork event will be hosted by Silverton and Times food editor Russ Parsons. There will be cooking demonstrations by Silverton, Bruce Kalman (Union), C.J. Jacobsen (Girasol) and Tal Ronnen (Crossroads). A panel discussion on chefs at farmers markets will feature Josiah Citrin (Melisse), Jessica Koslow (Sqirl), Roxana Jullapat (Cook’s County) and Vincenzo Marianella (Copa d’Oro).

Among the restaurants featured will be Loteria Grill, Akasha, Coni’Seafood, Lum-Ka-Naad and Eveleigh.

Saturday night’s Dinner with a Twist, hosted by Sedlar and Cox as well as Times restaurant critic Jonathan Gold and deputy food editor Betty Hallock, will feature chefs and bartenders working together to create complementary food and drink.

Besides Rivera’s Sedlar and Cox, there will be Ricardo Zarate and Deysi Alvarez (Mo-Chica and Paiche) and Michael Hung and Michael Lay (Faith & Flower) and a mixology demonstration featuring Alex Day and Devon Tarby (Proprieters LLC), Max Seaman and Mikki Kristola (The Varnish), and Naomi Schimek (The Spare Room).

Among the restaurants featured will be RivaBella, Rocio’s Moles de los Dioses, Ensaymada Project, Bierbeisl and Sotto.

The next morning, Sunday Brunch will be headlined by the French Laundry’s Thomas Keller and chef de cuisine David Breeden, who will participate in a panel discussion looking back at 20 years of the distinguished restaurant’s history. Also participating will be Keller alums Jeffery Cerciello (FarmShop) and Timothy Hollingsworth (the coming Broad Museum restaurant).

There will be cooking demonstrations by host Noelle Carter, Times Test Kitchen director, Casey Lane (Tasting Kitchen) and Karen Hatfield (Hatfield’s). Featured restaurants will include Angelini Osteria, McConnell’s ice cream, Muddy Leek and Ramen Burger.

Capping the long weekend will be Flavors of LA, hosted by Gold and Cimarusti. You’ll see cooking demonstrations by Cimarusti, Jimmy Shaw (Loteria Grill), Evan Kleiman (host of KCRW’s Good Food)and Amelia Posada (Lindy & Grundy) as well as a panel discussion on foraging with Wes Avila (Guerilla Tacos), Ari Taymor (Alma) and forager Pascal Baudar.

Among the featured restaurants: Chi Spacca and Mozza, Fishing with Dynamite, Little Sister, Meals by Genet and Smoke.Oil.Salt.