Saturday, February 28, saw LA Weekly host its second-annual Gold Standard Food and Wine event. Happy Los Angelenos, LA Weekly readers, FIJI Water fans, and followers of Pulitzer Prize-winning food critic and writer Jonathan Gold enjoyed food from some of the city’s most delicious eateries.
Chef Mary Sue Milliken, owner of Border Grill and Ciudad
Jonathan Gold is known by many for his unpredictable taste and appreciation of the diverse ethnic cuisines represented in Los Angeles. He’s recognized as the final word on the best and most exciting food in the city, whether it’s from a mom-and-pop taco truck or a trendy, high-end restaurant. This event, which was held at the always-entertaining Petersen Automotive Museum, gave guests the rare opportunity to sample Gold’s top tasting picks all in one very interesting location.
Specializing in cuisines from all over the world, the 40 restaurants that Gold selected reflect Los Angeles’ incredibly diverse culinary life. Guests got to dine on such creative dishes as avocado-and-grilled-corn tacos, cured salmon with Meyer lemon, cold chorizo velouté with cornichon sorbet, and “golden” cupcakes for that oh-so crucial sweet chaser.
Non-alcoholic hydration needs were met by FIJI Water, while those looking for something with more buzz could choose between many different wineries and breweries.
Besides eating, noshing, chowing, snacking, smiling, and drinking, guests were entertained by DJ Ice and his musical sampling, as well as by country-western singer Lynda Kay. 
Other high points of the evening were the unveiling of the sleek, state-of-the-art FIJI Water kitchen (for inspired foodies who like to take matters into their own hands as well as their homes) and a raffle for various sponsor-provided gifts and prizes.
Making the event even sweeter was the fact that a portion of the proceeds went to Heal the Bay and the Make-a-Wish Foundation.
Highlights
