The Los Angeles Times must have noticed the rash of food festival mega events sweeping Los Angeles, because they’re throwing one of their own. If you’re like us, you’re not blown away by all the high-powered celebrity chef panels and gourmet cooking demonstrations—at least not for $55. For that kind of money, there is only one question: what can I eat? The answer is a little unclear. It’s not quite all access, all you can eat (unless you can procure a VIP ticket, which have already sold out). What your $55 ($65 at the door) general admission ticket buys you is: a wine glass, 8 drink tickets “for sampling,” free food samples from the “Main Area” restaurants and Food Network food trucks, access to the evening concert (hipster darlings She & Him! Who doesn’t love Zooey Deschanel?), as well as to the aforementioned panels, demonstrations, and exhibitor schmoozing. I believe you can get a look at the “Main Area” restaurants here, though they aren’t clearly labeled as such. Campinile is on that list—are they doing free samples? What about Suzanne Goin, Michael Voltaggio, Ludo Lefebvre, and Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo? We’re guessing no. Watching Goin and Mark Peel cook, and then someone else eat, slow grilled pork loin and tomatoes with marjoram, campfire potatoes and long cooked mustard greens, and strawberries with orange zest and black pepper over vanilla ice cream—that could be fun. On the other hand, it could be torture. Still, 100 exhibitors is a lot, many of the panels sound interesting, and the free samples are nothing to sneeze at. Which is to say, while not exactly a bargain, this is going to be a very cool event.

Los Angeles Times Celebration of Food and Wine
Sunday, September 5, 12 – 8 p.m.
Paramount Pictures Studio
5555 Melrose Ave., Hollywood
$55 General Admission; $40 concert only; VIP tickets sold out
events.latimes.com; 213.237.3325