East L.A Meets Napa 2010 On July 9th: You're Not Down To Go...

Yeeah homie! Being born and raised in East L.A, I've been waiting for this event to come around again since last year's was PURO Pinche Pari!

Its just something about seeing other homeboys dressed in their Sunday Guayabera best sippin' on some fine Shiraz...ha ha. All for the sake of giving back to to Alta Med, an organization that I personally know has really helped around here.

I was lucky enough to be invited to a preview tasting of some of the stuff that will be featured in the event.

The tasting took place in some cool little eatery out in the underestimated city uptown Whittier
called Phlight.

Here are some of my favorites of the tasting. I was told that all the ones I highlight will be offered at the event.

From Phlight Restaurant:


Squash Blossoms stuffed w/ Mexican Cheeses and Tempura Batter, Flor De Jamaica [and Lavender] Orange Blossom Consome

This was damn good, a dish concentrated on the typical deliciousness of a typical Mexico City lunch. Oozy queso fresco went all the floral flavored crispy golden edges.


Deconstructed Posole w/ slow roasted Pork Tenderloin

This dish made me embarrassingly giggle due to its similarity in taste to one a many bowls of traditional posole I've had in every other family gathering. The mulched hominy came with a rich pork stock and tasted like pork flavored grits! Pork was a bit tough though.


Chile Guero stuffed w/ Crab Meat and Asparagus, Tequila Crab Chipotle Cream Sauce

Easily my favorite from this restaurant. Staying true to the chile relleno comfort classics of that airy fried egg batter soaked by a tasty chilito but with the added benefit of sweet crab meat.

Robert Tapia of Mission Wine And Spirits in Pasadena was kind enough to pair some exquisite wines with a lot of these courses. Although I didn't get to try much, there were a couple that made made me raise my eyebrow.



From Seta Restaurant:


Golden Gazpacho W/ Poached Shrimp, Cous-Cous

A couple of tacos were brought out by Steven Arroyo of Cobras & Matadors and Church & State. He is about to open a new taco shop called Esquela based on the philosophy that everything tastes better when wrapped with a Tortilla.


Braised Pork Chop Tacos

Handles! Can't Wait!

Eat and get effed up for a good cause!

Buy tickets here


The People That Make East L.A Meets Napa Crack!





(Taken From Press Release)



"It’s that time of year again when Latin Cuisine flirts with fine wine. Please join us for an exclusive sneak peek into AltaMed’s 5th Annual East LA Meets Napa event with a special celebration of Mexico’s Bicentennial. Enjoy bicentennial dishes prepared by some of LA’s premiere chefs and fine wine from Napa Valley and Baja California’s Valle de Guadalupe. Participants at this preview event will include: Chef Daniel Salcido, Jay Arroyo and Nikomi Arroyo of Phlight, Chef Hugo Molina and Javier Jimenez of Setá, and Steven Arroyo (Cobras & Matadors, Church & State) of yet to be opened Esquela.

About the Event

AltaMed’s Fifth Annual East LA Meets Napa celebration returns better than ever on July 9th from 6-9p, with an expanded courtyard in one of Los Angeles most historic settings – Union Station. This year, the event also presents some of Baja California’s best wineries to showcase wines from the Valle de Guadalupe region in commemoration of Mexico’s Bicentennial celebration. The event will feature the diversity of Los Angeles’ Latin cuisine and fine wine from Latino-owned or –operated Napa Wineries through 60 wine and food pairing stations.

AltaMed’s East LA Meets Napa was inspired by CEO Cástulo De La Rocha’s passion for good Latin cuisine and fine wine. In that spirit and with his enduring commitment to serving communities in need, AltaMed’s East LA Meets Napa fundraiser was born.

The event will provide more than 1,400 entrepreneurs, community leaders, and food and wine enthusiasts with the opportunity to support AltaMed’s mission – increasing access to quality and culturally relevant health and human services to underserved communities in Southern California. During the past 41 years, AltaMed has been committed to providing quality care without exception. For more information on AltaMed please visit www.altamed.orghttp://www.altamed.org> .



Partial List of Participants for
AltaMed’s East LA Meets Napa 2010

Restaurants


Birrieria Chalio
Cacoa Mexicatessen
Casa de Moles “LaTia”
Cobras & Matadors
Cook’s Tortas
Dorados
El Portal
El Tepeyac Café
Esquela
Guelaguetza
Homegirl Café
La Casita Mexicana
La Parrilla Restaurant
La Serenata de Garibaldi
Phlight Restaurant
Porto’s Bakery & Café
Rivera Restaurant
Setá
Señor Fish
Taco’s Baja
Tamayo Restaurant
Teresitas
Tila’s Kitchen








Vintners
** - are Baja Californian vintners

Alex Sotelo Cellars
Ceja Vineyards
El Centauro del Norte
Elements of Sonoma
Encanto Vineyards
Gustavo Thrace Wines
J Lohr Vineyards & Wine
Karl Lawrence Cellars
Madrigal Vineyards
Maritas Vineyards
Mi Sueño
Renteria Wines
Robledo Vineyards
San Antonio Winery
Sequoia Grove Vineyards
Veramonte
Beringer
**L.A. Cetto Vineyard
**J.C. Bravo
Frias Family Vineyard
Chadeau de Vie
Maldonado Family Vineyards
Black Coyote
V. Sattui Winery
**Adobe Guadalupe


We look forward to seeing you soon. Buen Provecho!"