Gold Standard 2012

This Sunday marked the fourth LA Weekly Gold Standard, an event featuring restaurants hand-picked by the Pulitzer Prize-winning food critic Jonathan Gold. Thanks to Gold's eclectic tastes the vendors at the event ranged from the humble to the highbrow, and, after thoroughly enjoying myself last year, I looked forward to again sampling such diverse bites in one afternoon.

Charred baby octopus from A-Frame

Foie gras mousse, satsuma marmalade and toast from Animal

Pork shoulder baco from Baco Mercat

Olive oil gelato and peach sorbetto from Bulgarini Gelato

Pistachio gelato and plum sorbetto from Bulgarini Gelato

Cochinita pibil from Chichen Itza

Black truffles from Drago Centro

Mushroom agnolotti with black truffle from Drago Centro

Tamales oaxaquenos (black mole and chicken tamales wrapped in banana leaves) from Guelaguetza

Huckleberry

I adored the serving platter for the Niman Ranch maple bacon biscuits!

Pork belly and oyster beignet with celery root remoulade from The Hungry Cat

Chef Michael Voltaggio: "People hate me on Yelp."

Beef tongue and tendon "taco" with horseradish powder from ink

Jitlada

Bossam daikon wrap from Kobawoo House

Kimchi pancakes from LaOn

Kimchi pancake and shortribs from LaOn

Sweet potato veloute from Le Comptoir

Rib eye bao with spicy cucumber from Lukshon

Mayura Restaurant

Cous cous with pomegranate, marcona almonds, lavender-infused feta and homemade yogurt from MB Post

Brisket sandwich with homemade pickles and mango sauce from Mezze

Ice cream sandwich from Mezze

Butterscotch budino from Mozza

"Poptarts" and red velvet cupcakes from The Nickel Diner

Sausage from Night + Market

"Startled Pig" (grilled pork with bird eye chili, lemongrass, garlic and lime) from Night + Market

Pork belly with sun-dried potato from Picca

Grilled tiger prawn with yuzu from Picca

Pistachio, white chocolate, meyer lemon and rose water from Providence

Short Cake

Short Order

Short Order

Sausage with sauerkrat from Short Order

Plum confit chicken from Starry Kitchen

Lychee panna cotta with elderflower from Starry Kitchen

Crazy-ass Nguyen of Starry Kitchen!

Mung bean pancake with miso mustard and dark soy from Street

Emerald Palmer (cucumber lemonade with green tea and mint) from Street

Crispy pork belly porcetto with quince mostarda from Sotto

Pastrami and brisket from Smoke City Market

The Spice Table

Pig tail with smoked perilla, mint, gem lettuce and fish sauce from The Spice Table

Tsujita

Iced Zona Rosa cappuccino from Zona Rosa

Highlights:
*The ribeye bao from Lukshon-- my favorite dish of the event!

*The mushroom agnolotti with shaved truffles from Drago. Pillowy soft and loaded with truffle flavor, this dish was a close second on my list of favorites.

*The beef tongue and tendon taco from ink. I'm usually too timid to try beef tongue, but I took the plunge and sampled Chef Voltaggio's version. What can I say? Handsome chefs make me do bold things. The cool, crunch dish turned out to be one of the most refreshing bites of the day.

*Chatting with Chef Roy Choi (Kogi, Chego, A-Frame and Sunny Spot) about Hawai'i, its culture and, of course, the food.

*I'm not much of a BBQ girl, but the pastrami and brisket from Smoke City Market rocked. my. socks.

*Brisket sandwich with homemade pickles and mango sauce from Mezze. I've been eager to try this place and loved the tasty teaser I got today.

*The tiger prawn with yuzu from Picca was beautiful and grilled to perfection (and the free drink tokens for the new, soon-to-open Mo-Chica!).

*The beautiful lychee panna cotta from Starry Kitchen


With the J. Gold's upcoming move to the LA Times, who knows what will become of the Gold Standard. Given the event's fun factor and Gold's love for food and sharing his finds with Angelenos, however, I can only hope that the LAT will take up the face-stuffing mantle and continue the event. Please?