Recap: L.A. Loves Alex’s Lemonade Brings Out the Culinary Stars

PHOTO by JENNIFER BASTIAN

It would’ve taken a superhuman appetite to try everything at the third-annual L.A. Loves Alex’s Lemonade, which packed nearly 40 chefs and even more bartenders, brewers and vintners onto the lawn of historic Culver Studios. But that didn’t stop some 1,200 attendees from trying. Between ticket sales and some luxurious auction items, over $500,000 was raised for childhood cancer research—L.A. Loves Alex’s is by far the city’s best culinary event with a conscience.

PHOTO by JENNIFER BASTIAN

Donald Link (Herbsaint and Cochon) brought with him the flavors of Louisiana: a cool black-eyed pea salad, a knob of excellent Cajun sausage and a hunk of boudin turgid with rice and pork. Whereas many of the day’s plates seemed only like festival-sized bites, Link’s felt like a fully formed dish, a complete Cajun meal downsized only to accommodate the bacchanal. 

To Do: Can Food Really Be Authentic?

Los Angeles’ culinary authenticity goes up for debate on March 11 when Zócalo hosts a forum questioning whether that feta char sui burrito you’re about to eat is even really a burrito at all. The free event at the Skirball Center will be moderated by Jonathan Gold and includes guests Roy Choi of Kogi, Nancy Silverton of Mozza and Sarintip Singsanong of Jitlada. RSVP at zocalopublicsquare.org.