By Cheri Fox
Celebrating 7th year Master of Taste raises 3 million for Union Station. Master of Taste 2024 had a private media preview on the eve of Wednesday February 28, 2024. The welcome reception was a Master Tasting of just a few Chefts that will be featured at the April 7th Master of Taste at the Pasadena Rose Bowl. It was also a celebration of raising 3 million dollars over the last 7 years from the Master of Taste ticket sales that support the charity Union Station, for homeless services. The evening started with a popular food truck outside the famous locker room of the Pasadena Rose Bowl with the trendy Cerda Vega Food Truck, tacos from Chef Lorenzo & Chef Danny.
Then there was a cocktail hour that kept on pouring in the famous locker room of the Pasadena Rose Bowl. Several signature beverages were featured starting with Empress 1908 Gin by one of the oldest artisan distilleries in Canada made by Victoria Distillers using world’s best water and finest ingredients. Also presenting tasting Mezcal 33 made in Mexico finest ingredients gluten free and kosher certified. This award winning mezcal is also made by mezcalero masters artisan distillation and the brand chose the number 33 to represent them as a guide to extraordinary destinations, advancement, growth and positivity intertwined in the number 33.
Chocolates from Lindor were paired well with the Mezcal 33 and sampled all night long during cocktails and dinner. A tangy Sangria Rojo was prepared by Casa Cordoba Restaurant and accompanied by their signature Pinxto de Pulpo, an octopus potato and grilled focaccia sample dish. A new twist on chardonnay and cabernet, the non-alcoholic version Cru Winery served non-alcoholic wine both red and white with the meal, to the average wine enthusiast palate it was hard to discern the difference from a wine with alcohol. Chefs from several of the popular restaurants which will be featured in this year’s
Master of Taste presented tastings that were absolutely delicious. The media tasting dishes included Albacore Tuna Tostado by restaurant PEZ CANTINA , featuring Chef Bret Thompson & Lucy Thompson Ramirez. The second course of Hotate No Tataki were tasty live scallops prepared by Chef Joe Hammond from UCHI WEST HOLLYWOOD .
The third and favorite course is called Sfoglia di Ravioli, a tantalizing spinach ricotta ravioli and brown butter ravioli by Chef Luca Maita, from LAVO RESTAURANT. Then an impressive Crispy Sea Bass broiled to perfection served with Meyer lemon risotto seafood bolognese from Chef Bret Thompson & Lucy Thompson Ramirez from restaurant PEZ COASTAL KITCHEN. Last but not least an absolutely fabulous dessert tray with Birthday and Chocolate
Cake pops which were gluten-free, also Lemon & Passion fruit almond macaroon cookies and the best chocolate chip cookies which were delicious and delectable prepared by JOY & SWEETS. It was a lively event with over two hundred trendy culinary, spirits and lifestyle media, and several media sponsors including Los Angeles Magazine.
Over 3000 tickets were sold out last year and this year Master of Taste 2024 they are expecting over 3000 culinary foodies and beverage affiociados, 100 Culinary Masters, Sweet Masters and top Beverage Masters and restaurants will be featured with over 25 spirit brands and wineries and craft breweries, cold pressed juices cold brew coffee and LIVE entertainment. Also Every dollar raised at the 2024 Masters of Taste event will benefit the work of Union Station Homeless Services (Union Station), a local organization successfully fighting to end homelessness. Ticket Information:Masters of Taste 2024 will take place on Sunday, April 7th, 2024, and this is a 21+ event. A VIP Power Hour will be held from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm and General Admission will be from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm. For more information on Masters of Taste 2024, please visit www.MastersofTasteLA.com.