TASTE OF THE EASTSIDE 2016
FOOD FEST HIGHLIGHTS EAST SIDE EATS

For music fans, summertime is known as festival season as there are so many music fests going on—it’s not all about Coachella even though this year Guns N’ Roses are back together again. Food festivals seem to be a year round thing but with the beautiful SoCal weather upon us, it just really seems like a great time for foodies to gather en masse to eat and drink together.

The food fest season kicked off with the fabulous Masters of Taste food festival at the Pasadena Rose Bowl and isn’t letting up any time soon, especially with the sixth annual Taste of the Eastside (TOTE) festival scheduled for Sunday, May 1 at Los Angeles River Center and Gardens. While it’s always fun to indulge in good eats, it’s even a better occasion when a food festival raises funds for a good cause and gives the community a fun-filled afternoon surrounded by some of the city’s best cuisines in a stunning and lush hidden setting.

The Los Angeles River Center and Gardens has been home to the festival for the past two years, giving the festival a new feel from its previous home at Barnsdall Park. The Los Angeles River Center and Gardens, a stunning mission-style villa with lush landscaping, soothing fountains and meandering, tiled patios, provides a breathtaking backdrop for foodies to sample delicious offerings from some of LA’s hottest purveyors of food and drink.

There will be over 30 established and emerging vendors as well as food specialists on site representing the fun food and drink scene of the Eastside. From the areas of Silverlake, Los Feliz, Atwater Village and Echo Park to Downtown there is sure to be something familiar to all Angelenos. Some participating faves include Little Dom's, G&B Coffee, Barcito, Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams to satisfy any sweet tooth. 

TOTE would not be complete without red and white pours from the region's finest, boutique wine merchants, Silver Lake Wines. Beer will flow from local brewers, including Eagle Rock and Highland Park Brewery along with refreshing cocktails from Mohawk Bend and Greenbar Distillery. KCRW DJ favorites Anthony Valadez and Garth Trinidad will be spinning tunes, and this year will also feature live music from Charlie Overbey and The Broken Arrows. 

Rose Scharlin Cooperative Nursery School, LA’s oldest co-op for kids, is the primary beneficiary and organizer of the event. Other highly-deserving local organizations that will receive proceeds include The Pablove Foundation and Friends of the Los Angeles River.

Taste of the Eastside is happening on Sunday, May 1 from 4-8pm with 3pm VIP early access at Los Angeles River Center & Gardens, located at 570 W. Ave 26 in Cypress Park. Click here to buy tickets.

Photography Courtesy Of: Taste of the Eastside