The second annual Gold Standard event was held at the Petersen Automotive Museum.  According to Jonathan Gold, food connoisseur for the LA Weekly, “forty of the best tastes in Los Angeles” were featured at the museum and it was quite an event.  From the packed, full parking lot to the line of anticipating foodies, everyone was excited to get a sampling from the variety of restaurants and vendors present.  Once you passed through the doors, you had to grab plastic utensils – and hold onto them – and a wine glass; after that, the dishes appeared left and right.  The only way I can describe it was a feast – for the eyes, stomach, and nose as different aromas circulated the tent.

Right when I entered, I had the first three to the right which consisted of dishes of pork belly, curry chicken pot pie, and tacos with two types of salsa.  I felt stuffed already, but knew there was so much more to experience!  From Ethiopian food (Meals by Genet) to Kogi BBQ to saffron and kulfi flavored ice cream (Saffron Spot), there was a mixture of cuisines to satisfy everyone’s needs and taste buds.  At times it was overwhelming and you felt you had to “truck right through it,” but it was also so much fun to try a snippet from a restaurant and note in your head to definitely visit soon.

The selection and venue was amazing – from the array of wine choices to the live music to an appearance made by Jonathan Gold himself!  Some of the stellar restaurants that stood out were Upstairs 2, Palate, and Huckleberry Cafe.  Upstairs 2 had the amazing pork belly dish – my friend and her girlfriend actually swung by there for round 2.  That dish resonated throughout the afternoon and I could not get it out of my mind.  Palate had a flavorful Banh Mi with pork belly + ear, kumquat, pistachio, and lardon.  The sandwiches were grabbed left and right and none of them sat for even ten seconds at the table.  With the restaurant so close by in Glendale, I am definitely going to have to stop there to grab a sandwich and glass of wine!  Last, Huckleberry Cafe had delightful goodies; as uttered by one of our fellow attendees, “oh my god, that chocolate cupcake…”

I look forward to attending Gold Standard again – and can’t wait to see what Jonathan Gold has to present next year!

Donuts from the Nickel Diner:

And finally Jonathan Gold himself with Kris: