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HERE ARE TWO EVENTS THIS WEEKEND, NO FOODIE WOULD WANT TO MISS:

L.A. STREET FOOD FEST

Of course, I would have to be out of town when one of the largest foodie events in L.A.is set to take place. Good for them because I would actually wait overnight to be the first to hit up each truck and I would be all over seconds and thirds at each truck like Winnie the Pooh to honey.

But if you'll be in town and looking to splurge on that summer diet and workout routine, make some rounds at the second L.A Street Food Fest taking place this Saturday, July 24, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena (1001 Rose Bowl Drive, off North Arroyo Blvd.)

More than 60 mobile food truck vendors from eateries, restaurants, celeb chefs and classic carts will park it outside the bowl while vendor booths sit under tents inside.
What will be offered? The question is really, what won't be offered.

Everything from breakfast at Monsieur Egg to dessert from Cool Haus and Sweet Lucie's. There will also be open bars and beer gardens for tequila and mezcal tastings, and specialty juices and cocktails.

Presale tickets are limited and only available online. No at-door sales. Tickets are $45 per person and is all inclusive, as much as you can handle. The last food fest included long lines for some foodie favorites so be sure to get there early if you want to make a couple rounds at your favorite truck or vendor..

For more information and tickets, visit www.lastreetfoodfest.com.

Read about how some vendors are preparing in Staff Writer Brian Charles' story.

 

YOGA FOR FOODIES

David Romanelli (aka Yeah Dave) is bringing his Yoga for Foodies to Los Angeles. Yoga for Foodies is a national tour  where at each stop, David collaborates with local chefs to create an unforgettable foodie experience.

On July 25, Dave will be pairing up with Akasha Richmond, chef founder of the critically acclaimed Culver City-based Akasha Restaurant, Bar, Bakery.

During the event, the morning will begin with David's flowing yoga class whose message and music will emphasize a more sustainable pace.

Following yoga while participants are relaxed and in the moment, Akasha will lead a guided tasting inspired by her years of cooking for and studying with Yogi Bhajan, and how his teachings influenced her style of cooking. Akasha began her professional career at Yogi Bhajan's Golden Temple Conscious Cookery, a now defunct but once popular vegetarian restaurant in Los Angeles.

Menu highlights include: giner-mint lemonade and organic mango lassi; local farm egg and goat cheese frittata with spinach and caramelized onions; cumin and coriander spiced lamb sausage; grilled tandoori vegetable salad with coleman farms greens, white corn, zucchini, red peppers, and chutney dressing; punjabi focaccia with holy basil pesto, heirloom tomatoes, grilled eggplant, fresh paneer; fresh baked blackberry coffee cake, peach scones, and housemade preserves.

Yoga for Foodies will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tickets are $54. Reservations are required.
Akasha Restaurant, Bar, Bakery is at 9543 Culver Blvd., Culver City. For more information, call (310) 845-1700.

What better way to really get in the spirit of the World Cup than enjoying some world fare.

Seems more and more restaurants and locales are helping soccer fans get in the spirit of cheering on their favorite team or country by having the games on for viewing. Well others are stepping it up by offering up a variety of dishes representing the many countries taking part in the soccer matchups.

Starting today through Tuesday, June 29, the ESPN Match Truck will be rolling through Los Angeles offering a world menu while you catch a game on their high-def television screens attached to the top of the truck. The menu designed by Kogi and Chego chef Roy Choi features items such as the South African bunny chow, Mexico's carne asada burrito and American silver-dollar pancakes, to name a few. Follow the truck on Twitter @ESPNWCTRUCKLA or visit espnwctrucks.com for more information and location dates and times.

I know, what's bunny chow right? Well, we're not talking a Fatal Attraction dish here. Basically, the chow is a hollowed out loaf of bread filled with a chicken curry - juicy chicken leg meat seasoned with Madras, garlic, cilantro, lime juice and yogurt, with fresh peas, grilled onions, mizuna, Thai basil, pickled red onions. Then the flesh of the bread is slathered with curried goat cheese. ($6)

If you're feeling a bit more fancy, check out the Langham Huntington's World Cup Street Food Menu offered at The Bar, now through July 11. The menu features dishes such as semisweet coconut curry puffs (South Africa); brown butter spaetzle with beer cheese (Germany); Faina flat bread with chimichurri (Argentina); and more. There will also be specials on signature cocktails.

For more information, visit http://pasadena.langhamhotels.com or follow on Twitter @langhampasadena. Retweet on Twitter to win two dishes each week. The Langham Huntington is at 1401 S. Oak Knoll Ave., Pasadena,  (626) 568-3700.

GOAL!! (That's me scoring some good food!)

I've always enjoyed street food and taco trucks, despite the bad rep they had for many years. Now, thanks to the Kogi BBQ truck, it seems it's cool to enjoy lunch or dinner from a food truck.

I've honestly been very interested to go try some of the new food truck varieties that are popping up everywhere, but obviously not enough to follow them all over Los Angeles County. Then came the "festivals" where armies of food trucks get together.

I hadn't had a chance to make it to one of these until Tuesday. I finally made a date with my best friend and we headed to the Street Feast at the Americana at Brand.

It was my first time at the Americana, the indoor/outdoor mall adjacent to the Glendale Galleria. I liked the open space in the middle of this retail/residential community. There's a fountain, grass you can relax on, and plenty of casual and fine dining around.

On this Tuesday night, there was a good crowd that were settled on the grass. I thought they were either taking a retail break or just enjoying some of the food they had picked up at one of the nine food trucks at the feast, and then I spotted a flat screen that drew their full attention - game 6 of the Lakers/Celtics basketball playoffs - Ah! I guess there was no need to decide between the Street Feast and playoffs.

I checked the score early in the game and then went back to business. There was no map, so my feast partner and I walked around the perimeter of the inside of the Americana to scope out what each of the food trucks had to offer and spot the ones we were most interested in - The Grilled Cheese Truck and The Flying Pig.

The other food trucks were Coolhaus, mainly dessert; The Buttermilk Truck, breakfast-time and dessert; Mandoline Grill, curry and noodles; Worldfare; Patty Wagon; Comfort Truck; and Vizzi.

Almost every truck already had a good long line of people eager for service. The Grilled Cheese Truck seemed to be the winner though. It looked like there was about 15 to 20 people in line, relatively short, but when I tried to step into the back of the line, an Americana "ambassador" politely asked if I was looking for the Grilled Cheese truck line, which I was so he patiently pointed to a line that wrapped around one of the stores to the actual end of the line with about 40 more people waiting. I apparently tried to step in at a traffic break and cut the line. Oops.

Knowing we would not be able to wait in line patiently, and our stomachs already grumbling, we decided to find a smaller line to grab something quicker and smaller while we take our chances waiting at the Flying Pig line, which also looked like it would be a good wait.

Some local restaurants were serving up mac and cheese and salad plates and sliders. We each grabbed a quick slider and headed to the Flying Pig line. Again an ambassador approached us and asked if we had ordered yet, we hadn't so he directed us to the front to order.

The Flying Pig menu on a small stand outside had a selection of tacos and drinks, we found out later the menu directly on the truck had more of a selection.

The pork belly taco and spiced pork taco piqued my interest but alas the attendant regrettably informed me they were out of spiced pork, so I went with the tamarind duck taco instead.

There was no line to order but then we had to head back to the end of the 20-something-people-long line, which was not much compared to others.

Fifteen minutes and one slider later, we had barely moved one person up in the line. After almost 30 minutes and only one more move up, we overheard the ambassador was beginning to tell people wishing to get in line or to order, that the Flying Pig had stopped taking orders since they were having problems with one of their "ovens" (maybe he meant grills, I hoped those ordering carne asada tacos were not getting oven-cooked asada - weird.)

Seeing the occasional plate of tacos being served, we remained hopeful we would get the tacos we paid for - eventually.

According to their website, "The Flying Pig truck has hit the streets featuring the perfect blend of Asian & Pacific Rim flavors with French technique." The tamarind duck was a great example of that combination. It featured duck confit with pickled red beets, toasted almonds, radish sprouts, mandarin orange, and tamarind gravy.

The pork belly taco features braised pork belly with red onion escabeche, pickled sesame cucumber, and death sauce.

After learning of the "oven" trouble, I decided to take a chance on the Mandoline Grill which seemed to have many people coming away with food pretty quickly, and some tasty smells were coming from that direction. I went ahead and waited in the grill line to order while my friend stayed in line at the pig truck.

In 15 minutes, I had one 12" grilled pork and one 12" grilled beef banh mi, a Vietnamese baguette sandwich ($6 each). I headed back to the taco line and had a few nibbles of the sandwich as we were quickly approaching the end of the line.

After over an hour wait, we finally got our tacos - priced between $2.75 and $3.25 each - and although I wasn't as hungry as before, these definitely were worth the wait. I was only sorry I hadn't ordered the limit of five items to begin with.

The pork belly was melt-in-your-mouth awesome, soft but not greasy. The sesame cucumber and sauce complemented it well without overwhelming the natural taste of this little piggy. The sauce was a kind of chili sauce with a bit of a kick but I still have no clue why it's called the "death" sauce. It wasn't that hot. There was Sriracha, or rooster, sauce available to add. I passed.

This would be my first time tasting duck, in any way, but my friend was excited about it so I imagined it wasn't as odd as it sounded to me. The beets and small orange slices were a nice start. When I finally bit into the duck, it was moist and tender. Surprisingly, it reminded me of shredded beef and not like its cousin, the chicken, but not as fatty either.

Yes, these tacos were worth the wait but I don't know if I'll do it again. I will be more prepared next time, arriving a lot earlier, getting a large group together and planning out a strategy of who to send out to wait at different trucks, all mission-impossible style.

A mission I could definitely practice at the next L.A. Street Food Fest to be featured at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on July 24. But sadly, I will be out on other adventures that weekend and will have to hold off on that rescue plan. Next time Gadget, next time.

Check out details for the L.A. Street Food Fest at their website or here on our Rose magazine blog.

After a some-what quick run-through at a bridal show last month held at the Pasadena Convention Center, my sister and I were famished and in need of something refreshing to wash down the sweets we sampled at the show.

As we walked back to our parking in the Paseo Colorado structure, we spotted Camille's Sidewalk Cafe off of Green Street and decided to check it out.

The menu looked pretty expansive with salads, sandwiches, wraps, soups, paninis, smoothies and more. I opted for the Spicy Chicken Tender wrap while my sister went with the Peach Paradise smoothie.

The wrap has bacon, spicy chicken tender pieces, provolone cheese, romaine lettuce, sprouts, salsa and ranch dressing wrapped in a jalapeno-cheddar tortilla. It came with tri-colored tortilla chips and salsa.

 

All the flavors blended well with each bite. The refreshing crunch of the romaine and alfalfa sprouts with the spicy and warmth of the chicken, saltiness of the bacon cooled with the ranch dressing. It was a very tasty and satisfying wrap, and although it seemed healthy, this 10 ounce wrap comes with 799 calories. Definitely more than I thought or planned.

The Peach Paradise smoothie also refreshing and tasty and although it said it had peaches and honey, I don't believe I tasted real peaches in it, but still pretty tasty and not too sweet.

Camille's also has some breakfast selections and offers catering and lunch boxes to-go. Camille's Sidewalk Cafe has various locations throughout California.

The Pasadena location is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. It is located at 285 E. Green St., 626-440-1212.

By Stacey Wang, Correspondent

I attempted a vegetarian diet once. 

I, equipped with an arsenal of fork and asparagus, battled against the meat-packed artillery of Chinese cuisine. 

The struggle lasted five months before I realized that meat and I had a special bond. I loved it too much to part ways. And yes, the pork steamed buns won.

Ever since, I have sought vegetarian dishes, looking for foods that could pry me from my meat dependence. 

That's when I came across Orean's Health Express, a vegetarian fast-food and drive-through, on 817 N. Lake Ave. in Pasadena.

Orean's is quaint, and almost buried by surrounding restaurants like Kentucky Fried Chicken, McDonald's, Burger King and Roscoe's House of Chicken and Waffles.

With only a few outside seating areas, it is a casual eatery where you can gather with a few friends.

The eatery prides itself on being a healthy fast-food establishment. Its menu has been approved by the American Heart Association with an extensive list of options.

Although some items such as the teriyaki chicken burrito have "meat" in the name, the entire menu is meat-free. 

My first hesitant visit resulted in staring at the menu for 15 minutes with occasional glances at the burger banner across the street at McDonald's.

I resisted my urge to run across and buy a Filet-O-Fish. Instead, I ordered an Orean Salad Burger, the menu's "ultimate veggie burger," and a cappuccino Super Shake.

The Salad Burger, at $4.29 plus tax, had a veggie-friendly patty, organic sprouts, tomatoes onions and a special sauce on a whole wheat bun. The slightly sweet sauce melded well with the patty, which was a mix of veggies, sunflower seeds and black beans.

Finishing my burger, I was a little proud that I picked such a tasty one. It hit all of the points a burger should and has sparked my quest to find veggie burgers up to par.

My shake, priced at $2.85 plus tax, was a thick and creamy cappuccino soymilk shake. It was as filling and scrumptious as a milk shake, but left me feeling guilt-free about finishing it.

Orean's may not seem like the ideal lunch for the average meat-loving, greasy burger-eater. But it does have satisfying menu items.

To complete a meal, Air Fries can be added for $2.79 plus tax or a Peach Cranberry Honey Granola Cobbler for the same price.

Every item on the menu is priced under $6, and portions keep the average person content for under $10.

However, not every item appeals to everyone. Depending on the individual, these veggie alternatives can be a gratifying hit or a taste bud-thrashing miss.

I may hear a lot of complaints later, but I have to say this: I bought a mini carrot cake from Euro Pane in Pasadena today, and it wasn't very good. It was dry.

Because carrot cake is supposed to be super moist and Euro Pane is supposed to be super delicious, I was disappointed. The rest of the cake wasn't bad. While the cream cheese frosting was a little too heavy for my taste, the gold foil garnish was a nice (frou-frou) touch. I've never been disappointed by Euro Pane before so I'm hoping that this dry carrot cake is a fluke.

I also bought a slice of blueberry lemon chiffon cake from Euro Pane. It was delicious.

Other notes: The best carrot cake I've had is from Craft in Los Angeles. After dinner, the restaurant gives each guest a take home carrot cupcake. The cake was moist, the shredded carrots were flavorful and not at all dry or stringy. The streusel topping was a just the right balance of crunchy, soft and sweet.

Weekend Brunch: Does any other meal generate as much anticipation and satisfaction?

Brunch can be a simple affair -- an omelet with fresh vegetables, toast and coffee. Or, it can be an elaborate buffet of carved meats, sushi and sashimi, fresh fruits and smoked salmon.

Last weekend, I searched the Internet to find a good Sunday brunch restaurant, and one place stood out. For $62 a person, you can have an extravagant champagne Sunday brunch at the Gardens Restaurant in the Four Seasons. I found other restaurants in the LA-area that quoted $36 or $24 price tags for their buffets.

Instead, I opted for something more affordable, but no less satisfying.

A few steps from Pasadena City Hall, it's easy to miss Marston's Restaurant, which looks like a small house. If you get there early (before 11 a.m.), you probably don't have to wait too long for a table.

Inside, the restaurant feels like a friend's crowded living room. It's close quarters but not uncomfortable. The servers are very friendly and attentive in pouring coffee refills.

The breakfast menu is fairly simple: a variety of egg dishes, pancakes, omelets and a few sides.

My friend ordered the French toast rolled in corn flakes. Crunchy on the outside and soft in the middle, the French toast was fantastic.

I ordered the Californian omelet, which includes chicken cilantro sausage, spinach, cheese, avocado and sour cream. The eggs were light and fluffy, and the toppings were generously portioned. I didn't taste cilantro in the sausage and thought the sour cream was unnecessary, but it didn't ruin the dish.

My only complaint is of the poor air ventilation. After we left, I could smell the food and aroma of brunch in my clothes and hair. Still, Marston's is definitely worth a visit.

Marston's Restaurant
151 East Walnut St.
Pasadena, CA 91103
(626) 796-2459.

I thought I'd post restaurant reviews that Lafayette Hight (staff writer and classic car aficionado) wrote for The Rose magazine.

An adventurous spirit is the only passport needed to experience the many cuisines of the world that can be found right here in Pasadena.

The options are endless. It's entirely possible to, in a single day, have breakfast at the ever-popular Marston's Restaurant, eat lunch at Robin's Wood Fire BBQ & Grill, and then have the ultimate fondue dinner experience at The Melting Pot.

Here you can also hope and pray for a J-Lo sighting at Madre's, or visit Bistro 561, where student chefs at the California School of Culinary Arts practice skills they hope to use in the future to tantalize the palettes of the masses.

Pasadena has both a Tommy's World Famous Hamburgers location, and an In-N-Out Burger — many, including myself, put these among the top Southern California burger joints — Rick's Drive-In, home to the Spuderito (that's a burrito made from French Fries, in case you haven't tried it), and finally, a place I call Conundrum Corner on North Lake Avenue, which has two fried chicken restaurants sitting next to each other and the only vegetarian drive-through restaurant I've ever run across is across the street.

I say again, the options are endless.

Let the restaurants that follow only serve as a beginning. These are far too few words about far too few experiences to be listed here. Let your taste buds be your guide as you make plans to eat, drink and be merry.