the BEAT of the week: LA Street Food Fest.

It's back! Just as its website says, this is the first and the original of the numerous amounts of street food fests that now populate L.A.'s calendars. And the LA Street Food Fest isn't slacking on its game. This year, the truck lineup includes: Border Grill, Nonna's Kitchenette, Gravy Train Poutinerie, Waffles de Liege, Kogi BBQ, Frysmith and more. Restaurants like Haven Gastropub, Short Order, Lazy Ox Canteen, Starry Kitchen and Playa are even getting into the action. And of course, for dessert -- look out for Longboards Ice Cream, Mother Moo Creamery, Short Cake, Coolhaus, Beachy Cream and other icy delights. There'll also be Singha beer and wine and tequila tastings on site as well.

Suffice it to say, the LA Street Food Fest knows what it's doing. It's all taking place this weekend at the Rose Bowl, so get your all-inclusive tickets for $45 here. (or go VIP for just $65) Check out all the detail here, and happy eating!

LA Street Food Fest takes place this Saturday, July 21st from 5pm-9pm at the Rose Bowl, located at 1001 Rose Bowl Dr. in Pasadena.

-- Chau Tu

Click It. BEAT picks of the week.

My part of the new blog format is a weekly roundup of cool things, from L.A. and beyond, currently on my radar. Please click the links to explore, and I hope you enjoy ...

I've wanted an Ork city map poster for awhile now, and thought a Brooklyn one would make sense in my new Williamsburg apartment ... yet the Los Angeles version still feels more like home

On my nightstand: the Chateau Marmont Signature Candle (a great gift for someone special, or to treat yourself!)

Listen to (Los Feliz resident) Ryan Adams' Ashes & Fire (released last week, his best since 2001's Gold)

If you love Mario Batali's Mozza group of restaurants on Melrose and Highland, pre-order Molto Batali: Simple Family Meals From My Home to Yours

Sarah Silverman & Friends at Largo tonight

Also tonight: Thrillist's Bergamont Station Art Crawl (and open bar, and food trucks)

For the weekend: check out the new West Hollywood Library (and murals by artists including Shepard Fairey)

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: orkposters.com

Do It. Abbot Kinney Festival.

For those of you still mourning the end of summer -- I include myself in the bunch -- here's another last gasp. The Abbot Kinney Festival, always set on the last Sunday of September, is the best last chance to hit the seaside and not feel so chilly about it.

Although you should probably bring a sweater, because you're bound to out and about for a while. This year's festivities boast a great musical lineup, including the currently buzzy Thundercat; locals Kisses and Mia Doi Todd; as well as Hanni El Khatib and Tom Brousseau. The stages are set to go all day, from 10am-6pm. In between sets, be sure to check out the plethora of food trucks, the beer gardens, and the tons of booths offering sustainable and green goods (it is Venice, after all).

Enjoy the last hurrah!

The Abbot Kinney Festival takes place on Sunday, Sept. 25 along Abbot Kinney Blvd. in Venice. The entire event is free!

-- Chau Tu

Eat Out. Canter's 80th anniversary.

Canter's is undoubtedly one of L.A.'s most classic restaurants. And today, you can celebrate their 80th (!!!) anniversary with them by enjoying their infamous corned beef sandwich, potato salad, pickle and chocolate rugelach-- all for just 80 cents! Really! Just stop by their Fairfax spot between 4pm and 12am today and get your grub on.

If you can't make it to the restaurant today -- or if you want another chance at an amazing 80-cent meal -- get to following the Canter's food truck this week. They'll be giving away special VIP Anniversary Vouchers that can be used anytime after today. Only 80 are given out each day, so good luck! Here are the locations.

Canter's is located at 419 North Fairfax Ave. in Mid-City.

-- Chau Tu

Photo credit: Canter's

Advance Notice. LA Street Food Fest.

L.A.'s food truck boom seems to have calmed down a bit now, but all that really means is that the best have stuck around. And many will surely be showing up for the grand L.A. food event: this year's LA Street Food Fest.

It's only the second year for this big foodie extravaganza, but last year's fest was an astounding success, so be prepared for a huge step up. The participants haven't even been announced yet, but they're already boasting more than 80 different street food vendors among celebrity chefs and L.A.'s own best restaurants. And what will be special this year are the different sessions, limited to 1,500 attendees each, so there won't be overcrowding, and participants will be able to enjoy their food and experience on a much more comfortable level. Two of the sessions are family-friendly, while the night one is 21+ only. But no matter what session you attend, the $60 price is all-inclusive, which means, yes: food, beers, cocktails, non-alcoholic drinks, parking, music -- everything you'll need for the event. So all you've got to do is show and eat! Hooray!

Considering its popularity last year, and the limitations set for this year, tickets are sure to sell out fast. Pick your session now and get ready to grub.

The LA Street Food Fest is taking place July 16 at Brookside Park at the Rose Bowl, located at 360 N. Arroyo Blvd. in Pasadena.

-- Chau Tu

Advance Notice. Global Street Food Fest.

Los Angeles, of course, is never short of global food options. But with the rise in popularity of the food truck came the arrival one thing we may have been missing out on: street food. Obviously, we've all been exposed (/tortured) by those wonderful-smelling carts on street corners selling bacon-wrapped hot dogs and other sizzling goodies late at night, but what is honest-to-goodness street food exactly? And why should we care?

That'll surely be some of the questions posed by Evan Kleiman, L.A. chef and KCRW host, as she heads up the Good FoodGlobal Street Food fest on May 1st. There, she'll be conversing with a few foodie experts, including OC Weekly's Gustavo "Ask a Mexican" Arellano and food writer Robyn Eckhardt, about street food and how it can shape a culture or city (the subject of Los Angeles, I'm sure, will be touched upon). And then, after that intellectual enlightenment, guests will get to savor that street food firsthand, with tastings available from five food trucks: India Jones Chow Truck, Mariscos Jalisco, Piaggio Gourmet on Wheels, Let's Be Frank and the Nom Nom Truck.

Get to understand the food, and indulge afterward. For better or for worse, you may never look at a bacon-wrapped hot dog in the same way again.

The Global Street Food Fest is taking place May 1st at the Broad Stage, located at 1310 11th St. in Santa Monica. Tickets are on sale now for $40-$42.50.

-- Chau Tu

Advance Notice. Silver Lake Jubilee.

It's back. The arts, music, food and neighborhood festival known as the Silver Lake Jubilee will be returning to its spot under the bridge at Sunset Blvd. and Santa Monica Blvd. for a second year of fun festivities. Most of the special info -- the 50+ bands/artists and 60+ vendors and food trucks -- have yet to be announced, but the $5 (!!) tickets are already a steal, so you have no excuse to miss out. Get them here now, and mark your calendars for May 21-22.

The Silver Lake Jubilee is taking place the weekend of May 21-22 at 1070 Myra Ave. in Silver Lake.

-- Chau Tu

Eat Out. Ludo Truck.

When I spotted Chef Ludo Lefebvre's truck on Melrose Avenue on Saturday morning, I knew we had to stop. Having never been to this particular food truck before--nor any of the super popular Ludo Bites pop up spots, there was no way I'd pass up the opportunity when lunchtime was approaching.

Jonathan Gold named Ludo's fried chicken one of the 99 things you should eat in L.A. before you die. Is it really that good? In a word, yes.

The chicken was really delicious--hot, flavorful white meat strips--my favorite. The honey lavender biscuit was different than I expected (sort of dense - definitely not your typical fluffy biscuit) but was nevertheless quite tasty. The cole slaw was pretty good too--crisp and fresh, but nothing to write home about. A thirst-quenching basil blood orange agua fresca rounded out the quick roadside meal perfectly.

Délicieux.

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credits: the BEAT

Eat Out. Melrose Night.

Last minute awesome Thursday night out event! Food trucks, plus 10% off at Urban Outfitters--what a great way to get the weekend started early.

We think it's worth going for LudoTruck alone.

If you can't make it tonight, this ongoing event will take place the first Thursday of every month.

Tonight, January 6, from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Info: melrosenight.com

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: Melrose Night

Eat Out. Alibi Room.

It's not always easy trying to chase all those food trucks trolling around L.A. Upon a recent craving for some Kogi BBQ, my friend and I discovered that none of the four graffiti-ed trucks were actually in L.A. proper, and we weren't interested in driving down to South Gate or Encino. Thankfully, the dudes behind the food truck craze got smart and covered their bases with a brick-and-mortar Kogi installation at the Alibi Room.

The Alibi Room, under normal circumstances, is your normal fancy neighborhood bar. Located on Washington Blvd. on the other side of the 405 from downtown Culver City, it's kind of in a random spot, but still attracts a nightlife-stylish crowd by 6pm on a Friday. It looked to be the place where you can get your night started, before heading off to more lively locales. Why anyone would want to get drinks there, though, puzzled me: the custom cocktails were tasty and creative enough, but definitely still way over-priced at $10. Draft beers are $7, and there are no happy hour options.

So in theory, it must be only the Kogi that's keeping the Alibi busy. But with unique specials like calamari tacos and the burger, the trip for the Kogi alone is worth it, mostly for those who have already waited out in the various truck lines and know all the specials by heart. The prices, at $5-$9, make sense, and the flavors and Kogi fun are all still there. Become a regular and you can keep up with Chef Roy Choi's weekly specials. Maybe not as fun as following the trucks, but you don't have to worry about the lines. Just remember to drink somewhere else.

The Alibi Room is located at 12236 Washington Blvd. in Culver City. Take note that Kogi BBQ is only available Mon.-Sat. from 6pm to midnight.

-- Chau Tu

Photo credit: Alibi Room

Do It. Ludo Truck.

If you haven't yet had the chance to try Chef Ludo Lefebvre's fried chicken, tonight is your chance. The Ludo Bites truck will be outside Ludo's pop-up restaurant at downtown Los Angeles' Gram & Papa's tonight starting at 8:00 p.m., until 10:00 p.m. or when they run out of food.

Gram & Papa's is located at 227 East 9th Street in Los Angeles. Info: twitter.com/ludotruck

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: mobimunch.com

Eat Out. Canter's Deli food truck.

At the Downtown LA Art Walk last Thursday there were at least 30 food trucks, from Vietnamese, Mexican, desserts. Everything.

But what I was most excited about was that my favorite place to get a pickle also has a food truck and they've brought their pickles with them. Canter's Deli on Fairfax has gotten caught up in the food truck craze, and is driving around Los Angeles with quite a few of their their deli mainstays.

To find out where they'll be, follow them on Twitter @canterstruck.

-- Lauren Williams

Photo credit: Matt Wilkinson for the BEAT.

Advance Notice. LA Times Food and Wine Fest.

There's never been a better time than now to be a foodie in Los Angeles, but with the plethora of food trucks and food fests all over the place, it can definitely feel overwhelming. If you're curious but too busy or lazy (or both) to try and weed through all the options, the L.A. Times may have the answer for you.

The newspaper (full disclosure: we three here at the BEAT were previously employed there) is set to hold its Celebration of Food and Wine event on Sept. 5th (Labor Day weekend), and the schedule is packed with demonstrations, tastings, signings and discussions from the best and most popular chefs around. Among the many exciting names of those scheduled to appear: Michael Voltaggio (trust me, you won't want to miss his food), Ludo Lefebvre, Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo, Mark Peel, Suzanne Goin and Betty Fraser, as well as food trucks like Coolhaus and The Buttermilk Truck. And on top of all that, there'll be a concert with the awesome She & Him.

Tickets for the entire event are $55 each, which may seem a bit steep at first, but considering you'll be stuffed with delicious grub and get to see great entertainment, it isn't so bad. And if you're not interested in any food (though upon arrival, you may find this decision regrettable), you can catch the concert alone for $40.

The L.A. Times Celebration of Food and Wine takes place at Paramount Studios in Hollywood on Sept. 5.

-- Chau Tu

Advance Notice. Outdoor Cinema Food Fest.

It's become nearly impossible to try and catch a Cinespia screening without waiting a few hours in the L.A. summer heat. But if you still want to catch a movie outdoors, you may have a chance at avoiding the annoying crowds (or at least the wait) by heading out to the brand-spanking new Outdoor Cinema Food Fest.

The name says it all, but basically this weekly event brings together two grand L.A. loves: outdoor movies and food trucks. Beginning this Saturday and continuing until the end of the August, the fest will be screening fun flicks like Swingers, The Breakfast Club and The Hangover, in addition to offering fare from some of L.A.'s most popular food trucks--so you don't even have to bother packing a picnic!

The best part of it all, though, is the fact that the Outdoor Cinema Food Fest only sells tickets in advance, meaning you don't have to wait in line for hours just to get a spot (although seating is still first come first serve). Furthermore, tickets are only $8 (less than Cinespia's "donation" price of $10), or $5 each if you buy 4.

So if you're ready to jump off the Cinespia bandwagon, beat the crowds to getting to this event!

The Outdoor Cinema Fest begins this Saturday with a screening of Swingers at Grand Hope Park. More info here.

-- Chau Tu

Eat Out. ESPN World Cup Match Truck.

Well surprise, surprise: L.A. has been hit with yet another food truck. This one, however, sure has some hype going with it--not only is it being sponsored by ESPN in honor of the World Cup, but it also happens to be backed by food truck godfather Roy Choi (of Kogi fame). Talk about an unbeatable matchup!

So what's the final score? Our special foodie correspondent was out on the field for a preview tasting, and tells us that overall, everything was pretty tasty, adding extra flair to 'worldly' fare. She tipped that the lamb gyros are the way to go--"easily the best of the three items sampled." She also liked the Kogi-popular sliders, which I've tasted before and absolutely loved (they use sweet Hawaiian rolls!). Check out more of her review here, and the rest of the menu on Grub Street.

And while you're picking up your worldly food, the truck will be conveniently screening all the World Cup matches live in HD. You'll practically have the world in your hands! (ha) See the full schedule here (it corresponds to the matches, so be ready to get up early!).

NB: For more food truck action today, hit up Americana at Brand tonight at 6pm for another edition of Street Feast, featuring the Grilled Cheese Truck, Coolhaus (who's giving out FREE ice cream sandwiches all week!) and more. Happy eating!

-- Chau Tu

Photo credit: Tovan Tran; clockwise from top: lamb gyro, sliders, and carne asada burrito

Eat Out. Louks truck.

The oh-so-popular food trucks in L.A. are kind of hit-and-miss. While Kogi and the Grilled Cheese truck are consistently good, others are unsure bets. I had the Gourmet Greek lunch truck Louks for the first time yesterday, after hearing good things, and it definitely lived up to its rumored goodness.

The veggie gyro was fresh, hearty and delicious. Packed with lettuce, cucumber, tomato, feta, french fries, and falafel (an optional ingredient that adds $1 to the reasonable $4 lunch), it was really satisfying. Served on warm flavorful bread, it really couldn't have been better. What was also nice--it came in a little bag with two quality napkins, a fork, a Louks business card, and a magnet.

I also got a drink, which was $2, so my total for a really great lunch was $7, but could have only been $5 if I'd brought my own beverage. They have a nice selection of Izze, Orangina, sodas, and water, so if you're thirsty, they're certainly well equipped in that department.

When you see this truck, get in line!

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: the BEAT

Do It. Soundsuits After Dark.

If you're not headed out to the music/arts fest Silver Lake Jubilee this weekend, head over to the other side of the town for another cheap (i.e. FREE) musical event: Soundsuits After Dark.

Part of the grand finale for the Fowler Museum's latest exhibition, "Nick Cave: Meet Me at the Center of the Earth," (no, unfortunately not that Nick Cave) the event will feature the exhibition's most prominent pieces: the soundsuits. Large, multi-layered and comprised of items like yarn, sequins, toys, etc., these soundsuits are intricate sculptures that create unusual sounds when worn. You'll get to see them in action firsthand as performers don the pieces for pop-up appearances, and if you're one of the first 750 people to show up, you'll even get a pair of American Apparel socks to adorn and make your own personal 'soundsuit.'

Also providing entertainment for the night will be KCRW DJs Jason Bentley and Garth Trinidad, and the usual assortment of food trucks will be on hand for grubbing. A creative and musically fun weekend for all!

Soundsuits After Dark will begin at 8pm on Saturday at the Fowler Museum at UCLA. It's free, and no tickets are needed.

-- Chau Tu

Photo credit: KCRW

Advance Notice. Silver Lake Jubilee.

Silver Lake has already hosted a few high-profile street fest concerts in the past few years, like the Sunset Junction and FYFest, but it's about to add another.

The Silver Lake Jubilee is set to take place next weekend, May 22 and 23, on Myra Ave. between Santa Monica Blvd. and Fountain Ave. This first-time fest will be hosting a slew of live (and many of them locally based) entertainment, including Foreign Born, The Growlers, The Living Sisters and The Like. Beyond that, there'll be DJs, poetry, art, local vendors, plus more than 20 food trucks on hand to keep you well-fed. It sounds like a block party gone big, and the best part is, admission is only $5, which you purchase now. (College students get buy one get one tickets too!)

Take part in a homegrown community effort, and have some fun too!

-- Chau Tu

Advance Notice. L.A. Vendy Awards.

No doubt about it: L.A. is a street food town. But who's the best?

Time to judge for yourself, at the L.A. Vendy Awards. A spinoff of an annual competition that originated in New York, this street food cook-off will be making its way out to L.A. for the first time this weekend, and representing our fair city are the India Jones Chow Truck, Hot Dog Kings, Bigmista's Barbecue, Nina's Food, Grilled Cheese Truck and Tacos el Galuzo.

All six finalists were recently nominated in a public vote, so this is the people speaking here! Were they right? Buy your tickets now to sample all the goods for $50 (all proceeds go to charity!), and let us know!

The L.A. Vendy Awards are taking place on Sat. from 4pm-7pm at MacArthur Park, which is located at S. Park View Street between W. 7th and Wilshire Blvd.

-- Chau Tu

Eat Out. Dim Sum Truck.

Admittedly, I'm not that picky when it comes down to food, but if I had to pick one meal I'd be down to eat at all times despite its wholly unhealthiness, it'd be dim sum. The small bites, Asian version of tapas is the go-to cuisine for my family whenever there's a special occasion, and I absolutely love it in all its greasy and often-fried glory.

So upon hearing about dim sum hitting the food truck craze, I was pretty excited. I tried to keep my expectations low, to much failure, but I needn't have worried--the Dim Sum truck, for lack of better word, delivered.

Dim sum was pretty much made for the food truck; small, simple portions that are filling but quick to eat. The BBQ pork buns--a personal dim sum fave--had great flavor. The buns were the perfect soft consistency, and though the pork was quite fatty, that's how dim sum should be (but be wary if you're not into that, I guess). The truck had run out of the sesame balls the first time I visited, but I was able to get them next time. They were pretty big (the order had two) and were crunchy with not-too-sweet red bean paste inside. The pork and shu mai dumplings were pretty spot on too, with a lot of texture and flavor to them.

At $2-4 for each dish, the truck is super affordable and perfect for a lunch run. It's also sure to satisfy dim sum fans and newbies alike, so start lining up already!

-- Chau Tu

Photo credit: BBQ pork buns, theBEAT