When I look back at the past year, I’m often amazed at how much we’ve been able to accomplish. We started with one tour a weekend in Little Tokyo when we first started in August of 2009, and now regularly take over 125 people on 12-14 tours a weekend. We’ve met wonderful people, shared great food, and explored some hidden gems of Los Angeles.

When I meet new people and talk about Six Taste, I enjoy telling them about how the company began. However, I recently realized that many of our guests have probably only heard bits and pieces of the story of our founding. I want to take this opportunity to delve a little deeper into our history.

Alex and I both attended the University of Southern California, graduating in December of ’09 and May of ’08, respectively. While we had several mutual friends, we never had the opportunity to interact beyond the usual formalities of first introductions.

One afternoon, Alex asked me to meet over coffee, and knowing that Alex was well known for being extremely bright and ambitious, I agreed. Sipping on an iced coffee that warm April afternoon, we talked about our dreams, our passions, and our immediate future, with me just recently graduated, and Alex finishing up his second to last semester at the University. Shortly after that discussion, it was decided that Alex and I would work together to find projects with which we could feel fulfilled, and work on something greater than ourselves.

With both of us being non-LA natives, myself from Northern CA, and Alex from West Virginia, we saw and appreciated LA for what it was: a culinary mecca with some of the best cuisines available at your fingertips. Moreover, both of us had ample experience with ethnic food, with my Japanese/Filipino background, and Alex’s Taiwanese background. We understood how intimidating it could be to venture into these neighborhoods without any previous knowledge of what to order, or even how to order. We understood that LA is home to the nation’s only Thai Town or how dim sum could be a life-changing experience. We understood that Santa Monica is only 20 minutes driving from Downtown, yet there seems to be some invisible iron curtain that decisively has Angelenos declare that they are either from ‘West LA’ or ‘East LA’.

We saw Six Taste as an opportunity to open up Los Angeles’ culinary scene to every individual. Six Taste is an opportunity to break down any preconceptions about these neighborhoods by bringing guests to the heart of it, led by a local guide who loves the area as if it is their home. We started our first tour in Little Tokyo in August of 2009 and haven’t looked back since.

Every week we get suggestions for our next tour – Koreatown, Little India, Silverlake, Glendale. We hope to get the opportunity to have a presence in all neighborhoods of LA. Until then, we hope to see you on a tour!

What’s your name, and which food tour do you lead?

Hi! My name is Celeste and I lead the Financial District Tour in Downtown Los Angeles.

Of the five tastes, which are you?

I’m Umami. Everything is better when I’m there, just like MSG.

Let’s say you’re on death row…what would be your last meal?

How morbid! Anyway, my last meal would have to be glorious, gluttonous, and delicious all-you-can-eat deal. To start, I’d have a buttery baguette piled high with Manchego cheese. Next, I’d have some tuna sashimi– the kind that melts in your mouth– and then I’d have a plate of my mom’s spaghetti, made Filipino-style with sweet tomato sauce. I’d also need to have a char-grilled steak, and then some crisp lechon (roasted pork belly), maybe some afternoon tea and scones, and then for dessert, root beer floats, creme brulee, and at least 5 flavors of ice cream or gelato. I don’t think the government would allow me such an indulgent last meal, though.

What’s your guilty pleasure?

I don’t feel guilty about anything I eat! I know it should be a guilty pleasure, but I just can’t stop eating sweets and desserts. Life wouldn’t be the same!

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten?

Once upon a time in Tokyo, I was very, very hungry. I couldn’t read the menu, so in my hunger, I just pointed to something and ordered it. When it came out of the kitchen, it was this eggy and gelatinous concoction… and I quickly realized that it was octopus. I know now that it was most likely okonomiyaki, but my appetite was definitely not ready for a whole octopus on a plate!

What’s a food that you will never eat again?

I haven’t had a real helping of fruits or vegetables since I was a kid. I was scared of them as a child, and I’m still trying to reintroduce them to my non-existent diet. I have no idea what real fruit tastes like, my knowledge of fruit comes from fruit chews and Skittles.

What’s your favorite LA restaurant?

Right now, I’m in love with the rice pudding dessert at Lazy Ox Canteen in Little Tokyo. The menu there is always changing, and I’d say it’s one of the most forward-thinking restaurants in the Los Angeles area.

Outside of doing food tours, what do you do?

I’m Six Taste’s resident graphic designer and brand manager, but I’m also a jetsetter, a singer, and a USC-trained journalist. We’ll see how this all works out!

What’s the best thing about being a Six Taste tour guide?

The best thing is being able to share what I love. I love food, yes, but I also love Los Angeles and the diversity of this city. It’s so rewarding to talk to new people each week, tell them stories, and show them the potential of downtown LA.

*Photo Courtesy of SantaMonica.com

A couple of weeks ago, I was invited to hosted cocktails and appetizers at La Sandia and dinner at Zengo. Both restaurants are part of the new culinary destination that is Santa Monica Place. Despite Jonathan Gold’s tepid review of this glossy architectural behemoth, I found the space quite beautiful and the food is promising.

Our small dining group was led to a table in the center of La Sandia, where we were greeted by plates of appetizers and a flight of cocktails whose colors rivaled that of a skittles bag. Notables were the shrimp ceviche as well as the shrimp quesadilla. The restaurant was quite full for a Wednesday night. The lavish interior accentuated the modern Mexican cuisine, and the cocktails provided some compelling flavors that added to our meal.

Soon after our cocktail glasses emptied, we were led into Zengo, which was right next door. Personally, I was excited to try the small plates at Zengo, which promised to fuse Latin flavors with Asian cuisine. I’ve seen it done before, but I was pleasantly surprised at how deftly Chef Sandoval combined these flavor profiles to make several successful dishes. It was a good sign when the edamame in X.O. sauce hit our table. Each pod was covered in a slightly spicy and tangy shrimp paste. These things were addicting, and I could have eaten bowls of it. Another big hit was the crispy tofu. It’s not often that tofu reminds you of fried chicken, but eating the skin off of this tofu reminded me of the first time I fell in love with Popeye’s chicken. The last dish I want to highlight is the Hamachi with sriracha and mint. This dish highlighted the fish to perfection. All the flavors accentuated the freshness of the young yellowtail. Superb.

While I came to the dinner ill-equipped and have to beautiful photos (I’m not yet used to these media dinners), I’ll link to some of the great blog posts of some of my fellow diners.

http://shopeatsleep.com/2010/08/30/not-your-mommas-mall-food-la-sandia-and-zengo-at-santa-monica-place/

http://dianatakesabite.blogspot.com/2010/08/zengo-fusing-infusable.html

All in all, I believe Zengo and La Sandia are definitely places to check out when you’re in the area.

What’s your name, and which food tour do you lead?

My name is Judy and I lead the San Gabriel Valley New Chinatown Tours.

Of the five tastes, which are you?

Bitter. I like to leave a strong impression.

Let’s say you’re on death row…what would be your last meal?

Butter fish at Roy’s. I would die for it!

What’s your guilty pleasure?

French fries and ice cream. In the same bite.

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten?

I usually pick out things that I think are weird from my plate.

What’s a food that you will never eat again?

Escargot. Don’t remind me of this.

What’s your favorite LA restaurant?

It changes every month. Ask me when you see me!

Outside of doing food tours, what do you do?

I’m a paralegal working in a small law firm in Pasadena.

What’s the best thing about being a Six Taste tour guide?

Meeting new people, take them around my part of town and sharing great food!

What’s your name, and which food tour do you lead?

Hiya, I’m Tracy Lawrence, and I lead the Financial District Tours in beautiful Downtown LA!

Of the five tastes, which are you?

Sweet for sure — I would eat cupcakes all day if they were nutritionally sound.

Let’s say you’re on death row…what would be your last meal?

The Thai fried pepper & garlic tofu and dessert would be a peanut butter pizookie topped with cookies n’ cream ice cream. Ooo, and maybe a glass of Spanish sparking wine…might as well go out in style.

What’s your guilty pleasure?

A spoonful of pure, delectable, nutty peanut butter. More pleasure than guilt.

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten?

Durian - A Southeast Asian fruit that smells of corpse and is specifically banned from public transit. Having it as a straight up fruit was tough, so I’ve started light and had it in sweet rolls and custards. I’m working my way to finally reaching its mushy heart.

What’s a food that you will never eat again?

Insect of any kind. I had some intensely salty shelled, spiny animal in South Korea and I still shiver thinking of the taste.

What’s your favorite LA restaurant?

Palms Thai in Hollywood, mostly because it was a consistent hangout during my high school years. Now Thai Elvis keeps me coming back for more…

Outside of doing food tours, what do you do?

I’m finishing up my final year as an undergrad business student at USC, and then eating my way through Downtown as I start up an online dining guide. Who knew that outside of being a chef, you could be a professional foodie?

What’s the best thing about being a Six Taste tour guide?

Showing others an insider’s view of a part of LA that gets a bad rep. Downtown is the underdog, and I’m here to prove it’s more than a meeting of freeways. The hidden cafes and converted venues like the bank vault at the Crocker Club or factory at the Edison speak volumes about the rising culture that is unique to Downtown LA.

Tim Ferriss, author of the 4-hour week and leading the lifestyle design movement, is a pretty awesome guy. Alex and I both love...