Introducing the newest tour to the Six Taste repertoire. On the afternoon of September 19th, we will be testing out our Hollywood Food Tour. We’ve found some of the most iconic dishes in the area, and our tour will take guests from the Hollywood staples to the more hidden gems in the area. Tickets are only $20, and we’re only taking 8 people! Sign up now to secure your spot!

Click Here to Buy Now!

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.

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.

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

My name is Jennifer Shuang, and I’m one of the tour guides for the Arcadia/Delicious Dumpling Tour and the San Gabriel Valley/New Chinatown Tour.

Of the five tastes, which are you?

I’m like a Sour-Patch Kid!! (I don’t think this really answers the question, though.)

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

OK, so, I’m lactose-intolerant, bound by a gluten-free diet, and preferably vegetarian (with a soft spot for mystery meats). The obvious last meal for me would be an In-N-Out Neapolitan milkshake, paired with Popeye’s buttermilk biscuits, half of a Langer’s #19 pastrami sandwich (honestly — has anyone ever finished that thing? Props.), a few bites of anything on the El Taurino menu with their special red hot sauce, Spam, a heaping plate of stinky tofu, and a side of chili cheese fries. Oh, and let’s round that out with a shot of Tequila. Of course.

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

I’ve eaten a lot of really cool, mind-blowing (and delicious) things. I mean, what’s “weird”? One person’s weird is another person’s soondae (Korean blood sausage — which is so ridiculously awesome, by the way). “Oh, come on. There is no such thing as a guilty pleasure!! I eat flamin’ hot cheetos when I want to. I’m a rebel like that.

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

This answer is easily chicken. I had some foul fowl (hehe) at an all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ joint in Ktown and spent the next day, my anniversary with my boyfriend, regretting it all over the bathroom and in an uncomfortable seat in the ER waiting room. Chicken is way too unfriendly for me.

What’s your favorite LA restaurant?

I have so many favorites…and it really depends on what the weather’s like that day, but I rarely say no to El Taurino or King Taco.

Outside of doing food tours, what do you do?

In nutshell form: I’m pursuing my M.L.I.S. in Library & Information Science at UCLA, volunteering at local libraries and APIA organizations, knitting scarves, re-reading Sense and Sensibility, riding my cool new Citizen fold-up bicycle (thank you, boyfriend!), drinking bubble-tea, eating gluten-free cupcakes, sporting Hello Kitty life accessories, hangin’ out and you know, straight west coastin’ !!

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

Eating food. Talking about food. Talking about food to people who love eating food. It’s all good.

]]> http://www.sixtaste.com/blog/?feed=rss2&p=310 http://www.sixtaste.com/blog/?p=288 http://www.sixtaste.com/blog/?p=288#comments Tue, 06 Jul 2010 08:45:58 +0000 Jeff http://www.sixtaste.com/blog/?p=288 When I have visitors in town, I always have the urge to make sure my guests leave Los Angeles with an understanding that this city can be a foodie’s paradise. Los Angeles’ culinary scene is endlessly diverse and it would be difficult to showcase everything this city has to offer in just one visit.

This got me thinking: if time and distance were no issue, what would be the perfect Los Angeles food tour that would best showcase LA as a food Mecca? I put together the following list for a culinary adventure that I would love to be able to set up some day; the ultimate Los Angeles foodie excursion, the perfect food tour.

<Continued from Part 1>

Stop 5: Din Tai Fung – Juicy Pork Dumplings

For the next stop, we’d need to venture east into Greater Los Angeles towards some of LA’s great ethnic neighborhoods. Our next stop would be at Din Tai Fung in Arcadia. Din Tai Fung quite possibly has the best steamed dumplings in the world. Each delicious dumpling has a perfect 18 folds, which seals in the flavor and optimizes the steaming process. Dipped in ginger and vinegar, the juicy pork dumplings burst with a flavorful broth with each bite.

Not Juicy Pork, but still amazing.

Stop 6: The Grilled Cheese Truck – Cheesy Mac and Rib

As we round out our savory tastings, we would be remiss not to include LA’s largest food trend: food trucks. While the iconic Kogi might seem like the obvious choice, I would instead take my guests to a personal favorite of mine, The Grilled Cheese Truck. With the success of the grilled cheese invitational, partners Dave and Michele created this delectable truck to serve the masses. At this stop, each guest would be able to sample their Cheesy Mac and Rib with BBQ Pork and Caramelized Onions. The sharpness of the cheddar pairs with the sweetness of the pork. Of course, the sandwich wouldn’t be complete without a side of tater tops.

Stop 7: Silom Market - Kanom Krok

To end our tour, we’d finish on a sweet note. For dessert, we would travel to Thai Town, which contains the largest population of Thais outside of Thailand. Here, we would head to Silom Market, where fresh kanom krok are made on a makeshift stand in the parking lot behind the market. These creamy coconut couplets are a mixture of flour and coconut cream cooked in a pan over a charcoal fire sprinkled with green onions. They have long been a favorite on our Thai Town food tour, and truly a hidden gem in the Los Angeles culinary scene.

I feel like each guest on this perfect Los Angeles food tour would better understand the amazing food this city has to offer. Although the distance between stops, and the sheer amount of food would make this tour difficult to pull off, perhaps someday I’ll be able to take some guests on this culinary adventure of EPICurean proportions.

Introduce yourself – What’s your name and what tour do you lead?

My name is Matthew, and I lead the Saturday Downtown Los Angeles food tours at 2:30.

Of the five tastes, which are you?

Umami. I strive to be savory

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

For my last meal, it would have to be corned beef, cabbage, carrots, and potatoes. And a pint of the dark stuff…

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

In high school, my Spanish teacher ordered me ‘dos tacos sesos’ on a field trip to a local taqueria and wouldn’t tell me what it was. I asked the guy behind the counter, who told me it was cow brains.

Yum. So what’s a food that you would never eat again?

Everyone deserves a second chance, but I won’t eat celery by choice. Ever.

What’s your food guilty pleasure?

I don’t associate food with guilt. There are so many other things to feel guilty about. However, a funnel cake at a theme park is the image that popped into my head.

What’s your favorite restaurant in LA?

Leo’s Mexican Food in Lawndale. My grandparents have been going there since it opened, and it has been a part of my life since I was born.

Outside of doing food tours, what do you do?

I am an actor. I am act-ive.

What’s the best thing about being a Six Taste Tour Guide?

Sharing a table and an afternoon with wonderful strangers.

When I have visitors in town, I always have the urge to make sure my guests leave Los Angeles with an understanding that this city can be a foodie’s paradise. Los Angeles’ culinary scene is endlessly diverse and it would be difficult to showcase everything this city has to offer in just one visit.

This got me thinking: if time and distance were no issue, what would be the perfect Los Angeles food tour that would best showcase LA as a food Mecca? I put together the following list for a culinary adventure that I would love to be able to set up some day; the ultimate Los Angeles foodie excursion, the perfect food tour.

Stop 1: Starry Kitchen - Crispy Tofu Balls

The first stop would be a bit of an amuse-bouche. We’d start with a newcomer to the LA restaurant scene, Starry Kitchen. Started by a couple who ran an underground restaurant in their apartment complex, Nguyen, and Thi (Kitchen Ninja) Tran have created a pan-Asian sensation. Their crispy tofu balls are a perfect start to the perfect foodie excursion. Take one bite into their forest green tofu balls and you’ll realize why Starry Kitchen has become one of the most talked about restaurants in Los Angeles.

Stop 2: Langer’s – Legendary No. 19

In contrast to the newcomer, our next stop would be at Langer’s Deli, where we’d sink our teeth into Langer’s Legendary No. 19. With thick-cut pastrami, Swiss cheese, Russian dressing, and Langer’s own homemade cole slaw, this sandwich has been touted as the best pastrami sandwich in the U.S. Last week, I was lucky enough to try this sandwich for the first time and it lived up to the hype. With 60+ years of Los Angeles history, Langer’s is a perfect demonstration of LA’s long standing foodie tradition.

Stop 3: Intelligentsia - Coffee

At this point, we’d take a short break from our food to stop at Intelligentsia at Abbot Kinney. This Venice coffee bar fuses beautiful architecture with the tastiest ‘Cup o’ Joe’ I’ve ever had. Intelligentsia has continually been awarded as one of the best coffee bars in the U.S. After entering the space, customers are directed to one of four custom-fabricated espresso machines where their drink is made by their personal barista that accompanies them from order to preparation to the hand-off. Drinking coffee here is an experience.

Stop 4: Umami Burger – Hatch Burger

Although coffee has been known to curb hunger, after seeing the next stop, I’m sure many won’t be able to resist. Our tour group would next venture over to Umami Burger’s Urban Market location in Hollywood. Umami Burger has exploded onto LA’s culinary scene as quite possibly the best burger in LA. Umami’s strengths come from their meat-to-bun ratio and the deliciousness of the patty itself. The hatch burger contains 4 types of green chilies, and is covered in a house cheese. The subtle heat juxtaposes the creaminess of the house cheese to create a delicate balance of flavors.

*Source: Serious Eats

To Be Continued….

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