Calling all foodies! The 5th Masters of Taste recently took place at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. After a two-year hiatus, the culinary celebration remains unmatched!

The entrance of Masters of Taste did not disappointed. Food trucks such as: Kabobaholic, Okamoto Kitchen, The Tropic Truck, VCHOS, Wings N Waffles lined the entrance to the Rose Bowl. Okamoto Kitchen took an interesting twist on a chicken sandwich! The food truck wowed attendees by sampling their Katsu Curry chicken sandwich. The bite-size sando included: deep friend chicken, cabbage, Okamoto curry, mayo, gouda cheese placed together on a brioche bun. While the entry focused on food trucks, there was definitely not a shortage of creativity.

Walking down the steps of the Rose Bowl to head towards the field, the view is spectacular. Culinary and beverage masters line the field. The palatable scent of impressive dishes that await are extremely tantalizing. Needless to say, arriving on an empty stomach is the absolute way to go!

**Chef Gabriel Cappelli** of The Raymond 1886 brought forth a decorated squab leg with sinach puree and citrus gastrique.

The culinary extravaganza not only highlighted Pasadena favorites such as: Celestino Ristorante, Bone Kettle, Alexander’s Steakhouse, Agnes Restaurant and Cheesery, Lunasia, Mi Piace, to name a few. Restaurants from all over Southern California joined in on the fun!

Chef Ryuta Kajiwara of Ramen Tatsunoya served delicious spicy miso tonkotsu ramen while Gus’s World-Famous Fried Chicken gave festival-goers a taste of their famous fried chicken!

Pez Cantina showcased a delicious tostada that was super crave-worthy! The agua fresca was also incredible! The fruits were blended to perfection!

Georgia’s Restaurant gave attendees a taste of the south! Plated offerings were a sample of their tomato-based jambalaya and their smothered pork chop. Chef Bret Thompson of Pez Cantina served a delicious house smoked whitefish corn tostada topped with avocado-horseradish crema and picked shallots paired with a refreshing agua fresca!

The best scallop hands down prepared by Chef Vanda Asapahu of Ayara Thai!

2022 Host Chef Vanda Asapahu of Ayara Thai wowed attendees with a unforgettable take on scallops! The bite-sized scallop was layered with flavors and topped with a CBD chili vinegar. It was important for Chef Asapahu to pay homage to family favorites while creating the dish for Masters of Taste.

Chef Gabriel Cappelli of The Raymond 1886 brought forth a decorated squab leg with sinach puree and citrus gastrique. Chef Atsushi Kenjo of La Bohéme served the perfect bite, a ceviche tossed in a yuzu sauce while Chef Jose Acevedo of Mercado showcased their jicama shrimp taco that was atheistically beautiful and truly delicious.

An interesting twist served by Chef Jose Acevedo of Mercado! These were almost too pretty to eat!

A select group of Los Angeles Top Sweet Masters showcased an assortment of delectable desserts such as Bertha Mae’s Brownies, unique Indian treats from Banana Leaf, handcrafted pudding from Better Together Sweets, custom cakes and desserts from Butter Cake Shoppe, French macarons and gourmet cookies from Etoile Filante Patisserie, deliciously scrumptious scratch baked custom cakes and cupcakes from Fantasy Frostings, Lark Cake Shop, Chocolatier Mignon Chocolate, Nomad Ice Pops, homemade premium sorbets from Pop’s Artisinal Creamery, Nothing Bundt Cakes, and more.

Other mentionables include: Chef Luca Maita of 1212 Santa Monica, Sally Chan of Iron Teapot Dim Sum & Bar, Chef Seth Greenberg of Santuari, Chef Matthew Hirtz of World Empanadas, and many more!

Move over Aperol! A new apertif is on the market! Veso apertif showcased two options for apertifs at Masters of Taste - **Strawberry Solstice** and **Vanilla Nightfall**.

100% of the proceeds from Masters of Taste 2022 directly benefited Union Station Homeless Services, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to helping men, women and children experiencing homelessness, rebuild their lives. Union Station is part of a premier group of human services agencies in L.A. County that are leading the way to end homelessness in our community. Union Station offers an array of services including street outreach, meals, shelter, housing, case management and career development. In the last four years Masters of Taste has raised over $2 Million in support of Union Station’s life-saving programs.

Masters of Taste is a foodie paradise! It’s a festival that remains as a top contender and brings top-tier flavors to the forefront. A festival that will leave your taste buds dancing (and you!) all for a good cause!