A food festival for a cause? Sign me up! Masters of Taste returned to the iconic Rose Bowl in Pasadena on April 7th. The culinary paradise brought the best of the best together in the name of charity. 

The premier outdoor, luxury food and beverage festival showcased a bit of everything this year and upped the ante with even more activations and opportunities for fun in the sun than before. As always, 100% of the proceeds benefited Union Station Homeless Services, a non-profit organization providing over 50 years of homeless services and housing for thousands of neighbors.

This time around, Chef Bret Thompson and Lucy Thompson-Ramirez were the Hosts of Masters of Taste 2024, which also marked the 7th Anniversary of the celebrated event. Masters of Taste 2024 Culinary Master and Host Executive Chef Bret Thompson and Pez Boss Lady Lucy Thompson-Ramirez are a dynamic husband and wife team that has made a significant impact in the hospitality industry. With their passion for culinary excellence and warm hospitality, they have created a signature name for themselves in the Los Angeles dining scene and beyond. Additionally, they’re the proud owners of Pez Cantina. This seasonal, modern, coastal-inspired Mexican restaurant and bar, located in downtown Los Angeles, quickly became a beloved dining destination and in October 2021, they expanded with a new location LA Burrito in Montebello, California.

The foodie destination has it all! There were over 100 culinary masters and restaurants, delectable sweets prepared by L.A.’s top Sweet Masters, top Beverage Masters who created signature handcrafted cocktail tastings from over 25 spirit brands and top cocktail bars, select wineries, local craft breweries, cold brew coffee, live entertainment and much, much more. 

Some of this year’s Masters of Taste 2024 participating Culinary Masters and Restaurants include: Pez Cantina Village and Pez Coastal Kitchen Seafood Village by Santa Monica Seafood 2024 Event Hosts Chef Bret Thompson & Lucy Thompson-Ramirez – Downtown Los Angeles, Pasadena, 1212 Santa Monica Chef Oliver Malmsten – Santa Monica, Arth Bar + Kitchen Chef Mihir Lad – Culver City, Agnes Restaurant and Cheesery Chef Vanessa Tilaka Kalb & Chef Thomas Tilaka Kalb – Pasadena, Alexander’s Steakhouse Chef Frederico Villanueva – Pasadena, Ayara Thai Chef Vanda Asapahu & Chef Cathy Asapahu – Westchester, BAAR BAAR Los Angeles Chef Sujan Sarkar – Downtown Los Angeles, Beachy’s Food Truck Chef Pablo Camacho – South Gate, BOX Chicken Chef Noah Clark – Los Angeles, Casa Cordoba Chef Eric Zada – Montrose, Celestino Ristorante Chef Calogero Drago – Pasadena, Cerda Vega Tacos Chef Daniel Vega – Santa Clarita, Champion’s CURRY Chef Yoya Takahashi – Downtown Los Angeles, Chaaste Family Market Chef Gabriel Esteban – Pasadena, City Club Los Angeles Chef Armando Quiroz – Downtown Los Angeles, Emporium Thai Chef John Sungkamee – Los Angeles, Fat Boys Chef Michael Gray – Pasadena, Los Angeles, Gabi James Sarah Gabriele & Adam Aro – Redondo Beach, Georgia’s Restaurant Nika Shoemaker-Machado – Anaheim, Long Beach, Granville Pasadena Chef Marc Dix – Pasadena, Gus’s World-Famous Fried Chicken Chef Mynor Espinoza – Burbank, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Harold & Belle’s Chef Ryan Legaux – Los Angeles

Italia Pasta e Pizza Chef Ivan Capasso - Covina, La Bohéme Chef David Gualberto – West Hollywood, and more. There were a ton of savory bites, however, there were a few that were incredible. Think bone marrow fried rice topped with wagyu beef or crawfish etouffee. One of the new additions this year was the seafood village! A walk-through experience where guests can grab freshly shucked oysters and lobster roll-style crostini. The delectable experience was the cream of the crop! 

Those who have a bit of a sweet tooth were not left disappointed. A select group of Los Angeles Top Sweet Masters will showcase an assortment of delectable desserts such as Bachan’s Shave Ice, warm chocolate chip cookies from BAKE SOME NOISE, Beard Papa’s, Bertha Mae’s Brownies, By Faith Café, Gooey Center Bakery, Happy Ice LA, Läderach, deliciously scrumptious scratch baked custom cakes from Cakes By Chanté and cupcakes from Lark Cake Shop, Magpies Softserve, Marsatta Chocolate, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Pops Artisanal Creamery, Pazzo Gelato, Porto’s Bakery & Café, and more.

Sip sip hooray! True to fashion, beverages were flowing for the occasion. Some of L.A.’s top bartenders and cocktail bars were on-site to create first-rate craft cocktails. Dead of Night Distillery, Dulce Vida Tequila, Empress 1908 Gin, Knox & Dobson, La Bay Gin, Laurel Canyon Spirits, Lunetta, Mario’s Hard Espresso, Mezcal 33, Neft Vodka, Nosotros Tequila & Mezcal, Old Hillside Bourbon Company, Smoke Lab Vodka, The Raymond 1886, Ventura Spirits and Angeleno Spritz, Vintage Distilling, and Xoloitzcuintle Tequila. If liquor isn’t your choice, there were craft beer and wineries in attendance. All Season Brewing, Arrow Lodge Brewing, Arts District Brewing Company, Big Noise Beer, Boomtown Brewery, Pasadena’s Cerveceria Del Pueblo, Kanazawa Hyakumangoku Beer, Arcadia’s first Microbrewery Mt. Lowe Brewing Co., Nova Brewing Co., Over Town Brewing Co., to name a few. As far as the wineries, guests were in for a pleasant surprise as premier wineries from all over Southern California were pouring their best. Bodegas de Santo Tomas, BONDLE Wines, CRŪ Winery, Golden Star Vineyards, Hitching Post Wines, LMA Wines, Moraga Canyon Vineyards, Anderson Valley’s Navarro Vineyards, NON (Non-alcoholic Wine Alternatives), Sake Akagisan, Sake High!, San Simeon Wines, Stephen Hemmert Wines, Warson Wine Company, Wiens Cellars, and more. 

Perfect Hydration Alkaline Water, Yerba Mate from Erva Brew Co., Koe Kombucha, boba milk tea from Sunright Tea Studio and Bearology, and Unincorporated Coffee Roasters kept all attendees hydrated and provided non-alcoholic beverages. 

Once again Masters of Taste produced a high-quality sold-out event for an incredible cause. 100% of the proceeds from ticket sales went to provide support to those in need.