Sweltering heat, the Rosebowl parking lot and hoards of hungry humans may not sound like a recipe for success… OH, but it is! The Los Angeles Street Food Fest had a little bit of everything for everyone. I was particularly surprised at the many offerings in the way of adult beverages. Despite my pal Caroline On Crack’s preview of the boozey delights in store before the event, I didn’t expect so many tasty cocktailian treats! And the food… oh, the food was a fantastical journey throughout the streets of Los Angeles. This was my first time attending, but its an event I will support here-after.Here are my top 5 picks from LA Street Food Fest 2013:
1) Painkiller Cocktail Pops: The otter-pop style Painkillers were easy to devour, quick to execute (the long line moved quickly) and fun to enjoy, so I'd say Julian Cox had the most innovative “cocktail” at the event.Extra bonus: when the pops ran out, the guys behind the bar sprayed the remaining liquid nitrogen into the air which created cooling crystals in the atmosphere. This drew almost as much of a crowd as the pops themselves! 
2) Tempeh Reuben Vegan Taco: Everything was right with the this alternative taco made withCashew cheese, sauerkraut and chipotle sauce. I am still exploring the "world of vegan," and although I don't think I could ever fully adopt that way of life, I truly appreciate having delicious vegan options at my fingertips.Of all the tacos I tried at the food fest (and I tried most), these were actually my favorite, even over the meat, shrimp and fish ones! 
3) La Nina Del Mezcal: I consider myself a 'nina del agave.' Whether tequila, mescal, sotol, bacanora… I like my spirit neat, no lime, just let me savor the flavor. I hadn’t yet tried La Nina del Mezcal, and it was a tongue-fastic experience. Herbal with a hint of smoke, its just the way I like my Espadin.Pablo Moix and Steve Levigni were also on hand to make a refreshingly tasty (and easy to make-at-home) cocktail called the Tiger Style featuring La Nina mezcal, English cucumber, fresh lime, super fine sugar and Kosher salt. 
4) Chinese Dragon Whisker Candy: Generally, I’m not a huge candy lover, but THIS was afascinating food stand. Similar to the techniques used in Chinese noodle making, the candymaker pulls and stretches a glob of honey into long, thin strands. He then wraps the feathery ‘pasta’ around a mixture of honey and nuts to create a sweet treat that literally melts in your mouth.I will be looking for a box of these to take home next time I go to Chinatown! 5) Black Crystal Wolf Kids: This Indie cover band was one of my favorite things at the festival. Never mind that they cover, like, every fun song currently on the radio, or their fun-and-funky style, or that Jeff Miller is a blogger buddy from his pre-Thrillist days. These guys (and gal) rock! Vocals, instruments, performance – all inspire a party. Even under the blistering sun. 
Honorable Mentions:
- Sushi Roku, one of my long-time fave sushi spots, had their crab rolls in sesame-encrusted rice paper. Yum. (Yes, I had two.)
- Yay for the Sailor Jerry Air Conditioned Airstream trailer. A break from the heat was necessary and appreciated! I hope they have one at Tales of the Cocktail, in New Orleans later this month!