City of Gold (Laura Gabbert, 2015): United States

Reviewed by Vincenzo Muia. Viewed at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival 2016. Lobero Theater.

At the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, you may have noticed a theatrical food truck parked within the majestic walls of the Lobero Theater. Should you have been fortunate enough to avoid the hungry line, there was a delicious treat rewarding your wait in the blazing sun. This is City of Gold (Laura Gabbert, 2015). Embark on an odyssey into ethnic foods and their historical stories of struggle and redemption. Gabbert’s presents a culinary roadmap of the LA underdog eateries saved by the pen and palate of Jonathan Gold. Bon appetit.

Laura Gabbert’s City of Gold, Fine Cuisine: Established 2015.

Welcome to Los Angeles’ finest eatery you haven’t heard about. Come in and join Laura Gabbert on a gastrointestinal quest to find and serve the best of L.A.’s finest international street cuisine along with an intimate introspect of the stories behind the dishes from the unlikely locations, personally selected by Jonathan Gold, Pulitzer Prize winning food critic with the Los Angeles Times. Prix fixe $20 per person; gratuity not included.

Lunch:

– Del Strada (From the Street): A localized assortment of L.A.’s most popular ethnic dishes; featuring traditional Jalisco tacos and Asian spicy noodles prepared without pretensions.

– Sopas del Oro (Soups of Gold): A kaleidoscope of international soups personally selected by Jonathan Gold. Featuring L.A restaurants he promoted into institutions of cuisine: Jitlada, Guelaguetza, Meals by Genet, and Mariscos Jalisco.

Dinner:

– Pescador Responsable (Responsible Fisherman): A melange of sea and spice featuring the freshest and most sustainably harvested Pacific species. Enjoy a brief introduction of sustainable fishing by Mark Gold, Environmentalist and brother of Jonathan Gold.

Q & A with Jonathan Gold:

– The final offering is a Q & A with Pulitzer Prize winning food critic Jonathan Gold. Hear The stories behind the reviews and how his writing speaks volumes about families who risked everything to open an eatery in order to serve their gifts to the citizens of Los Angeles In their pursuit of the American Dream. Join us for an intimate evening with Jonathan Gold and his amazing discoveries of haute cuisine in local Los Angeles. Seating is on a first come first serve basis and featuring the music of Jonathan Gold’s PunkRockCello. Reviews are in:

4 out of 4 stars: “Laura Gabbert offers those lucky enough to get a table an intimate look at LA street-cuisine as well as the family owned eateries that have become the story of legend.” Best tacos ever!! (Anonymous review)

Outstanding!!: “I passed some of the eateries featured on the Laura’s menu without hestitation and had no idea the delicious quality they served. Only through the savvy palate of Jonathan Gold would I ever have considered stopping for lunch.” Thank you!!