Hope y’all are hungry — The LA Street Food Fest is back at the Rose Bowl June 29, from 3-9 p.m. Amoeba is proud to be a sponsor the stage this year, which will feature indie rock cover band Black Crystal Wolf Kids.

The fest features 90+ food vendors, beer gardens, wine tasting, cocktails, live music, a photo booth and more. VIP early admission is $75; general admission from 5-9 p.m. is $50. Get your tickets here. Use code AmoebaFan13 at checkout for discounted tickets.

Both tickets will get you unlimited food and drink. In addition VIP members get a $30 credit to ride service Uber, while general admission ticket holders will get $20 in credit to the service. Parking is FREE at the Rose Bowl for this event.

A sample of some of the restaurants, food trucks and other food vendors from L.A. and Baja, Mexico that will be at the festival: Indian gastropub Badmaash; German sausage purveyors Currywurst; L.A. dining institution Fred 62; L.A. Mexican chain Loteria Grill; makers of veggie tacos and other non-meaty goodness Plant Food for People; and the aptly titled Grilled Cheese Truck. This is in addition to coffee from such providers as Handsome Coffee Roasters; liquor from Greenbar Distillery; a Singha beer garden; ice cream from Chunk-n-Chip, among others; and lots more.

Last year when news surfaced that Paul Canales, formerly chef at Oliveto, along with Rocco Somazzi would be opening their new Uptown district  (468 19th St.) eatery DUENDE anticipation has been high for this latest addition to the ever evolving hot Oakland nightlife area in the vicinity of the Fox Theater And justifiably so for DUENDE, which opened last month, is more than simply an enticing new East Bay dining destination; it is a many faceted, ambitious new nightlife addition that is also a music venue, art gallery, and wine store.

And as for the food - its primary draw - DUENDE offers a refreshing original cuisine by the renowned East Bay chef whose Basque heritage plays a subtle yet distinct influence in his approach to cooking.  Described as "Spanish based" but with a broad blend of flavors (drawing from African, French, & Italian) Canales told the San Francisco Chronicle that for DUENDE, "I really wanted a flexible food concept. I didn't want to be stuck in a style of food." promising that he will never settle for traditional Spanish fare (or "Spanish museum food" as he dismisses it).

Originally expected to open last summer DUENDE, following many months of hard work   and adhering to building codes and various city codes, finally officially opened in January. Its location is at 468 19th Street in historic Floral Depot building in the short block between Broadway and Telegraph Aves. a stones throw from the Fox Theater and round the corner from The Uptown nightclub and the various other clubs, restaurants, and art spaces that have filled this revitalized, vibrant, once dormant part of Oakland over the past several years. Inside the high-ceilinged, exposed brick and beam, large but cozy space - the work of Arcsine Architecture - seats up to 84 diners, while a wide iron stairway leads upstairs to the live music area where a black and gold emblazoned grand piano (pictured below) is the centerpiece.  Recently I caught up with Rocco Somazzi who handles the music end of things at DUENDE to ask him about the new space and his own rich history which anyone from Los Angeles already likely knows about (LA Magazine once wrote of Rocco that, "The best jazz club in L.A. is wherever Rocco Somazzi handles the booking on a given night...He is the rare local booker who keeps jazz fans wondering what he’s going to do next.")

On Sunday, August 26 Amoeba will be on hand at Susan Feniger’s STREET, spinning global beats from 5-10 p.m., for the renowned restaurant’s Street Food Cookbook Celebration and Feast event. Feniger will be signing copies of her book Susan Feniger’s Street Food and highlighting recipes from her book, which was inspired by her travels and eating street foods in various countries. In addition to ethnic cocktails and agua frescas, Silverback Coffee of Rwanda CEO Jack Karuletwa will be pouring his coffee, and you’ll leave with samples of street treats and coffee for the next morning.

The event is $50 per person and $70 if you buy a signed book. Call Street to make your reservation at (323) 203-0500.

Susan Feniger’s STREET is located at 742 N. Highland Ave. The restaurant boasts such dishes as chicken and waffle croquettes, Korean BBQ short ribs and spicy black bean veggie burgers. LA Weekly’s award-winning food critic Jonathan Gold calls it “a virtual museum of street food, snacks and savories from every part of Asia.”
 

 




Watch the trailer below to hear what’s in store from Feniger herself.

Foodies, heads up: dineLA Restaurant Week is upon us, taking place July 16-27. Some of L.A.’s best restaurants feature reduced prices on lunch and dinner, priced from $15-$45. Amoeba is providing Rolling Stone LA and Susan Feniger’s STREET with $10 Amoeba gift certificates to give out to the first 15 dineLA patrons July 16. Ask for certificates while supplies last. Cheap, good food and discounted records — a dream come true.
 

Check out some pics to whet your appetites:

Tasty looking spread from Rolling Stone LA




Fried chicken from Susan Feniger's STREET!

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Um... eek.

This weekend, Los Angeles celebrates its main Gay Pride festival and I plan on being there. This may not seem like a stunning “news flash” to many of you, dear readers, but those who know me well know that I have a phobia of parades and balloons, I will not wait anything over 10 minutes for a table at any restaurant no matter how piquant their comestibles, nor will I eat standing up (and certainly not in a crowd!) and I’m allergic to most forms of fun – all of these are features of such events (or so I'm told).

But here’s another fact about me: I’ve never participated in any Pride activities in any city, any year, ever – and that strikes me as, well… queer. So this is the year I’m remedy it. I'm coming out! (...of my safe and cozy home.)

I need to go buy bottles of water and sun-block with an SPF of pi, but before I do, I wanted to get some mood music from our rich, LGBT heritage (see below). Beats make me braver!

And if you plan on coming to LA’s Pride, look for me. I’ll undoubtedly be cowering in some dark corner, terrified of everything, but doing it with a rad attitude.