Food fest wants to stuff you

Eeeeeatscon LA will offer big portions from buzzy eateries

Eeeeeatscon LA, which eschews the small tasting bites typical of many food festivals, will offer fare from restaurants like Santa Monica’s Fitoor and Glendale’s Mini Kabob as well as out-of-town operations like the Brave Idiot truck. courtesy of EEEEEATSCON LA

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By Richard Guzman

riguzman@scng.com

Those who have a big appetite will want to make sure they come hungry when they attend Eeeeeatscon LA because this food festival is about serious grubbing.

The annual event, which features bigger portions rather than the small tasting bites offered at many food festivals, returns to The Barker Hangar in Santa Monica on Saturday and Sunday. That’s where more than two dozen local and national restaurants that are creating a buzz on social media or by word of mouth will be serving dishes they’ve become known for as well as special creations.

So in other words, these are the rock star restaurants people are talking about, said Brant Cox, editorial lead of The Infatuation LA, an online publication that covers all things related to restaurants and puts on the annual food festival.

“There’s a million food festivals out there now and I think what makes Eeeeeatscon special is that it is a food festival, but it’s created in the spirit of a music festival, where the restaurants are the headliners,” he said.

“You’re going to taste the best food in Los Angeles and abroad. The lineup this year we believe are operating at the top of their game.”

Local restaurants include Santa Monica’s Fitoor, known for wood-fired and grilled Indian dishes, as well as Glendale’s Mini Kabob, which has become a city institution.

“Anybody who has been eating kebabs in L.A. will know Mini Kabob. It is a classic spot and this year they are doing a first-time special chicken Caesar wrap. I had it at a tasting and I can tell you it is unbelievably good,” Cox said.

Cox is particularly excited for a collaboration between pizza place Quarter Sheets and Caribbean-inspired Bridgetown Roti, which will create an oxtail pizza together.

“For that I would say people will need to line up immediately,” he said.

The festival also gives food lovers the chance to sample dishes from restaurants outside of California that they may otherwise not get a chance to try. One such spot Cox is excited about is Brave Idiot, a Nashville-based food truck that has been making a lot of noise with its juicy hot chicken.

“It is revered in Nashville and I am really excited to try that,” Cox said.

The festival will also include panel discussions by food experts and live music.