July 22: Angeleno Magazine's Live and Dine LA (+ 2011 recap)

Live & Dine LA, the event celebrating Angeleno Magazine's Annual Restaurant Awards, is coming  back on July 22 to the Fairmont Miramar. It's not just an award show, which happens during the VIP reception, but the main event features tastings from various restaurants and liquor brands. Keep in mind that the many of the award winners will naturally be participating (plus other restaurants), and this is after all, the annual restaurant awards, so this will be a tasting of the best among the best.

The 2010 event was already great, but 2011 was probably twice the size, with the same kind of quality.

Last year's winner included Red Medicne, Sotto, Robata Jinya, mixologist Julian Cox, Roy Choi, and others.

FIG at the Fairmont Miramar is of course always participating. They brought out a whole roasted pig for some pork tacos. Hang around a bit and see if you can get some of the crispy skin!

The crab salad wrap from A-Frame (Best New Restaurant) was a crowd favorite, and I had to go back for seconds.

The line into the secret tent for Red Medicine was the longest. You step into Jordan Kahn's "garden" (Best New Chef) ...

... where the dish is served in tubes arranged like plants growing on dirt. Quite an interesting experience and probably the most elaborate setup of all the restaurants in attendance.

Master Ecailler Christophe Happillon, the Oyster Gourmet, was there shucking fresh oysters

Uni shooters from Robata Jinya, Best New Hidden Gem

Night+Market represents Thai cuisine

Panna Cotta from Joshua Graves of Ray's and Stark Bar, Best Pastry Chef.

Freshly made (during the event!) squid ink tonnarelli with Santa Barbara sea urchin from Culina.
More uni! See, the restaurants at this event don't skimp

Burger from The Misfit

The 10th Live & Dine LA will be held on July 22, 5:30pm (4:30 pm VIP reception)
Tickets are $95pp ($150 VIP) and can be bought here.