food lovers' fantasy

When you’ve been in Los Angeles your whole life it’s easy to disparage the overcrowded freeways, high rents, rising homeless population, and the shrinking middle class. I remember growing up in Woodland Hills and Sherman Oaks with my family and being a part of that once emerging middle class. But we mostly all looked the same and ate the same food. A 50 cent hamburger at McDonald’s was a fast food novelty and then for special occasions there was Hamburger Hamlet (In the late 70s I got Glen Campbell’s autograph!). Later on, as a teen taking the beach bus, I ventured into Westwood and ate something exotic called a falafel. I thought I was a sophisticated high school senior going out on dates at the Cheesecake Factory while trying to fake my way into getting an adult beverage. In my twenties my parents took us to a few even fancier restaurants that were typically French with a little California fresh seasonal fare mixed in.

Well this isn’t the LA of the 60s, 70s and 80s and we’re the better for it in terms of food and the variety of people who live here. While I can’t solve the world’s problems or even tackle our local issues I can at least impart to you the joys of eating and also snooping on a large variety of the population that goes to Smorgasburg LA.

This fabulous and wondrous cornucopia of food offered on the widest culinary spectrum was brought to Los Angeles three years ago. I interviewed Doug at the welcome table who is also a food blogger and a commercial real estate broker on the weekdays. He helps run this event every Sunday (with the exception of a few major holidays) from 10am-4pm at the 7th Street Produce Market and estimates about 10,000-15,000 people come every week. There are over 50 pop up offerings of not only food and drink, but also clothing, jewelry, household items, and records. Pop ups are a genius way of being a food and beverage incubator without the pesky bureaucrats that increase the brick and mortar costs and compromise inventive cooking. See below of a picture of Sindy Lazo, originally from Venezuela, who is the first Latino MasterChef.

The original Smorgasburg was founded in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn and now boasts four other locations, still mostly in Brooklyn! Zach Brooks, the general manager of the Los Angeles outpost is originally from New York and is a food blogger himself. He’s been instrumental in bring the “burg” concept to what we now call DTLA. It’s cleverly situated next to ROW DTLA and the just opened Tartine Manufactory.

Doug says he’d love to add more local art vendors like painters, sculptors and print makers and I’m sure that will happen over time as there is plenty of room to expand. When asked what his favorite dish is, he readily answers with Burritos La Palma-a slow cooked beef made into a burrito which is Michelin recognized.

With accessible, affordable, and ample parking (but you still should get there early!) as well as no entry fee, it’s easy to get to Smorgasburg LA and find your favorite food to eat. Whether you are a carnivore, a “poultryvore”, pescatarian, vegetarian, gluten free, vegan, dairy only, or if you just alternate between all of the above—it’s all there for your taste buds to embrace and experience.

The only caveat is that no pets are allowed, unless it’s a certified guide dog. I know people are tempted to try it but it’s a health issue and one that we should all respect.

These pictures are from my recent visits in mid-August and early November. Hope your food fantasies are blooming!

Also— see below for additional text and pictures that discuss how I approach (or don’t approach) subjects for photographs.

Sometimes I snap pictures quickly and randomly, and sometimes I just outright ask so I can pose people with some direction, like these badass women seen below who have their own unique styles. When I ask for pictures I am transparent about what I’m doing and why I am there doing it. And so far my success rate is 100%. People respond to me with kindness, encouragement and prayers as a cancer survivor that still needs cancer treatment. Talking to strangers and exposing my rawness emboldens me. They can feel like family after a two minute conversation. I smile, then cry, and get lots of hugs. Somehow I touch them and their soul touches me— whether they hardly speak English or if they’re covered with tattoos and piercings, have shaved heads and dangle metal chains.

I use my camera as a tool to showcase the changing beauty and curiosities of Los Angeles as I experience it. The mission is to embrace our diversity and not be judgmental. It’s a work in progress.