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KCET Partners with NHK to Return to the Los Angeles Times Culinary Event, The Taste

August 29, 2016
NHK Chef Rika
Photo courtesy of Kevin Wolf/AP Images | photo courtesy of Kevin Wolf/AP Images

KCET plans to return to the Los Angeles Times' annual culinary event The Taste in spectacular fashion featuring multi-cultural food programming, meet-and-greets with LA food icons, giveaways and sample food items on Saturday, Sept. 3 and Sunday, Sept. 4 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the Paramount Studios back lot, 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood.

This year, KCET has partnered with NHK, Japan's sole independent public broadcaster, to introduce Angelenos to celebrity Chef Rika Yukimasa, host of NHK World TV's top-rated signature lifestyle and cooking program Dining with the Chef. Chef Rika combines global techniques, cultural influences and a variety of ingredients to demonstrate how to make delicious Japanese dishes at home. She will present an authentic Japanese creation from 12:15 p.m. - 12:45 p.m. on Sun., Sep. 4 at the Acura Culinary Stage. Dining with the Chef will also be shooting an upcoming episode during The Taste that will include a special interview with Chef Michael Cimarusti (Providence, Connie & Ted's). Dining with the Chef airs on KCET Mondays and Fridays at 11:30 a.m. PT as well as Sundays at 4 p.m. PT.

NHK WORLD TV's booth, adjacently located to KCET's designated space, will offer visitors a chance to meet Chef Rika on Saturday at 12 pm.  Sushi samples and giveaways of branded chopsticks and authentic Uchiwa fans will complete the experience for visitors.

To promote KCET's upcoming food series The Migrant Kitchen,  the KCET booth will host giveaways of a special mole seasoning mixture as well as special meet-and-greets with some of the most notable names in the culinary world including acclaimed sustainable seafood advocate Chef Michael Cimarusti (Executive Chef of a trio of award-winning local restaurants including Providence, a bastion of LA fine dining for over a decade), Chef Alvin Cailan (the chef behind Egg Slut and owner of Unit 120), Chef Charles Olalia (chef and owner of Rice Bar) and the brothers behind LASA, Chef Chad and Chase Valencia. The new digital series tells the story of the migrants within the city - through the lens of food. Five 10-12 minute weekly web episodes premiere online at  KCET.org/TheMigrantKitchen on Sep. 20 and culminate with a television broadcast special on Oct. 25. The series examines how the experiences of LA's migrants have shaped the local food scene creating a bridge for understanding the many cultures that comprise the city's food landscape. The Migrant Kitchen comes to KCET from the producers behind acclaimed print/online magazine Life & Thyme, dedicated to documenting food culture around the globe with a focus on storytelling.

The schedule at The Taste is as follows:

KCET booth schedule - Saturday, Sept. 3

  • 11 a.m. Meet n' Greet with Chef Michael Cimarusti (Exec. Chef of Providence, Connie & Ted's, Cape Seafood)

KCET booth schedule - Sunday, Sept. 4

  • 11 a.m. Meet n' Greet with Chef Chad and Chase Valencia (Co-founders and brothers behind LASA)
  • 12 p.m. Meet n' Greet with Chef Charles Olalia (Chef and owner of Rice Bar, former Executive Chef of Patina)
  • 1 p.m. Meet n' Greet with Chef Alvin Cailan (Owner of Unit 120 and the Chef behind Egg Slut)
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