BY KAREN YOUNG
Evan Kleiman coming to the San Fernando Valley in any form is reason to celebrate. Too bad she isn’t opening a restaurant here, but we’ll take what we can get.
Kleiman, renowned chef, cookbook author and host of KCRW’s “Good Food,” is the restaurateur who basically created the Italian eatery revolution in Los Angeles with her simple, rustic cuisine in a modern, stylish environment , when she opened Angeli Caffe on Melrose Avenue 25 years ago. Considering her prominence, it is most exciting to report that Kleiman will personally host four free family-friendly food events at the Topanga and Sherman Oaks Westfield Shopping Centers from September to November. It’s all part of KCRW’s “Sounds Around Town” culinary events sure to grab the attention of both adults and kids.
Evan Kleiman opened Angeli Caffe on Melrose 25 years ago and is considered to be the leader of simple, rustic Italian cuisine in Los Angeles. Photo: KCRW
As the founder of SlowFood in Los Angeles, Kleiman is committed to “good, clean and fair food” — meaning food should taste good; that it should be produced in a clean way that does not harm the environment, animal welfare or our health; and that food producers should receive fair compensation for their work.
With that philosophy in mind, Kleiman will host two events challenging Picky Eaters; conduct a Pie Bake-Off between home chefs and pros; and encourage kids to “Play With Your Food” so they’ll learn to eat their veggies.
“Who doesn’t like watching children fall into a vat of food? I love watching kids take control of making their own food,” says Kleiman. “The combinations they come up with are hilarious. So I thought I would create an opportunity for them to be creative and perhaps discover a new taste or two along the way. At the very least it should be immensely entertaining.”
Evan Kleiman is the host of KCRW "Good Food" 89.9 FM on Saturday mornings at 11 am.
At the “Picky Eater” and “Play With Your Food” events, individual food stations will be set up for hands-on food experimentation and creation. Kids will rate the foods that they’ve tried and share the results with their parents. The Pie Bake-Off will feature pies from LA’s best pastry chefs and home cooks, judged by food writers and celebrity chefs.
Here’s the rundown of events hosted by Evan Kleiman. Mark your calendars!
WORLD’S PICKIEST EATER
If you have a picky eater in your household, come down and find food they may love. Parents will participate with their pint-sized gourmand in a food tasting of select foods prepared by Kleiman herself.
Date: Saturday, September 26
Time: 2pm – 4pm
Location: Westfield Topanga, Canyon Atrium
Date: Saturday, November 21
Time: 3pm - 5pm
Location: Westfield Sherman Oaks Fashion Square, Courtyard
PLAY WITH YOUR FOOD – HOW TO GET KIDS TO EAT THEIR VEGETABLES
Kleiman will teach kids how to make their own salad dressing, adjusted exactly to their likings. Then she’ll show them how farm fresh produce tastes when dipped in their concoctions.
Date: Saturday, October 24
Time: 3pm - 5pm
Location: Westfield Sherman Oaks Fashion Square, Courtyard
KCRW’S 1ST ANNUAL GOOD FOOD PIE BAKEOFF
A reader from Pielab.com, taking on the "pie challenge," posted this pie on Kleiman's KCRW "pie-a-day" blog. It was made with local figs picked from the backyards in Greensboro, Alabama. Underneath the quartered figs is a layer of goat cheese and orange blossom honey set in a lemon crostata. Photo courtesy goodfoodonkcrw.vox.com
Since the beginning of summer, Kleiman has given herself a baking challenge by baking a pie a day – and she’s also presented the challenge to readers who are posting photos of their pies on Kleiman’s KCRW blog.
At this November event, home cooks and pastry chefs will compete in the first ever KCRW pie bake-off. Celebrity chefs will join Kleiman in the judging panel. (The registration form will be available at www.KCRW.com/pie on October 1st) .
Date: Saturday, November 14
Time: 2pm – 4pm
Location: Westfield Topanga, Canyon Atrium
Perhaps after these visits, we can only hope that Evan Kleiman might consider opening another Angeli Caffe right here in the 818. Sigh.
Westfield Topanga 6600 Topanga Canyon Blvd, Canoga Park, CA 91303,(818) 594-8740
Westfield Sherman Oaks 14006 Riverside Dr, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423-1945 (818) 783-4791
Karen Young is the Editor/Publisher of My Daily Find.
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