The large and flavorful Asian night market can be interpreted in as many ways as there are fans. Some see it as the ultimate place for a bowl brimming with noodles, scallions, sesame seeds, and maybe a little heat in the form of sauce or peppers; others might think of it as a great place to run into neighbors, gossip a bit, pick up some goods or groceries, and, yes, get something tasty, maybe noodles, maybe soup, maybe all of the above.
Los Angeles has been home to the spirit of the night market for decades, of course, in various ways, but the large-scale, one-night- or three-weekends-only type festival is on the up and up. Santa Monica Airport has played host, and 626 Night Market is back at Santa Anita Park this summer.
Now LUCKYRICE -- that's all caps -- is headed back to Los Angeles on its fourth tour. Date? Saturday, July 27. Spot? The Bookbindery in Culver City.
Yep, we said "tour" and meant it. This chefly, mixology-nice foodie outing is presented by Bombay Sapphire and involves five cities: NYC, Vegas, Miami, San Francisco, and, hello, lovely LA. We'd say this lends it an extra dash of travel and cosmopolitan-o-sity, but it already has that courtesy of the many participating chefs. Sang Yoon of Father's Office is the host, and big toques like Jenee Kim of Parks BBQ and Bryant Ng of Spice Table will be two of the cuisine artists cooking and hobnobbing.
And the flavors? Think classic street food as imagined by Lukshon, Komodo Food, and Hamasuku.
An octet of drink makers'll be grabbing the shakers and putting liquids in them, the better to turn out adult libations. Sean Hamilton of No Vacancy and Chris Ojeda of Soho House will on overseeing the bottles, ice, and little twists of lime and lemon.
Tickets are now on sale and are $88. Oh, but you want to stay lucky for LUCKYRICE -- it does sell out, well in advance, so if the piquant flavors of a classic Asian night market appeal, move fast.
