Taste & Sounds on South Lake Avenue (Pasadena, CA) Recap

Fro-yo girl here. I’m back from Taste & Sounds of South Lake Avenue which was held today, Saturday, September 29, from noon – 5 PM. The event provides a nice reason to stroll down South Lake Avenue in Pasadena, CA and check out the local businesses. 

Businesses are constantly opening and closing in the area, it seems. For example, some new businesses that opened this year include Cauldron Ice Cream, Panda Express + Tea Bar, CAVA Grill, Urbane Café, Kreation Organic, Maquina, and Mercado. Businesses that closed this year include Wahoo’s Fish Tacos, Abricott, SECO, etc. Speaking of new businesses, Mendocino Farms is opening on October 11, with a special sneak preview on October 8. They were giving out buy one, get one free coupons at the event. 

The format was a bit different this year. There wasn’t a big vendor village though there were still some vendor booths near Macy’s. Yogurtland didn’t have a booth or a table outside. Some businesses had tables outside of their storefront. Prize wheels were very common. Samples were provided by Jersey Mike’s, Mendocino Farms (they had the longest line), Nothing Bundt Cakes, Urbane Cafe, and Which Wich. Other businesses had special discounts. For example, Yogurtland (Lake Ave.) is offering 25% off from 12 PM – 5 PM today. Samples are always free at Yogurtland. There was a trivia game and a chance to win raffle prizes.

I met Hello Kitty and she was in the cutest Halloween dress. I also got a Sanrio headband, coupons, and an Urbane Café water bottle.

The main reasons that I attend the South Lake Avenue events are (1) they’re close, (2) Yogurtland participates. It’s not the most exciting neighborhood but it is nice and it does have some good restaurants and stores. The South Lake Avenue Business Association also puts on elaborate events. Today’s event featured live music, cooking demos from celebrity chefs, family friendly activities, samples, special discounts, etc. Admission is free and so is parking.

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.

Looking for more frozen yogurt news, discussion boards, and resources? Check out the International Frozen Yogurt Association website at http://internationalfrozenyogurt.com/. The IFYA is the independent voice of the frozen yogurt industry.

Taste of South Lake Pasadena 2017

Fro-yo girl here. San Gabriel Valley’s largest culinary community event, the Taste of South Lake, is going on today, from 11 AM – 5 PM. The free event includes live music, cooking demos from celebrity chefs, a vendor village, and a long list of participating South Lake Business Association businesses. This outdoor, family friendly event features free admission and free parking. For a list of participating businesses, musical acts, and cooking demos, visit http://www.southlakeavenue.org/events/calendar/taste-of-south-lake-avenue-pasadena-2017/

I didn’t have much time this year to spend at the event, but I did swing by the one booth that I had to see, Yogurtland. They brought 6 popular flavors today: Plain Tart, Strawberry, Rocket Pop Sorbet, Cookies & Cream, Vanilla Ice Cream and Chocolate Ice Cream. Cups are $2. They also brought the prize wheel. Prizes include coupons, Yogurtland keychains, and giant spoons (the pink and green ones). They ran out of those Platinum giant spoons.

There are lots of food vendors at the vendor village and some free samples too.

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.

Looking for more frozen yogurt news, discussion boards, and resources? Check out the International Frozen Yogurt Association website at http://internationalfrozenyogurt.com/. The IFYA is the independent voice of the frozen yogurt industry.

Save the Date for Taste of South Lake 2017, October 14

Fro-yo girl here. San Gabriel Valley’s largest culinary community event, the Taste of South Lake, is back this year, on Saturday, October 14, 2017 from 11 AM – 5 PM. The free event includes live music, cooking demos from celebrity chefs, a vendor village, and a long list of participating South Lake Business Association businesses. This outdoor, family friendly event features free admission and free parking. For a list of participating businesses, musical acts, and cooking demos, visit http://www.southlakeavenue.org/events/calendar/taste-of-south-lake-avenue-pasadena-2017/

Yogurtland will be back and I can’t wait to see what they bring.

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.

Looking for more frozen yogurt news, discussion boards, and resources? Check out the International Frozen Yogurt Association website at http://internationalfrozenyogurt.com/. The IFYA is the independent voice of the frozen yogurt industry.

Taste of South Lake 2016

Fro-yo girl here. San Gabriel Valley’s largest culinary community event, the Taste of South Lake, took place on Saturday, October 8 from 11 AM – 5 PM. The festival is sponsored annually by the South Lake Business Association. New businesses like Urban Plates, Nothing Bundt Cakes, T-Pumps, and Del Frisco’s Grill joined returning businesses like Lemonade, Nekter and Du-Par’s.

The crowds looked bigger than ever. I missed the cooking demos but I did catch some of the live music. Thanks to KCRW, they had some really good bands.

Yogurtland was there with the prize wheel and three flavors of froyo: Rocket Pop Sorbet, Plain Tart and Fresh Strawberry ($2 a cup). They were also accepting donations for the Children’s Miracle Network. I won a Yogurtland coupon and keychain.

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.

Looking for more frozen yogurt news, discussion boards, and resources? Check out the International Frozen Yogurt Association website at http://internationalfrozenyogurt.com/. The IFYA is the independent voice of the frozen yogurt industry.

Taste of South Lake, San Gabriel's Largest Culinary Festival, Returns on October 8

Fro-yo girl here. San Gabriel Valley’s largest culinary community event, the Taste of South Lake, will take place on Saturday, October 8 from 11 AM – 5 PM. Taste of South Lake, presented by the South Lake Business Association, features South Lake restaurants (including Yogurtland) and community partners, cooking demos, and live music. 

For more details, see the press release below.

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.

Savor the Taste of South Lake, San Gabriel Valley’s Largest Culinary Festival!

Pasadena, CA, September 17, 2016 - Thousands are expected to attend Pasadena’s largest culinary celebration, The Taste of South Lake, Saturday, October 8th, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Guests can enjoy culinary delights from over 25 South Lake Avenue restaurants, live cooking demos from the area’s most talented chefs, music performances from internationally known bands, an interactive vendor village, beer, wine and cocktail garden and much, much more! This is a day you do not want to miss!

The Taste of South Lake offers guests a day to indulge in a diversity of taste, featuring popular South Lake Pasadena restaurants. From Del Frisco’s Grille, to Urban Plates and Lemonade, Taste of South Lake will cater to all. This free, outdoor festival features a special live cooking demonstration stage with famed chefs such as Luisa Fabbri, owner of Contessa, Ronald Russell, the renowned vegan and raw food chef, as well as vegan Chef Yvonne Ardestani, creator of “My Eclectic Kitchen” cookbook and app. We are excited to announce that Chef Daniel Shemtob, the award winning chef of TLT Food and the Food Network will also be joining us, with demonstrations of his bold, culturally-inspired cooking.

Additionally, there will be live music performances from not only the best emerging bands, but also platinum selling artists throughout the day. Presented by Bai Brands, the day begins with the eight-piece, fusion musical collective The Nick Valentini Collective, who has been dubbed as the “Jazz fusion Radiohead”. Los Angeles’s very own psych pop artist James Supercave will grace the stage, followed by American Rock band The Shelters, whose debut EP was produced by none other than Tom Petty. MTV VMA award nominees, Chairlift will perform their upbeat mix of indie pop/electo and Australian alternative rock band, Atlas Genius, whose debut album “When It Was Now” peaked at No.34 on the US Billboard 200, is headlining the festival at 5pm. KCRW’s DJ Raul Campos is spinning throughout the day between sets. Bai Brands, the better-for-you beverage company is proud to be a presenting sponsor of the Music Stage. Guests will be able to take photos at the Bai photo booth and enjoy a complimentary bottle of Bai at their booth, to keep hydrated and refreshed.

The Taste of South Lake is presented by the South Lake Business Association and co-sponsored by Corporate Center Pasadena. The South Lake Business Association gives special thanks to Corporate Center Pasadena, KCRW 89.9, LA Weekly, Bai Brands, Logix Federal Credit Union, Pasadena Outlook, Pasadena Star News, Pasadena Weekly and Universal Protection Service.

“Taste of South Lake celebrates and showcases the South Lake Avenue District while providing the ideal community building experience. The event is also our way of welcoming guests and thanking them for being patrons of the South Lake Avenue District.”– Gina Tleel, Executive Director of the South Lake Business Association.

Participating restaurants & businesses include Celestino Ristorante, Corner Bakery Cafe, Del Frisco’s Grille, Du-Par’s Restaurant & Bakery, Jamba Juice, Lemonade, Logix Federal Credit Union, Massetti Caffe Mobile, Nekter Juice Bar, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Bai Brands, Perry’s by Claud Beltran, Real Food Daily, San Sai Japanese Grill, Souplantation, Ten Thousand Villages, Tpumps, Urban Plates, Veggie Grill, Which Wich Superior Sandwiches, Cutco, Williams-Sonoma, Yogurtland and more. 

• Date: Saturday October 8th, 11am - 5pm
• Location: 251 S. Lake Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91101
• Admission: FREE plus FREE parking at Corporate Center Pasadena!

Live Cooking Demos by:

• 12:00pm: Luisa Fabbri - Owner of Contessa 
• 1:00pm: Chef Daniel Shemtob - Award winning chef of TLT Food
• 2:00pm: Ronald Russell - Renowned vegan & raw food chef, co-owner of celeb hangout Sun Cafe in Studio City
• 3:00pm: Chef Yvonne Ardestani - Creator of the My Eclectic Kitchen cook-book app and blog specializing in vegan fare

Live Music Performances by:

• 12:00pm: The Nick Valentini Collective - Eight-piece, fusion musical collective
• 1:00pm: James Supercave - Pysch pop artist featured on NPR and Vice
• 2:00pm: The Shelters - American rock band, debut EP produced by Tom Petty
• 3:00pm: Chairlift - American synth-pop duo, MTV Video Award nominee 
• 4:00pm: Atlas Genius - Alternative rock band from Australia 
• Spinning between sets: KCRW DJ Raul Campos 

General Public: For more information, please visit www.southlakeavenue.org or call 626.792.1259.