This past weekend, I was lucky enough to attend the first ever Masters of Taste in LA. It was hosted at the Rose Bowl, and I was able to hang out during set up, and stay until close. Let me tell you, I had a good time. 

I had a lot of regards. I thought it was going to be like Tacolandia, the last "all you can eat" type event I went to in LA, and I did not have the best of experiences there. I was expecting lines, more lines, small portions, and not a lot of different foods. 

False.

Masters of Taste was like all food events I have ever gone to, with a huge splash of luxury. There were 40 chefs and restaurants and almost 25 cocktails and alcohol companies. Talk about YUM.

Since we got there a little early, we approached a few unprepared booths. We decided to have a seat, claim our bench, and wait around until the event really began. VIP opened at 3, but most booths weren't fully set up until 4, so I would say that the general admission ticket is good enough, and not to worry about spending the extra money on VIP.

Parking was free, but we decided to Uber because, alcohol. There was lots of tacos, appetizers, and lots and lots of drinks. 

Not to play favorites, but The Raymond definitely won Masters of Taste in my book. Every hour they had a different Mezcal cocktail and taco pairing. I had two of them and they were both perfect. Just makes me want to visit them for their happy hour (which I have heard is out of this world).

Of course, the event would not have been the same without the people I went with, my amazing coworkers. I am so beyond lucky to have a job that allowed me to attend this event, enjoy some incredible company, and have the most fun filled, and perfect Sunday.

Before leaving, we hit up some of our favorite booths to thank them, and much to our surprise, or at least mine, we left with treats. From pastry goodie bags, to coconut waters, I ended up having so many things in my hands that I took a garbage bag and filled it with everything else. Judge me, I don't mind, I walked out of there with so many free samples I was so happy. Monday was like Masters of Taste part 2 with all of the goodies I had. 

Thank you, Masters of Taste for an incredible event! I can't see what this year's event has taught to make next year's even bigger, better, and more luxurious. 

Taco/Tequila-landia

This past Saturday, I went to heaven, well at least I thought it would be heaven. We got in line for the premium tickets which was long, but barely hit the corner, while the general admission line snaked around up and down the block and street. We got to the front of the line and decided to just go down the line for the tacos.

After about 3 or 4 tacos, we decided it was time for a drink... or two. The guy in front of us at the bar thought that, just like the tacos, the drinks were included. This was correct, but only if you had the premium ticket and got the drink card. He did not, so I got a free margarita to accompany my paloma. 

And then I ate a smelt fish taco, which just kind of tasted like a taco. But my parents didn't eat it and I did so I felt accomplished.

After some more tacos and taquitos and standing in line in the burning sun, we found the tequila garden. Having purchased the premium ticket, we thought this was included but it was another $20. We shouldn't have done it. But we had fun, regardless. We got some free shot glasses, light up martini glasses, shots of tequila, and a wink from a creepy old guy. Tacolandia had turned into tequilalandia.

And then I befriended the cute guy in front of me in line, and he convinced me to eat a grasshopper taco. It wasn't terrible. Just kind of, crunchy...

I also ate octopus, but that isn't that weird, right?

And then the last and final taco and margarita of the night. (Well, I actually got three because the bar was closing and I still had free drink coupons like hi, obviously I was going to use them.)

To end the night, we went to a part of LA that I had never been before, and got churros and chocolate. And it was perfect. 

"But first, let me Instagram"

As you may or may not know, I am an Instagram addict. See post here. There, I said it. 

That is relevant to this post, I promise. This past weekend was my sorority's first ever Family Weekend. The goal of the weekend was to tour the city and adventure with your family, and post it to Facebook with certain hashtags. Person with the most amount of pictures with hashtags won. How many times can I say hashtags in this post. 

My parents came in Friday night, and we headed to Bambino's for an early dinner and then back to school for "Family Weekend Kickoff."

My mom was very excited about her Theta shirt, to say the least!

That night, Christine and Javi came over for movie night aka me yelling at "Blackfish," watching the first 15 minutes of Frozen and the singing parts of Pitch Perfect.
The next morning my parents and I met up with their friends at Nopa and YUM, but it's always delicious. We also had mimosas and french toast for appetizers. Why not.

The tourist stops began with Alamo Square.

From Alamo Square (Painted Ladies, Full House house) we went to Twin Peaks....

AND THEN THESE HOTTIES GOT OFF A TOUR BUS. My dad had to remind me to breathe. It was bad.

Caught taking a panorama. WHOOPS.

Close up of our shirts. Ooooh, aaaaah.

On to the next stop! We went to the mosaic stairs, and HI they are gorgeous. Random for the neighborhood, but so beautiful!

We also went to Lands End and a ton of places in Golden Gate Park and on Haight, but then got tired. Like REALLY tired. So we retreated to my apartment/the dorms for a 20 minute nap aka my parents took a nap in my bed and I drank coffee.
Then we went to dinner at Pier 39 and looked super duper cute, if I do say so myself.

After dinner, I was tired and wanted to go home, but my dad started getting competitive. We made some pitstops on the way home for pictures, and ended up at the Star Wars Museum in the presidio.

The next day was award day and I DIDN'T WIN. I KNOW I'M STILL UPSET ABOUT IT. So what do you do when you're upset? You go shopping.

Post shopping/Costco/Trader Joes, we headed to Sausalito and ate at.. wait for it, Salsalito. AH! How cute is that. We got tacos, surprise, surprise. And margaritas made out of wine! What?

And then the rain came, and my parents left. But all in all I had an incredible weekend!