Hot summer food fests: East L.A. Meets Napa es muy picante; L.A. Times' the Taste lowers prices

East L.A. Meets Napa tasting sampler: Nopales sopa, mole tamales, cochinita pibil sopa, ceviche, oh my!

Is it really time to start planning for July and August events already? Actually, si, and the first thing to mark on your calendar is East L.A. Meets Napa, a benefit for community health organization AltaMed that brings together L.A.'s top Latino tastes with Latino-owned wineries. Haven't made it yet to Moles La Tia? Been meaning to check out La Casita Mexicana or Rivera? Here's a change to sample cutting edge Mexican tastes, Californian and Baja wines, and help underserved Angelenos access health care.
Plus, this year AltaMed will present a new book "In Their Own Words II," dedicated to Latino Restaurant families and chefs living in Southern California with biographies of each family or chef, a recipe and a wine pairing.

When: July 20
Where: Union Station, Downtown L.A.
Tickets: $150

A Leaner, Meaner Taste
Meanwhile, L.A. Times-sponsored The Taste festival over Labor Day weekend has streamlined its schedule into five easier-to-navigate events, each priced at $50. If you're an L.A. Times print or digital subscriber, tickets are 20% off for now.
Events include Flavors of L.A. with Jonathan Gold on Sept. 2; Dinner and drinks with Betty Hallock also on the 2nd, Field to Fork with Russ Parsons on Sept. 1; Cocktail Confidential with Jessica Gelt on Sept. 1 and a Labor Day picnic hosted by Noelle Carter on Sept. 3.
When: Sept. 1-3
Where: Paramount Studios
Tickets: $50 per event; $185 for all.