Eat Real Festival in Culver City Keeps It Real with Local Foods [PHOTOS]

Last weekend, we visited the Helms Bakery District in Culver City for something opposite of chocolate covered bacon wrapped Oreos. Eat Real Festival is a two-day food event all about healthiness, sustainability and eating local.

From Oakland to L.A.

Eat Real Festival was founded in 2008 by Anya Fernald in Oakland, CA. She tells us it’s time for Angelenos to have their own Eat Real Festival, “L.A. has an incredible food scene that I think it’s becoming more dynamic than what we have in San Francisco. I wanted to stay in California for the festival’s first expansion and to find a community similar to Oakland to make sure the event kept true to its non-fancy approach — so Culver City was a a natural choice.” The event featured food demonstrations, local food vendors, food trucks, live music, wine and local craft beers.

The Movement

Local merchants like Lindy & Grundy butcher shop had the opportunity to showcase their pastured and organic meats. They also took home the Golden Chicken for winning the butchery contest. Merchants like Handsome Coffee Roasters made their debut with hand roasted espressos. Well known food truck like Nom Nom Truck from season one of “The Great Food Truck Race” served their famous Vietnamese Bánh Mì to the hungry festival-goers.

The beer list was curated by Co-founder of Golden Road Brewing, Meg Gill featured local breweries like Craftsman Brewing, Eagle Rock Brewery, The Bruery, Firestone Walker Brewing Co., Stone Brewing Co. and Hanger 24 Craft Brewery.

The movement is already happening in Los Angeles, Anya says, “Eat Real’s message is relevant anywhere where people want to get in control of the healthiness, safety, and deliciousness of their food. It’s already happening all over L.A.”