INTERVIEW: STACEY SUN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, DINE LA

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Stacey is an advocate of the city’s culinary offerings and is passionate about bringing Los Angeles to the forefront of dining in the U.S.  
 

As Executive Director, one of her goals for Dine LA is to continue to put Los Angeles on the map as a premier dining destination and to grow Dine LA to be a resource for what’s on the culinary forefront for locals and visitors.  

Stacey, in a few words, how would you define LA’s culinary culture?

We have an extraordinary restaurant culture. What sets LA apart from other destinations is the variety of food from all over the world, the depth of creativity, and the quality. 

Tell us about the access to ingredients chefs in LA have. How do these ingredients make LA’s culinary scene different from other destinations?

Chefs from other cities and countries are always envious of our farmer’s markets because of the quality of produce. Plus, you can always find a market any day of the week here. The easy access to fresh ingredients allows our chefs to be innovative with their dishes.
 

What are some of your suggestions for elevated (premium) or only in LA dining experiences?

LA has a wonderful high-end counter dining culture where chefs are opening up sushi-style, counter-only restaurants with limited seats making the experience a very unique and exclusive one. A few stand-out restaurants are Hayato in Downtown LA, Le Comptoir in Koreatown, and Nozawa Bar in Beverly Hills. 
 

Tell us more about Dine LA and why it is such a great time for foodies to plan a visit to Los Angeles?

Dine LA exists to discover, support, and promote Los Angeles’ dynamic culinary scene. The 15-day dining event – which occurs twice a year – features hundreds of restaurants across LA showcasing our city’s diverse and exciting culinary scene. This is the perfect time to try a new restaurant and explore the city’s culture through our food. For dates and more information, visit dinela.com.

Where in LA are your favorite bars & restaurants to enjoy a cocktail and catch a legendary LA sunset?

It’s hard to narrow this down because I have so many favorites. I just celebrated my wedding anniversary with my husband at Ronan, an Italian seasonal shared plates restaurant in West Hollywood that has a great wine program to pair with the food. Horses, on Sunset in Hollywood, is the hot new restaurant right now and between the cozy European bistro-inspired space, fantastic cocktails, and menu, it’s the perfect night out. For a rooftop experience, The Rooftop at the Wayfarer in Downtown LA can’t be beaten.