Stacey Sun is such a well of information about the LA food scene that asking her a question is like asking Siri. The director of dineL.A. mentions chefs by their first names and describes entrées so distinctly it feels like she just had it for lunch. There is no other mouth in this city we should trust so completely with our palates, which is why she runs dineL.A’s Restaurant Week. Twice a year, our stomachs are spoiled with this two- week long fete of prix-fixe menus in more than 300 restaurants scattered across the county, where the prices won’t make you cry into your soup. It’s impossible to think of anyone more qualified for the job than Stacey, who has a background in marketing from UC Irvine, culinary training from the New School of Cooking in Culver City and a driving ambition to ignite the fire in people’s bellies.
“It all started with a box of Bisquik,” says Stacey, as she tries to recall her first attempts in the kitchen. She came home after spending the night at some friends’ house with a new desire to experiment. “My parents are Chinese, so they’re not busting out pancakes on a Saturday morning.” And she’s still trying new things everyday— find proof on her mouthwatering Instagram account, @thestaceysun.
All Images Courtesy of Stacey Sun