FARLEY ELLIOTT discusses his book LOS ANGELES STREET FOOD

Los Angeles Street Food: A History from Tamaleros to Taco Trucks (History Press)

 Los Angeles is the uncontested street food champion of the United States, and it isn't even a fair fight. Millions of hungry locals and wide-eyed tourists take to the streets to eat tacos, down bacon-wrapped hot dogs and indulge in the latest offerings from a fleet of gourmet food trucks and vendors. Dating back to the late nineteenth century when tamale men first hawked their fare from pushcarts and wagons, street food is now a billion-dollar industry in L.A.--and it isn't going anywhere! So hit the streets and dig in with local food writer Farley Elliott, who tackles the sometimes dicey subject of street food and serves up all there is to know about the greasy, cheesy, spicy and everything in between. 

Farley Elliott is a longtime food writer based in Los Angeles. A 2006 graduate of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, he grew up (mostly) in the cold confines of Northern New York, in a part of the state that hugs the Canadian border. After fleeing for the sunny side of the country for college, Elliott moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career as a writer/performer. Elliott's passion for all things delicious actually started on the streets of L.A. when, after many long nights exploring his new city in the late 2000's, he would inevitably land at a taco cart or torta truck to scribble down notes while inhaling the food. Many hundreds of street food dinners later, the idea for his first book was born. Currently, Farley Elliott is the Senior Editor for Eater Los Angeles, which is among the most respected and well-read food sites online. Prior to that, Elliott freelanced for numerous publications, including the alt-weekly newspaper LA Weekly, Serious Eats, Thrillist, Tasting Table, and more. He's also that guy in that Tiny Hamsters Eating Tiny Burritos video that went viral once.