Bite Nite 2013 with Jonathan Gold

Guests sample the offerings in the Atrium at the Los Angeles Times at Bite Nite, a night with Jonathan Gold, The Times restaurant critic.   (Christina House / For the Los Angeles Times)

Chef Suzanne Tracht of Jar prepares food for tasting at Bite Nite.  (Christina House / For the Los Angeles Times)

Char siu pork-stuffed croissant with apple mostarda is offered by Jar during Bite Nite.  (Christina House / For the Los Angeles Times)

Jonathon Strader, manager of the Hart & the Hunter, prepares trout toast for sampling.  (Christina House / For the Los Angeles Times)

Jessica Koslow, who started Sqirl to sell her preserves and has opened a cafe now, offers samplings.  (Christina House / For the Los Angeles Times)

Tyler Bender, left, and Shawn Button dine and discuss. Twenty-three restaurants were represented at the event, with tickets open to L.A. Times members.  (Christina House / For the Los Angeles Times)

Bite Nite offered a chance to see what some of the best restaurants in L.A. are serving, including the latest trends in cocktails.   (Christina House / For the Los Angeles Times)

One refreshment offered: A tall cold one from Golden Road Brewing in Los Angeles.   (Christina House / For the Los Angeles Times)

Diners fill tables and check their tasting lists during Bite Nite.  (Christina House / For the Los Angeles Times)

Wolfgang Puck of Spago meets Padmini Aniyan, owner of Mayura, at Bite Nite. It was also a way for L.A.’s best chefs to mingle for an evening.   (Christina House / For the Los Angeles Times)

Cut chef de cuisine Hugo Alejandro Bolanos offers a taste to guest Garry Brody.  (Christina House / For the Los Angeles Times)

Steaks from Wolfgang Puck’s steakhouse Cut are grilled.  (Christina House / For the Los Angeles Times)

Ari Rosenson, left, and Hugo Alejandro Bolanos of Cut prepare small plates for Bite Nite guests.   (Christina House / For the Los Angeles Times)

Comedian Kathy Griffin chats with Times restaurant critic and Bite Nite host Jonathan Gold.   (Christina House / For the Los Angeles Times)

Lucques’ Caroline Styne, left, and Suzanne Goin talk with La Casita Mexicana’s Ramiro Arvizu and Jaime Martin Del Campo, from left.   (Christina House / For the Los Angeles Times)

Courtney Guerra of the farm-fresh restaurant Alma prepares sampling plates.  (Christina House / For the Los Angeles Times)

Ceviche from La Casita Mexicana.  (Christina House / For the Los Angeles Times)

Kris Yenbamroong, owner and chef of Night + Market, right, aided by Trin Karnjanakul, prepares his specialties, based on northern Thai street food.   (Christina House / For the Los Angeles Times)

Habanero chiles are chopped at the Chichen Itza table. The restaurant specializes in Yucatan cuisine.   (Christina House / For the Los Angeles Times)

Spicy bacon popcorn is offered from Tar & Roses, a Santa Monica small-plates restaurant.  (Christina House / For the Los Angeles Times)

Justin Limburg, left, and Tetsu Yahagi prepare egg yolk carbonara ravioli with pancetta cream at the Spago table.   (Christina House / For the Los Angeles Times)

A finished egg yolk carbonara ravioli with pancetta cream from Spago.   (Christina House / For the Los Angeles Times)

Wine importer Paul M. Young, center, chats with Chris Phelps, left, and Zak Walters.   (Christina House / For the Los Angeles Times)

Erik Sun, left, Ori Menashe and Alia Abul-Hat put the tastes of Bestia on display.   (Christina House / For the Los Angeles Times)

Bestia owners Ori Menashe and wife Genevieve Gergis.  (Christina House / For the Los Angeles Times)

Slow-roasted salmon with cold carrot salad, beets and charmoula yogurt is offered by Lucques during Bite Nite.  (Christina House / For the Los Angeles Times)

Southern Indian cuisine from Mayura Amrit, a new restaurant from the owner of Mayura in Culver City, is offered at Bite Nite.   (Christina House / For the Los Angeles Times)

Beef pho-paccio is offered by Tar & Roses.   (Christina House / For the Los Angeles Times)

Mike and Laura Briller find that good food always goes well with good conversation at Bite Nite.   (Christina House / For the Los Angeles Times)