Golden Road
The road to one of the most successful craft breweries in Los Angeles is paved in gold. Well, okay, the road is most likely paved in concrete. But the drinks come in many shades of gold. From shimmering and refreshing Hefeweizens, to hoppy IPAs, to dark, roasted stouts. Those who keep up with brew news have seen Golden Road Brewing (GRB) crafting big moves over the years. First by tapping a duo of notable brew masters in Southern California, Victor Novak and Steve Torres, as their growth and visibility began to spread across the region. Now Golden Road will soon celebrate its first year in one of downtown’s most coveted locations: Grand Central Market (GCM).
Craft brew fangirl and expert Roxanne Fransen has been running the show at the market since first pour. She fell in love with crafting beers years ago and traveled to Australia and Europe to study the art of the craft, returning with a knowledge and palate she applies today.
GRB earned its respect with a solid collection of West Coast IPAs including favorites Point the Way and Wolf Among Weeds as well as the 329 Days of Summer lager and the simply named Golden Road Hefeweizen. But a secret long held by Golden Roadwarriors has been their food menu.
The idea of offering food at GCM might seem ludicrous given the maze of eateries available but GRB distinguishes itself by delivering the perfect pairing to their ontap selection of well-crafted beers. They see neighbors in the market as community not competition.
Executive Chef Jennifer Tijero is at the helm of the GCM location and her menu offers up a unique and expansive vegan and vegetarian options. Having been with the company the last four years, and working alongside the company’s veteran chef Adam Levoe, Tijero has truly pushed the limits of what a gastropub can offer.
So forget about the frozen vegetable patties other places offer, Tijero and her team have pumped up the main attractions including the Artichoke ‘Chick’ Burger featuring their house made artichoke patty, arugula, heirloom tomato, red onion, avocado and dressed in ranch.
Or how about some bite-sized snacks for the table? Go for the downtown exclusive Cali Style Pierogies. They’re crispy and savory, stuffed with wild mushroom, onions and spinach or potato with aged cheddar. As for the meat eaters out there, GRB offers up its signature burger stacked with ground ribeye, caramelized onions, sun-dried tomato, aged white cheater and bacon. You can barely top it off with an egg but go for it!
The market’s airy vibe pairs well with the drinks, food and ethos. Golden Road goes beyond drinks and food it also shows its love for the area by dedicating themselves to charity work with the Midnight Mission, Angel’s Flight Foundation and others. Head over on March 8th for Golden Road’s one year celebration for good music, good food and most definitely a good beer.
Written by Brian Chernick
Photographed by Miles Fortune
