Most foodies out there know about Throwdown with Bobby Flay, the Food Network show where the Manhattanite chef travels the country challenging other celebrity cookers to better his bites. Well, we’re getting our own Smackdown this weekend, and it couldn’t be a better way to celebrate just what good food we get to enjoy in Southern California.

Saturday at the Grove, Flay is challenging our lovely local foodista Giada De Laurentis, using ingredients from the adjacent Original Farmers Market. Hopefully they’ll both be smart enough to call on my friend Bob Tusquellas’ great Sea Food, Marconda’s Meats, Mr. Marcel’s cheeses…maybe even T’s impressive tea selection, Littlejohn’s handmade chocolates, or Light My Fire’s hot sauces (does it sound like I’m an OFM fan? I am.)

But that is not all that’s happening. The entire event, appropriately titled A Taste At The Grove also includes cooking demonstrations from two finalists of The Next Food Network Star’s sixth season, Doreen Fang and Dareell “DAS” Smith, as well as another by Chef Jean Francois Meteigner from La Cachette Bistro.

Our own Top Chef Master Mark Peel (that’s him above, demo’ing at the recent LA Times Book Fair) will also be joining a recipe contest winner in another collaborative demonstration. Take a look at the finalist recipes here.

The entire day starts at 10 AM. Co-sponsors Cadillac will also be offering free test drives at the Circle Valet area, and Thomas Ian Nicholas will even bring with some acoustic music.

The Grove and Original Farmers Market are located at 6333 West 3rd Street, 323.933.9211