Marcus Samuelsson at the Hammer Museum

Marcus Samuelsson is bringing his newest book to Westwood. On October 28, the chef sits down at the Hammer Museum for an evening conversation with Laurie Ochoa, General Manager of Food at the Los Angeles Times, and Sandra Jackson Dumont, the former director and CEO of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art. If you are scanning for things to do in Los Angeles that pair food with real ideas, this one belongs on the list.

When: Wednesday, October 28, 2026, 7:30 to 9:00 PM Where: Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd.

What the conversation covers

The talk centers on Back to Green, Samuelsson's plant-forward cookbook. He will trace his evolution as a chef and the point where healthy eating and deliciousness meet, drawing on ancient ingredients, histories and flavors from around the world.

The book starts from a simple question: how would we eat if we followed a spiritual compass? What if sea moss, soursop and moringa were as ordinary in a shopping cart as broccoli, carrots and potatoes? What if grains like teff and fonio turned up in everyday pastas and snacks? Samuelsson looks to these ingredients for stories of ancestry, migration and resilience, and treats them as a way to bring communities together.

Back to Green also follows the history of plant-forward eating, learning from chefs and farmers across the Caribbean, South America, East Asia and Africa. Those stories end in globally inspired recipes meant for home kitchens.

With a journalist who covers the city's food scene and a museum leader on stage, expect the talk to reach beyond recipes into culture, memory and how institutions tell food stories. Samuelsson will also sign copies of the book after the conversation, so bring yours or pick one up.

Planning your visit

The Hammer sits on Wilshire Boulevard in Westwood, close to UCLA. Evening traffic on the Westside is heavy, so leave extra time, especially if you are driving. The event page does not list a price or ticketing details, so check the Discover Los Angeles listing and the museum's own channels before you go to confirm how to attend and whether a reservation is required.

It also makes a good start to a night out. Westwood has plenty of dinner spots within a short drive, and if you are building a list of LA events this weekend or later in the month, a food-and-books evening like this adds some range.

Browse more in arts and culture for other talks and exhibitions around town.