Leftovers

As part of their contracts, convention caterers had to donate their leftovers to charity, so every day the Los Angeles Regional Foodbank received as much as 1.5 tons of goodies such as edible flowers and smoked salmon. “We wonder what they must think at the shelters,” said food bank spokesman Darren Hoffman. “They don’t see this kind of food that often. . . . Even I don’t see it that often.”

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A partial list:

2,000 tamales and 300 pounds of fajitas

1,000 pounds of black-eyed pea salad

750 pounds of fruits and vegetables used as displays

350 pounds of chow mein

California rolls

Salad with edible flowers

Smoked salmon

Buffalo mozzarella salad

Couscous

Fruit tarts

Cheesecakes decorated with kumquat and pomegranate seeds

Five or six 50-gallon bags of bread

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Compiled by MASSIE RITSCH / Los Angeles Times

Reported by NONA YATES / Los Angeles Times