Cocktails

As the weather finally gets cold in Los Angeles, a hearty meal is in order. Messhall Kitchen in Los Feliz offers hearty comfort food with big flavors. From the outdoor fire pit to the wood cabin-like decor, and with servers in flannel shirts, you will feel the warmth the moment you walk in. You will also feel a sense of nostalgia. All of that comfort of your childhood, of camping or going to camp, will warm your heart as you take a seat in the family-friendly spacious restaurant. Chef Shane Pritchett came to Messhall Kitchen in 2014 and has brought his love for barbecue to the menu, while using local, sustainable and organic seasonal ingredients to create the re-conceptualized American favorites. Messhall Kitchen is the kind of restaurant that you want to come hungry....and thirsty. The drinks menu consists of classic cocktails, barrel aged cocktails and spirit flights. But, I was drawn to the drinks that are an ode to Harry Potter. As a huge fan of the books, we picked a Polyjuice Potion (151 rum, persimmon syrup, grapefruit, lemon, sherry float) under the Three Broomsticks Shaken Beverages section and a Veritaserum (Buffalo Trace bourbon, Mandarin Napoleon, maple syrup, barrel aged bitter) from the Hog's Head Stirred Libations section. Polyjuice Potion Veritaserum
25 January, 2016
The venerable Julian Cox has done it again. Along with his equally talented team, including Kristina Howald, Dave Kupchinsky, Nick Meyer, Eric Costantino and PJ Myers-Chase, they have put together one of the best new bars in Los Angeles, The Fiscal Agent. The Fiscal Agent Team - David Kupchinsky, Kristina Howald, Julian Cox, Eric Costantino, PJ Myers-Chase The Fiscal Agent is an intimate bar located above Barrel & Ashes in Studio City. There is no sign out front, but you will see the doorman standing just next to Barrel & Ashes. Despite having a doorman, there is nothing pretentious about The Fiscal Agent. It is warm and inviting with cool music playing. There is limited seating, with a handful of small tables and comfortable lounge chairs in what is like a living room. And the marble bar is like sitting at the kitchen counter, where you can watch the bartenders create drinks while chatting with them. The back bar is beautifully lit with a disco ball adding just the right amount of light.
21 January, 2016

This post originally appeared on FoodableTV.com There has never been a shortage of restaurants along Ventura Boulevard in the San Fernando Valley, but these family-owned restaurants...

04 January, 2016
A recent visit to the Hard Rock Cafe at Universal City took me back in time. Hard Rock Cafe From the massive neon guitar outside to the rotating car and iconic music collectibles lining the walls, I remember the excitement when I was a teenager and would meet my friends for a burger at the Hard Rock Cafe on La Cienega Boulevard, the second location for this iconic restaurant. While that location has closed, there are more than 150 Hard Rock Cafe locations around the world, and more than three dozen in North America today. Hard Rock Cafe
26 December, 2015
I was told that this restaurant had table-side guacamole on the menu and I was anxious to try this. This is  another of the new restaurants to open along Ventura Boulevard in Sherman Oaks. Located on the second floor of a building, Añejo Cantina & Grill is an upscale Mexican restaurant that opened this past summer and is offering authentic Mexican cuisine to valley dwellers. It is a big place with a big menu. With 11,000 square feet, space is not an issue. There is the indoor dining room where live music can be heard (or danced to), a large outdoor patio with a fire pit as well as private event space. The best seats in the house are on the outdoor patio that overlooks Ventura Boulevard. Even on a cool night, the patio is warm with the table-side heaters and blankets the restaurant is happy to provide. Once settled in, get ready to eat because the portions are big. The danger at any Mexican restaurant is filling up on chips and salsa. So, we did not waste any time and ordered the tableside guacamole. I just love the the taste of fresh avocado mashed with tomatoes, onions, cilantro and fresh lime. Tableside Guacamole Tableside Guacamole Tableside Guacamole
21 December, 2015
This story originally appeared in the Napa Valley Register (December 18, 2015) With the holidays upon us, the gift list is long. Whether buying for others or putting a list together of what you want, a book is always a perfect gift. Wine and Cocktail Books As a wine and cocktail lover, I am always drawn to books about this subject and continue to amass a collection of books about the history of the industry, the people who make the industry what it is and guides to learn more about wine, cocktails and pairings. If you are looking for last-minute gifts for your wine and cocktail loving friends, here are seven suggestions that are currently filling my bookshelves.
19 December, 2015
Remember Sunday School? No matter your religion, you may have spent your childhood mornings in a classroom. Now the classroom is the dining room at Public School, a chef-driven gastropub with a focus on “An Education in the Art of Food & Beer.” Time to head back to the classroom and spend your Sundays at Public School 818 for brunch, which scores high marks. Sunday Brunch Grades: Location: A Centrally located on the corner of Ventura Blvd and Sepulveda Blvd, Public School 818 is easily accessible from either end of the San Fernando Valley or a quick drive up the 405 from the city. With no traffic on Sundays, this is an easy A. Public School 818 Decor: A+
15 December, 2015
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