Food

One of the things I love about Italy is that everybody, no matter what age or gender, enjoys a gelato in the afternoon. There's no excuse needed; there's no rationalization. It is just pure enjoyment. But here in the U.S., I sometimes feel like I am being judged if I decide to have an ice cream in the middle of the day. Ice cream is seen as a dessert or for special occasions but not as an afternoon snack. But, maybe that will change with Stickhouse Gelato. Stickhouse Gelato With 92 stores around the world, including Italy, London, Germany, Spain and throughout Asia and the Middle East, Los Angeles is the location of the first U.S. store. Located in Santa Monica, just off the 3rd Street Promenade, Stickhouse Gelato will transport you to Italy as you are greeted by the young Italian staffers, Elisa and Andrea. Elisa and Andrea
21 November, 2015
We all look forward to weekend brunch. It's that filling meal that can take up half the day as we sip on Mimosas or Bloody Marys and hang out with friends. But, my problem with brunch is that I can never decide what I want to eat. I am a fan of sharing lots of dishes so that I can enjoy a lot of flavors in a meal. And, at brunch where I have to pick between savory and sweet can be a challenge. But now I think I found my perfect brunch at Smoke.Oil.Salt. Smoke.Oil.Salt. is known for serving authentic and traditional Spanish foods, meant to be shared, for dinner. And, now, under the guidance of Consulting Executive Chef Ricardo Zarate, they are offering brunch on Sundays from 11am-3pm. Tapas for brunch! With 12 selections on the menu, tapas style is perfect! As a party of two, we ordered 10 of the selections and had no problem eating every course! Overall, you cannot go wrong with any of the egg dishes. No matter how the eggs are prepared, they are perfect - light, fluffy and perfectly cooked. Our favorite dishes were: Pan Tomate con Huevo de Mar (soft scrambled uni eggs, tomato toast, chili oil) - The scrambled eggs are fluffy and soft and almost melt in the mouth. The uni is not dominant but the saltiness comes through. Pan Tomate con Huevo de Mar
14 November, 2015
When two renowned chefs from Monterey came down to Los Angeles and partnered with Neal Fraser at Redbird to create a pop-up menu using fresh Monterey ingredients and paired with the wines of Monterey, this taste of Monterey definitely whet my appetite. Chefs John Cox, Neal Fraser and Tim Walter Chef John Cox is the Executive Chef at Sierra Mar at Post Ranch Inn, one of the most celebrated restaurants and retreats in the world. Chef Ted Walter is a Classic French-trained chef who opened Pacific Grove’s Passionfish with his wife Cindy in 1997. He sources ingredients from Carmel Valley farms, local markets and the fishers of Monterey Bay and has earned a national reputation as an advocate for the Sustainable Seafood movement. Chef Neal Fraser, along with his wife and business partner, Amy Knoll Fraser, opened Redbird in one of the city’s most historic architectural gems, inside the former rectory building of Vibiana – the cathedral-turned-event-venue.
11 November, 2015
Korean BBQ has come to the westside! Located in Culver City, on Main Street next to The Wallace, Hanjip Korean BBQ is the result of partners Stephane Bombet (Terrine, Viviane) and Francois Renaud (Terrine) and Chef Chris Oh (Seoul Sausage). Hanjip Inside, the decor is modern and eye catching. The walls, as well as the ventilation systems above each table, are covered with black and white geometric lines. Hanjip Interior Korean BBQ is meant to be shared with friends. While you can sit at a table for two or four people, the booths and round tables in the center are better for parties of six. With the amount of food you will probably eat, the bigger the group, the better! As soon as we sat, we were served an array of banchan. Fish cakes, kim chi, potato salad, spicy cucumber and bean sprouts are some of the banchan. The standout was the crispy octopus banchan.
09 November, 2015
The newest restaurant addition to Beverly Hills is Viviane Restaurant, located in the Avalon Hotel on Olympic Boulevard at Beverly Drive. Viviane The Avalon Hotel looks like a stylishly converted motel with all of the rooms overlooking the pool in the center. The decor of the hotel is mid-century with subtle colors and furniture with a 1950s and 1960s aesthetic. The bright blue from the pool is what glows throughout the space, whether you sit inside or outside. But, I suggest getting a seat outside by the pool. Whether at a table, or in a colorful cabana, it is peaceful, not too loud and, as it is Los Angeles, perfect to take advantage of being able to eat outside year round. Viviane Viviane Restaurant is by restaurateur Stephane Bombet of Bombet Hospitality Group and Executive Chef Michael Hung, formerly of Faith and Flower in downtown LA. No more fighting the traffic to get to downtown LA to taste the food of Chef Hung!
06 November, 2015
Fast, fresh and healthy - who doesn't like that combination? That's what Yalla Mediterranean offers. With two locations in Northern California, Yalla Mediterranean has come to Los Angeles with a first location in Burbank and Culver City is slated to open in December. Yalla Mediterranean Featuring the cuisines of Greece, Morocco, Turkey, Lebanon, Israel, Tunisia and Egypt, Yalla Mediterranean celebrates the flavors around the Mediterranean. Everything at Yalla Mediterranean is custom made-to-order. Stand in line and decide the base you want to start with - falafel, chicken shawarma, chicken skewers, steak skewers, kefta skewers or salmon skewers. All the meats are tasty but the chicken shawarma was a favorite! The kefta meatballs and falafel are both tender and flavorful. Yalla Mediterranean menu Once you pick your protein, it is placed on the custom grill, which is both a rotisserie and conveyor, and will cook as you build the rest of your plate. 
02 November, 2015
When I think about Fogo de Chão, the Brazilian steakhouse, I think about it's reputation as a meat lovers destination. With almost a dozen skewers of lamb, beef, pork and chicken being carried through the dining room, my previous visit to Fogo de Chão resulted in a "meat coma", borderlining the "meat sweats". But, rest assured, if you are looking for a "lighter" experience or perhaps you are not in the mood for an intense meat-filled meal, you can still enjoy the flavors of Fogo de Chão at their Happy Hour. Happy Hour, offered Monday through Friday from 4:30-6:30pm, not only offers Brazilian-inspired small plates but also at a special price! Check out what's available: Warm Hearts of Palm and Spinach Dip - Served with crispy toasts, it's a creamy, filling dish that is great to share with friends. Warm Hearts of Palm and Spinach Dip, crispy toasts
31 October, 2015
You go to the market to shop and plan a meal. Or maybe you are feeling lazy and pick up a prepared meal. But, ever thought about getting full service dining at the market? Well, at some Whole Foods stores in California, you can do this, as I recently did at Whole Food Venice. Whole Foods Venice (1) Whole Food Venice hosts pop-up wine pairing dinners twice a month. For $30 per person (or 2 for $50), you can get a four course meal, paired with wines. The Venice store has been offering wine (and beer) pairing dinners in their wine bar for three years. Each dinner has a theme, such as sustainability or Icelandic fish and beers, or features a winery. Whole Foods Venice
26 October, 2015
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