Food

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
Walking into the restaurant Hand + Foot, you might think that you were in any major city, not in the small town of upstate New York. But, it is in the charming town of Corning, population 11,000. Exposed brick walls, low lighting, a long bar filled with small craft brands and a communal table in the center of the room, this restaurant could be in Manhattan, Brooklyn, San Francisco, Los Angeles. Hand and Foot Hand and Foot Hand and Foot Owners Dan and Laurie Morton worked in bars in Orlando and New York City before moving back home to Corning. They took over an Irish bar that was covered in sheet rock and housed a golf simulator to create the warm and inviting Hand + Foot. My first thought when I heard about the restaurant was that they were on trend with the nose to tail movement, featuring whole animal cuisine. After all, what else would hand and foot mean? Well, actually it refers to a card game, similar to canasta, that Dan's family has been playing for generations. 
In the mood for steak and some slot machines but don't want to go all the way to Vegas? Head to San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino in San Bernardino County, an hour and a half east of Los Angeles. That's what I did with some friends when I was invited out to The Pines Steakhouse. San Manuel Casino It was my first time to San Manuel Casino and I was impressed by the recently renovated casino. But, what is all the more impressive are the 3600 slot machines! That is a lot of slot machines and the sound of spinning slots and the bells are ringing from every corner. The Pines Located on the second floor of the San Manuel Casino, The Pines Steakhouse is tucked away from the excitement and noise of the casino gaming floor. As you exit the casino and enter the restaurant, a sense of calm surrounds you. The large dining room will remind you of any Las Vegas dining room but this dining room is converted to a nightclub later in the evening.
Paris, Hong Kong and Los Angeles - what a privilege to live in one of the three cities in the world that hosts the Longines Masters. Longines Masters Los Angeles Longines Masters took place at the Los Angeles Convention Center over four days (October 1-4, 2015). Attracting people who have a passion for horses, it celebrates the magic of Show Jumping through competitions and shows. Even if you do not have a passion for horses, it is a glamorous event that offers Olympic-level sport and entertainment.
After 80 years, Clifton's Cafeteria in downtown Los Angeles shut it's doors in 2011. But today the doors are reopened, bringing glamour back to downtown LA. Clifton's Cafeteria As a third generation Los Angeleno, Clifton's had been a destination for my grandparents, my parents and myself. As a little girl, my mom would take me to Clifton's where after lunch I could pick a toy out of the treasure chest. While I have vague memories of this, Clifton's Cafeteria was a part of my childhood. Honoring the history of Clifton's, while reinventing itself for the modern age, Clifton's Cafeteria had a ribbon cutting ceremony on September 17th with Mayor Eric Garcetti, Council member José Huizar, Clifton's owner Andrew Meieran and actress June Lockhart. Council member José Huizar, actress June Lockhart, Mayor Eric Garcetti, Clifton's owner Andrew Meieran
In the vast city of Los Angeles, there is an ever growing list of restaurants that I want to try. Two of the restaurants that have been at the top of my list are Alimento, Chef Zach Pollack's restaurant in Echo Park, and Love & Salt, Chef Michael Fiorelli's restaurant in Manhattan Beach. These two restaurants are located 24 miles apart from each other, but with Los Angeles traffic as it is, they seem like worlds apart. But from two sides of the city, these two chefs came together to make lunch during Los Angeles Food and Wine 2015. Love and Salt The lunch took place at Love & Salt in Manhattan Beach. Love & Salt offers a menu that is a mix of Italian, Mediterranean and Californian. Alimento offers a menu that blends Northern Italian cuisine with California influences. The essence of this lunch was to have two passionate chefs come and have fun cooking together, and that they did!
Copied!