Food

For the amount of the restaurants and businesses in Beverly Hills, it is not a nighttime destination and by 8pm the streets are quiet, almost deserted. But, just south of Santa Monica Blvd on Canon Drive, the new Wally's Vinoteca, open until 2am, is bringing the area back to life. Wally's Vinoteca Wally's Vinoteca is the sister to Wally's Wine Shop on Westwood Blvd which has been in business for 20 years. But, while the wine shop only sells wine, Wally's Vinoteca is a wine bar, retail shop and restaurant all in one. Located in the former Monsieur Marcel location, in between Wolfgang's Steakhouse and Nic's Martini Lounge, Wally's Vinoteca is reminiscent of a a food hall, like Harrod's or Eataly (but much smaller). Wally's Vinoteca There are ceiling-high shelves of more than 2,500 wine bottles for sale, ranging in price, as well as rare spirits and craft beers.
07 May, 2015
Chi Spacca is over one year old now but I finally made it....barely! I knew it was near Mozza but managed to pass it three times before I gave up on Waze all together. I found a spot on the street and walked past the Osteria Mozza entrance to where there is a small sign with just the image of the cleaver on it (Chi Spacca means "cleaver" in Italian). Without a noticeable sign, especially one without words, it was a bit difficult to find. Chi Spacca A little further down is a door to Mozza-To-Go. Enter Mozza-To-Go and then through another door and you come to the intimate Chi Spacca with the open kitchen. Tables are rather close so you have to maneuver yourself through the space to your table. We had a lovely little table next to the window but throughout our meal at least three different passers-by on the street stuck their heads into the small square to look into the restaurant and ended up giving us a little shock.
05 May, 2015
Palm Desert in the heart of the Coachella Valley was the host of the 5th annual Palm Desert Food & Wine Festival. While the event gathered chefs, wine and spirits from around the country, it also showcased more than 30 local restaurants. This was a great way to get a taste (literally and figuratively) of the current restaurant scene in the valley. Here are the standout dishes of the weekend: Breakfast Spots Wilma & Frieda's Cafe house-made English muffin with strawberry or triple berry jam Wilma & Frieda (house made English muffin with strawberry or triple berry jam)
03 May, 2015

This post originally appeared on FoodableTV.com Editor's Note: Shortly after this piece was published, we are sad to report that Josh Ozersky, founder of Meatopia, passed...

01 May, 2015
If you like the heat, Palm Springs is the perfect weekend getaway. The day may be spent by the pool, but as the sun starts to set, the temperature drops just a bit and, if you are lucky, a warm breeze starts to blow. It's nice to sit outside for a bite to eat and a drink. Located in the front of the Hyatt Hotel in Palm Springs, HooDoo is that spot. Grab a seat in the shade, watch the people walk by on Palm Canyon Drive, listen to live music (on Saturday nights) and enjoy the open air. HooDoo at the Hyatt Palm Springs We started with a few drinks, like the Palm Springs Hibiscus Cooler (silver tequila, hibiscus liqueur, cucumber soda, cucumber garnish), the Golden State Fig (lemon vodka, ginger liqueur, orange juice, fig preserves, saffron bitters, soda water) and the White Sangria. The drinks are made with fresh ingredients and are on the sweet side. Our favorite was the non-alcoholic Cool as a Cucumber (lemonade, cucumber soda and mint) which is perfectly refreshing on a hot day.
29 April, 2015
In order to please the palate, I eat out a lot! And, I eat a lot of really good food. In order to not feel guilty when I indulge, I make sure to workout regularly. So, it was a perfect fit when I was invited to the inaugural event for Allison Hagendorf's new “FIT TO FEAST” Event Series. Allison Hagendorf Allison Hagendorf is a certified Health Coach whose work focuses on nutrition, fitness and behavior modification. Her website is called Fit to Feast and it follows her "fit to feast" lifestyle that is about finding the balance that works for you, so you can be fit and eat up life. 
27 April, 2015
Ever since I ate the Mandilli de Seta (handkerchief pasta, Ligurian almond basil pesto, fiore sardo) at Factory Kitchen, it has been one of my favorite Italian restaurants. So, when I heard they were offering a Happy Hour menu, I decided to go check it out. While the Mandilli de Seta is not on the Happy Hour menu, there are many delicious options. Some are smaller versions of items on the dinner menu and other items are exclusively for Happy Hour. But, the best part is that everything (food, wine and cocktails) is between $6-$11. We started with the Frittino di Verdura (fried baby leeks with chickpea fritters). Well-salted and crispy, this is an addictive dish. Frittino di Verdura I washed down the salty fried snacks with a glass of crisp, fruity Cleto Chiarli Lambrusco di Grasparossa from Emilia-Romagna, Italy. 
20 April, 2015
Monday is one of my favorite nights go out since it's usually a quiet night on the town. When a friend asked to meet for a drink, I decided that it was finally time to get myself over to Melrose Umbrella Company as they just celebrated their one year anniversary and I had yet to go there. Melrose Umbrella Company Apparently, I am not the only one who likes to go out on a Monday night as there was a good sized crowd there. All the seats were filled and there was a chill energy in the room. To top if off, owner and barman Zach Patterson was behind the bar, making it an even better night. Monday sure is a fun night at Melrose Umbrella Company!
13 April, 2015
Wine tasting rooms are popping up in downtown Santa Barbara right and left. No longer do you have to drive an hour north into wine country to taste the wines of the region. There are tasting rooms in the Funk Zone, on State Street, the new Presidio neighborhood and even on the pier. So head to the Funk Zone to one of my favorite places.....Les Marchands Wine Bar & Retail. Les Marchands Wine Bar & Merchant Les Marchards is a wine bar and a wine shop. You can taste/buy wines from local producers but you can also find wines from France and Italy and other international destinations. It's a wine lovers dream. After a day of wine tasting, shopping or hanging at the beach, Les Marchands is the perfect spot for a pre-dinner or post-dinner glass of wine.
08 April, 2015
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