Whether you're about to head out on a road trip or shuffling through a busy airport, it's hard to find a healthy on-the-go snack that is nourishing enough to sustain your travels. Often times, that very snack we reach for while we are in between terminals is beef jerky. But, the one problem most of us find with this snack is that it is usually tough on our jaws and not as tender as it is savory. Well, lucky for us, we came across a jerky brand that fixes that problem and is bursting with flavor (and all natural, we might add)!
Through word of mouth, I was told about this new wine bar located in the "Magnolia Park" neighborhood in Burbank. I was not aware of this neighborhood, located at Hollywood Way and Magnolia Avenue, other than the way to the Burbank airport. But, I was pleasantly surprised to find this strip of small businesses and restaurants that have contributed to the resurgence of the area.
Luna Vine Wine Bar opened at the end of January, promoted by nothing more than word of mouth. Starting by the door and ending in an area with table and chairs, the bar fills up most of the length of the long, narrow space. The look is simple and sleek, with exposed rope and wire lighting, and paintings (mostly of elephants) along the opposing wall.
As new restaurants continue to open further and further east in Downtown LA, the new Faith & Flower is located in the heart of Downtown LA, on the corner of Flower and 9th, in the former short-lived Towne Food & Drink. This long-awaiting restaurant is the vision of David Bernahl and Rob Weakley from Coastal Luxury Management and Stephane Bombet, who opened Picca, Mo-Chica and Paiche.
Faith & Flower combines the glamour of old Hollywood with the modernity of current Downtown LA. Everywhere you look you will see a balance of old with new. As you walk in, the restaurant, which seats 140 people, is lined with sofas along the wall, and to your left is the bar and lounge with long communal tables. The main wall from the front entrance is made up of vintage doors from the early 1900s (except one that was a dressing room door for Bob Hope). No attention to detail has been spared, even the host stand is an original ticket booth from an old theater in Downtown, and plates are vintage. But then adjacent to the bar is a mural of a woman by renown street artist Robert Vargas.
Lately, it seems with Los Angeles’ evolving culinary culture we are always on the hunt for the latest chef import and newly raved restaurant. And for good reason - LA is giving many other cities a run for their money on the foodie front. But every so often, right under our nose, is a local spot that has been there for years and is often overlooked. We came to find this true when we visited long time establishment Vivoli Café in West Hollywood, right off the Sunset Strip.
When a friend asked me to meet him for drinks in Culver City at the end of January, he suggested East Borough. I had not yet heard of the restaurant and learned that it had been open for less than a week. I found the restaurant on Washington Blvd., just east of Sony Studios and next door to City Tavern, and we enjoyed a few tasty cocktails. I knew I had to return soon for the food, which I did.
East Borough is a contemporary Vietnamese restaurant with a first location in Costa Mesa. John Cao and chef Chloe Tran from Costa Mesa have partnered with Paul Hibler (Pitfire Pizza, Superba Snack Bar) and chef Jason Neroni (Superba Snack Bar) to offer Vietnamese flavors and the French-influenced side of Vietnamese cuisine. The staff is exceptionally friendly and very well versed in each dish on the menu.
Starting with the cocktails, they are all made with fresh juice and house-crafted items. The cocktails incorporate Asian flavors and spices, such as thai basil, tamarind, ginger and lemongrass. The Saigon Soda (gin, kiwi, vinegar, lime, thai basil), In Eastern Fashion (bourbon, pomelo, chocolate chili bitters), Tamarindo (reposado, tamarind, lime, sriracha salt) were refreshing subtle cocktails. But, the subtlety was enhanced when paired with the spicy flavors of the food.
A couple decades ago, when I was just out of college, I moved to Italy to work as an au pair. Unlike most travelers, I did not end up in a city like Florence or Rome but rather a small town in the region of Piedmont where no one spoke English. I knew nothing about wine at the time but everyday day I would meet my new Italian friends at the local bar for aperitivi and they would do the ordering. And, each day a glass would be placed in front of me filled with a red wine that was slightly sweet and slightly sparkling and very delicious. It was Brachetto d’Acqui.
A recent trip took me back to Piedmont, to the heart of where Brachetto is from, Acqui Terme. This ancient Roman town, an 1 ½ hour southeast from Milan,became my home base for three days. We settled in at the Grand Hotel Nuove Termewhich overlooks the town square and began the tour of eating and drinking and eating and drinking some more.
Think Korean BBQ, think meat. As carnivores, nothing satisfies a meat craving like a night out for Korean BBQ. But, if you have to watch your cholesterol, a night out for Korean BBQ is probably not on the top of your list. Til now! Now you can enjoy all the Korean BBQ you want with less worry. Why? Star King BBQ in Los Angeles is not your everyday Korean BBQ.
Owner Jackie Yoo is a second generation veteran of the meat business. Less than a year ago, while looking for a high quality meat, she introduced Piemontese beef to the restaurant. The only Korean BBQ place to serve Piemontese beef, she is taking it to the next level.
Piemontese beef comes from cows originally from the Northeast of Italy, in the Piedmont region. Now bred in Nebraska, what sets them apart from other breeds of cattle is that it is a leaner meat that is more tender and full of flavor without the high levels of cholesterol or calories. The cows are vegetarian-fed, hormone-free and antibiotic-free. There is also a mutation of a the myostatin gene which results in a 14% increase in muscle mass, compared to Angus beef, resulting in a cow that builds muscle with little fat.
I have been meaning to go to Manhattan Beach to try David Lefevre's Fishing With Dynamite since it opened almost one year ago. So, what better place to spend National Clam Chowder Day (February 25) than at the East Coast-meets-West Coast seafood restaurant across the street from the beach!?!?
Fishing with Dynamite is a friendly little spot. I say little as it only seats 33 people. When you walk in, you are facing, and almost up against, the raw bar, which has a few seats along it and then to the right is the bar with a few more seats. On either side of the raw bar are tables but in between all of these, there is little standing room. I arrived a few minutes before my dining partner and wasn't sure where to wait. But, the friendliness of the staff made me feel right at home. From the hostess to the servers to management, everyone was so personable and their love for the restaurant and the menu was apparent. Not a bad sentiment to start off a meal!
Tar & Roses in Santa Monica has been open for more than two years now. I remember the first time I ate there, when it first opened, and watched a group of friends enjoy a hedonistic meals of sorts. When a large platter of meat was presented to them, I asked our server what they ordered as I wanted it as well! We were told that it was the Wood Fired Goat Dinner, good for groups of 4 or more and must be reserved at least 7 days in advance. Ever since then, it has been on my list of must-eats. So, when a friend called me recently to tell me he had an extra seat at the table for a Wood Fired Goat Dinner, I quickly accepted.
Priced at $48 per person, the Wood Fired Goat Dinner with Moroccan accompaniments, is a three-course dinner, served family style. Once we settled into our table and ordered a bottle of wine (2010 Pesquera Tempranillo, Ribera del Duero, Spain), dinner began:
Food
