Please The Palate Pick of the Week: Vintage Wine + Eats Studio City

Written by Allison Levine on January 18, 2020

Food Wine

Having grown up in Studio City, I am always excited to try new places that open in the area. The newest spot that I tried was Vintage Wine + Eats on Ventura Blvd. in Studio City. Located in the former Artisan Cheese Gallery space, Vintage Wine + Eats is a charming and welcoming neighborhood spot with an interesting selection of wines and some tasty food and it is the Please The Palate pick of the week.

I remember when Artisan Cheese Gallery first opened its doors in 2005. The space was a retail store but there were tables inside and outside and whenever I would drive by, the outdoor tables would be full with people enjoying sandwiches and salads. This popular spot closed in the summer of 2019 and in July 2019, Vintage Wine + Eats opened in its place. Read More +

Dinner at Majordomo in Chinatown

Written by Allison Levine on January 14, 2020

Food Wine

Majordomo has been on my list for almost two years. New York Chef David Chang of Momofuku fame opened his first Los Angeles restaurant in January 2018. Located on the edge of Chinatown, the first issue was getting a reservation. The second issue was getting across the city to the restaurant. Sure, I drive downtown from West LA all of the time, but Majordomo is located just a bit further which made it a bit off-putting on a week night. The last issue was that I was traveling so much that I just kept putting it off.

I finally went and it was worth the wait! Located in an isolated warehouse district, just off Spring Street where it crosses the LA River, Majordomo is a beautiful space. Glass walls separate the inside and the outside dining areas. Ceilings are very high. The decor is minimalistic. Read More +

Please The Palate January 2020 Winter Newsletter

Written by Allison Levine on January 7, 2020

Travel Lifestyle Food Cocktails Wine

Happy New Year!!! Welcome to 2020! We have officially started a new decade. It really is hard to believe that another year has passed.

As I look back on 2019, I am thankful for such a full year! 2019 marked the 8th anniversary of Please The Palate. I spent 91 days traveling to Austin, Houston, Dallas, Boston, Sonoma, Santa Barbara, San Diego, Paso Robles, Pebble Beach, New York, New Jersey, and Oregon and also spent three weeks in Italy, traveling through Campania, as well as to Rome, Milan, Vercelli and Asti. I organized and promoted more than 27 events around the country for a variety of clients including Dao Wines, the Brotherhood of Port, Wines of Setubal, Catalan Wines, Albeisa Association, Seven % Solution, Effervescence and more. I interviewed 60 winemakers and winery owners for the Wine Soundtrack podcast. I wrote 187 articles which appeared in the Napa Valley Register, California Winery Advisor, BIN Magazine, Daily Ovation and the Please The Palate blog. And, I returned as a wine judge at the Central Coast Wine Competition.

In addition to interviewing winemakers for Wine Podcast, I was honored to be invited to be a guest on two podcasts: Hit The Bottle Podcast in which I spoke about event planning tips and Money Matters Top Tips Podcast in which I shared the story of my journey.

Phew! 2019 was an exhausting year but I am ready for 2020 and hope that it is even better. On deck for 2020 so far is more travel, more events, more writing, and more podcasts. And, I will be a wine judge at two more wine competitions! The McMinnville Food & Wine Classic Wine Competition, part of the 27th annual charity fundraiser for St James Elementary School, will take place in McMinnville, Oregon in January. The San Diego International Wine Competition will take place in San Diego in April.

Wishing everyone a wonderful, healthy, happy and successful 2020! May this be the start of an amazing decade!

Read the full Please The Palate January 2020 Winter Newsletter.