Please The Palate |

A Hidden Gem: Saint Martha Restaurant

Saint Martha may be aptly named for its namesake, the Patron Saint of cooks and servants, but it also pays homage to Saint Vincent, the Patron Saint of wine. But you might not know this from the outside. Located in a run-down strip mall in Korea town, it's neighbors are a "dentista", an acupuncturist, an Allstate insurance office and a shoe repair shop.

And among these business sits Saint Martha behind a heavy wooden door.

But, open the heavy door and enter the cozy, low-lit windowless room, and find a world that honors and celebrates wine and food.

21 January, 2015

dineLA Is Here! January 19 – February 1

It's time for dineLA when for two weeks (January 19 through February 1) restaurants offer specially priced prix-fixe lunch menus for $15-$25 and dinner menus for $30-$50. These are the perfect days to try new restaurants or visit old ones while maintaining a bit of control on the wallet.....and losing a little control of the waistline. After all, when some of the best chefs in LA are offering affordable dining opportunities, how can you say no?!?! One of the many participating restaurants is Acabar in Hollywood and we got a preview of their dineLA menu. The dineLA menu price is $40, a great value for Chef Octavio Becerra's food and includes three courses, with three options to choose from within each course. First Course:

18 January, 2015

Marino Ristorante

It's sometimes easy to forget about long-standing restaurants when we are always trying the newest place. But, for more than 30 years (since 1983), Marino Ristorante has been family owned and operated serving traditional Italian food to the Hollywood and Hancock Park communities. Every morning at 5am, Mario Marino (the son of founder Ciro "Mario" Marino) can be found at the fish market, selecting fresh fish for the menu. Then you will find Mario at the restaurant, both at lunch and dinner, charming guests and suggesting wine pairings.

12 January, 2015