Please The Palate |

Uncle Paulie’s Deli Brings A Touch of New York to LA

If there is an image that comes to mind of a New York Italian Deli, it would be a place to buy Italian-American specialties, cold cuts (Genoa salami, prosciutto) and made to order sandwiches and salads with few tables, if any, and a heavyset owner named Saul or Paulie who has a strong New York accent and says words like “mutzadell" (mozarella) and “pruh-zhoot” (prosciutto). Now, here in LA, Italian delis are not a common thing to find. When New Yorker Paul J. came to Los Angeles three years ago from Queens, he could not find a good sandwich like in New York. So, he opened an Italian Deli in the heart of LA and named it Uncle Paulie's. Despite the name fitting my stereotype, nothing else does.

Uncle Paulie's Deli is located on Beverly Blvd, just east of La Cienega, and a couple doors down from the busy Kings Road Cafe. A not too large space, Uncle Paulie's is a clean and modern space with white subway tile walls, wood floors and a long deli counter showcasing imported Italian cured meats and cheeses, local produce, fresh pressed olive oils, spices and other fresh ingredients.

20 March, 2018

Please The Palate Pick of the Week: Eataly

I love everything Italian, especially the food and wine. So, I eagerly awaited the opening of Eataly in Los Angeles, happy that it would be in Century City, not far from my home. When it opened last month, there were large crowds lined up each day so I waited a few weeks before going. It was worth the wait. Eataly is the Please The Palate pick of the week.

Anything and everything Italian that you might want is there. Do not go hungry or you will be in trouble! Entering on Level 2, there is a Lavazza Caffe serving up coffee like you can only get in Italy. Forget triple, grande and tall, just order a proper Italian espresso, a macchiato, or any classic espresso drink. Or indulge in an Italian hot chocolate, thick dark chocolate that is rich but not overly sweet. Satisfy your sweet tooth with a gelato from Il Gelato or a bomboloni (similar to a stuffed doughnut) at Cannoli e Bomboloni. Of course, you may want to save these spots for after you eat.

30 December, 2017

Social Responsibility in the Hospitality Industry

This story originally appeared in the Napa Valley Register. There is a new trend in fine dining and it is called “social responsibility.” Recently, I attended Taste Talks Los Angeles, a food and drink festival featuring talks, tastings, dinners and parties. As L.A.'s amazing chefs, restaurants and cultural figures came together, they engaged in great conversation, including the role social responsibility has in the hospitality industry.

According to the California Senate Committee on Transportation and Housing, California has more than 118,000 homeless people, accounting for 22 percent of the nation’s homeless population. Many across the state, from political groups to nonprofits to for-profits to individuals, are working to solve this moral crisis, and the hospitality industry plays an important role.

Chrysalis is a Los Angeles based nonprofit organization founded in 1984 to create a path to self-sufficiency for homeless and low-income individuals. They provide the resources and support to find and retain employment. To date, more than 58,000 men and women have been helped and, most importantly, 71 percent of people who find work through Chrysalis keep their jobs, officials said.

29 November, 2017