Though plenty of people will celebrate this holiday season with stuffing, pies and cookies for Santa, the beauty of bringing family together is that it usually results in some unique traditions (and dishes) too. This thought inspired us to seek out some new meal inspiration this year, but instead of seeking outside advice, we turned […]
The L.A. sushi scene has something for everyone. Whether you crave fresh, thin slices of sashimi, delicately wrapped hand rolls, or put your trust in the chef and go Omakase style—high-quality fish can be found at nearly every price point throughout the city if you know where to look. With options abound, we decided to […]
Ask a friend: what’s your favorite kind of pizza? Go ahead, I’ll wait. Chances are they have an opinion regarding not only their top spot for a slice, but also what style and which toppings reign supreme. In fact, I bet you’ve conjured up a personal pizza of your own while reading this. Pizza is […]
Motherhood is tough, but being a mom and running a restaurant? Makani Carzino—owner and chef of Pono Burger, Pono Kitchen + Bar, the newly opened Makani in Los Angeles, and Ultimate Burger in Hawaii—knows this life well. Carzino is the proud mama to Phoenix, her equestrian-loving, chicken-owning, chef-aspiring, soon-to-be 11-year-old daughter. We caught up with Carzino on the […]
When Andrew Ahn moved to L.A. to pursue his dream of becoming a filmmaker, he never expected to land so close to his roots — in a kitchen, slinging Philly cheesesteaks. Thirty years earlier, his Korean immigrant father had gotten his start in America making cheesesteaks in Philadelphia. He later opened his own cheesesteak shop […]
Knowing what goes into running a restaurant, L.A. chef Briana Valdez has “so much respect for anyone who can open the doors.” It’s unglamorous work, but today’s restaurants also have the opportunity to create more personal, authentic experiences through the food they serve and the stories they tell. It’s this excitement that drives Valdez (owner […]
Veselka looks, smells and tastes like Grandma’s house. The scent of fresh bread, roasting meat and onions waft from the kitchen. You can see the bustle of 2nd Avenue through the floor-to-ceiling windows from the cozy banquettes in the dining room. It’s bustling inside too, but the energy is different. Homier, more comforting. “My grandma […]
Let me ask: what was the first thing you thought of when you woke up this morning? A breakfast burrito? (Me too.) Your regretful declaration to eat clean? (Me too.) The compounding mental to-do list for the day ahead? (Also, me too.) With each new day we have the opportunity to set a fresh intention. […]
As the food media is increasingly dominated by Yelp, Instagram and food blogs, anyone can be a food critic. But having that voice comes with a lot of responsibility. It only takes a few clicks before one good or bad review goes viral and makes or breaks a restaurant’s reputation. Any diner has the right […]
When Phuong Hoang’s parents’ generation opened restaurants in L.A. after immigrating from post-war Vietnam, the sole purpose was to put food on the table. “They made enough money to raise a family and wanted all of us to be doctors,” says Phuong, a Torrance native who grew up eating home-cooked pho and pork chops. But […]
