Poké is the Hawaiian verb for “to cut crosswise into pieces.” It is also a raw fish dish traditionally served as an appetizer in Hawaiian cuisine. This dish originated in the middle of the Pacific Ocean… literally. While on the job, fishermen would add different seasonings to small cuts of whatever they would be pulling […]
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 […]
Delicious, flaky croissants. Crumbly, sweet blueberry scones. Warm, freshly baked bread. For most people, these indulgent pastries are synonymous with words like “butter” and “cheat day.” If words like “vegan” or “gluten-free” came to mind, then you’re probably familiar with The Butcher’s Daughter. A self-proclaimed “vegetable slaughterhouse” with three bustling locations in New York and a […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
