Food

Fans of Bravo's highly successful reality program "Top Chef" were in for quite the treat last Thursday evening, when two contestants from previous seasons, CJ and Antonia, participated in a friendly cook-off at The Grove. The event was sponsored by the Sherry Council of America, and featured sherry tastings and gourmet bites from a few of The Grove's top restaurants. more ›

LAist will tackle some issues regarding dining, etiquette, tipping, etc. The information is compiled from etiquette classes, books, newspaper articles, and experience. Any and all questions can go in the comments section. Part 1 can be found here. more ›

This hot weather is way more summer than fall--par for the course here in LA, true--and that means we can keep acting like it's summertime. And eating like it's summertime. Back in the actual summertime, LAist wondered why the Weekly's esteemed Jonathan Gold had a dog face, as he ruminated about hot doggeries about town, and it wasn't long after that we, too, were inspired to get our hot dog on. more ›

After a successful visit last year, TasteTV's Luxury Chocolate Salon is returning to the area next weekend. If you are a fan of chocolate, it's your chance to taste and experience the finest in artisan, gourmet, and premium chocolate in our great culinary metropolis. more ›

I was invited to dinner at Sashi by the restaurant's PR firm. I was very excited to try executive Chef Makoto Okuwa's sushi, who worked under Chef Morimoto of Iron Chef fame and was executive sushi chef at Morimoto in both D.C. and NYC. Now, I've found that people's standards about sushi vary greatly, so here's my disclaimer: I'm by no means a sushi connoisseur, but I've been to a few great places around our delicious city. I don't mind an occasional venture out to some creative rolls but will largely judge a sushi place by the quality of its traditional nigiri (fish on rice) sushi. more ›

Pronounced "pa-LEEN sih-rah," but with current events it's thought of otherwise and is leaving a bad taste for some Californians. From Serious Eats: more ›

One of the slaughterhouse workers at Westland/Hallmark Meat Company in Chino was sentenced this week to nine months in jail and probation after secret video footage (warning, it is graphic) revealed staff was mistreating the animals leading to the largest beef recall in U.S. history (the U.S. Department of Agriculture recalled 143 million pounds of the company's frozen beef). "Daniel Ugarte Navarro, 49, was sentenced after pleading no contest in June to two felony counts of animal cruelty and two misdemeanor counts of cruelty to downed animals," according to the Associated Press via LA Unleashed. more ›

Terried Sake House falls into the hole-in-the-wall category. It's a great little Japanese Izakaya on Santa Monica close to Federal. An Izakaya, of course, is a restaurant that serves beer and sake and also the food that goes with it. The place is small and a bit dingy, but the food more than makes up for it. It's also fairly inexpensive for an Izakaya, so we got to order a ton of stuff. Alright, less talk, more pictures of food. Here we go. more ›

Can you cook up some wicked tasting salsa? If so, the Sustainable Economic Enterprises of Los Angeles who runs various markets around town is hosting salsa contests at their markets this week (Echo Park, Leimert Park, Hollywood and Atwater). Of course, it's all the better if you make the salsa from ingredients bought fresh from the market. More info can be found in their two info sheets (.pdfs). more ›

Loteria Grill at the Original Farmers Market has long been one of the city's most popular Mexican outposts (we reviewed it back in April just for kicks), so it's nice to see chef Jimmy Shaw take up residence in an attractive space on Hollywood Boulevard. The new restaurant's menu is more extensive than the original's, but there are still plenty of your old favorites to choose from. LAist's editor Zach Behrens has given the place thumbs up for vegetarian options, but meat eaters will enjoy a long list of pork, chicken, and beef entrees as well. more ›

There's an awesome free event (yes, FREE! for those who RSVP) going down at The Grove at Farmers Market this Thursday, Sept 25th at 7pm. Top Chef contestants Chris "CJ" Jacobsen and Antonia Lofaso (who is also executive chef at WeHo hot spot Foxtail) are scheduled to appear, thanks to Los Angeles Magazine and the Sherry Council of America. CJ and Antonia will be facing off against each other in a "friendly" cooking competition, and there are also free tastings and demos from Grove restaurants like The Farm of Beverly Hills, Morels French Bistro & Steakhouse, Maggiano's Little Italy, and The Whisper Lounge. more ›

Prompted by our claim that Vito's Pizza is the best in the Los Angeles area, blogger Allen L., who used to bitch about the quality of pizza here some 20 years ago, visited the West Hollywood pizza joint to see for himself... more ›

LAist Featured Photos' oranges are not the only fruit took a tip from Jonathan Gold and headed over to KyoChon for some post-Wiltern chicken. The whole experience gets the full treatment on their What You See is What You Eat blog, but we'll serve up some tasty morsels, like those leftover pieces of chicken pictured above. more ›

We don't get much autumn in LA. Mostly, things get hot and then the Halloween stuff comes out. Everyone gets a little worn out on the notion of endless summer. But there are delights to be had. More apples appear on the scene (and in desserts), there's the county fair, and some of the better Italian restaurants start serving truffles. Granted, it's not cheap, but shared with the table, one dish can be a delectable treat. more ›

After all the salt consumed by eating tons of deep fried foods like avocado and Oreos and a huge brick of cheese fries leaves one desiring sugar. The easy answer is Dr. Bob's in the farming area of the fair. When National Geographic released their 10 Best of Everything guide for travelers, Dr. Bob's Handcrafted Ice Creams came out at number two on the list. more ›

The best frozen yogurt in LA can be found at Tutto Tutti on Melrose. With flavors ranging from Double Wonder (sea salt and caramel) to Super Bee (ginseng and honey), it's a yogurt lovers paradise. To make it even better, the yogurt is organic and they make their own toppings including bittersweet-chocolate sauce, raspberry-balsamic sauce and caramelized walnuts. Fresh fruit toppings and organic coffee are also available. The relaxed contemporary atmosphere has helped Tutto Tutti become a local favorite. more ›

Tucked in a mini mall on La Cienega just South of Santa Monica Blvd., LAist found the best best slice of pizza in LA at Vito's Pizza. Thin crust, zesty sauce, and the perfect amount of cheese add up to a big slice of heaven. Other pies are topped with amazing meatballs, pesto, or wild mushrooms. more ›

"If it's slower, smaller and stupider than I am..." batter it up and throw it in the fryer! more ›

Did you skip breakfast this morning? (Shame on you if you did!) Or maybe that Starbucks scone/protein bar/power smoothie/leftover cold pizza left something to be desired. Perhaps this enticing croissant sandwich found by LAist Featured Photos pool contributor pink_fish13 can remind you of how good breakfast can be. (And, well, okay, how incredibly rich and buttery and grease-laden it can be too...croissants are basically pure butter and, yes, there appears to be bacon in between that egg and cheese goodness.) more ›

Have you ever made homemade vanilla ice cream? The ingredients are pretty basic: cream, milk, sugar, egg yolks and natural vanilla flavor. But if you want that same taste without having to make it yourself, we've found that Trader Joe's version tastes like homemade versions. In fact, it has all the same ingredients plus two preservatives and that's it -- no long list of unpronounceable colorings and chemicals. more ›

Here's a big win for fans of classic sandwiches: a tip just came down the wire that Cole's Pacific Electric Buffet, one of the two restaurants in L.A. that claims responsibility for inventing the famed French Dip sandwich (the other being Phillipe's), will be reopening sometime in late October or early November. Downtown nightlife impresario Cedd Moses, of 213 Downtown, acquired Cole's in 2007 and has been renovating the space back to the glory of its early 20th century heyday. more ›

High-profile, pricey dining events are fun and all, but most of us would rather spend our dining dollars on an event that supports a great cause. If you're one of those people, you're in luck this weekend, because Savor The Season is one of those worth-it events. Not only does it feature a catered spread from some of L.A.'s best restaurants, but proceeds from the event are going to Break The Cycle, an organization that empowers young people to educate themselves and the community about domestic violence. more ›

Afternoon tea is a delightful tradition that has morphed into its own stateside genesis of elegance and indulgence, complete with lots of food and, of course, tea. Here in Los Angeles there are many places to go for tea service that cover all aspects of the spectrum, from the casual to the hip. LAist Featured Photos contributor kristi.nicole recently enjoyed an afternoon of tea and treats at Venice's Jin Patisserie and gave us this brief sip of a rundown:

We all ordered the "Afternoon Tea" which includes Egg finger sandwiches, savories, homemade scones, butter cake, praline & Chef’s selection of mini sweet pastries and tea of your choosing. The scones are pretty amazing and the pastries are excellent every time. For tea I'd suggest the Earl Grey or the white teas.

Andrew Steiner, former "Maitre Fromager" at Patina (Cheese Master -- now there's a worthy sobriquet!), has opened a shop of his own on Montana Avenue in Santa Monica. Andrew's Cheese Shop is offering over 200 varieties of cheese, including many hand-crafted and artisanal varieties from all over the globe -- even raw milk cheeses! Andrew highlights cheeses like the Chimay Grand Cru (yes, from the same makers of the potent Belgian ale), Sally Jackson Goat (a nutty American varietal), and Roomano, a Friesian cheese similar to an aged Gouda. more ›

Rumors have been swirling lately around Citrus at Social, the Jeffrey Chodorow/Michel Richard production in the former Hollywood Athletic Club on Sunset. Last month, chef Remi Lauvand was mysteriously dismissed, and some insiders were predicting the restaurant's demise, despite rave reviews from the likes of the LA Times and LA Weekly. more ›

There are so many better places to eat at the Farmers Market. Well, one or two. The Gumbo Pot is not one of them.To each his own, right? Fans or foes of The Gumbo Pot, pitch in to our comments stew and tell us what you think. Should we run to...or from...The Gumbo Pot? more ›

We're guessing that when the South Beach Diet and other such carb-scoffing trends warped our eating habits, that one Dr. Steven Laurence Kaplan shook his erudite head and knew he could not align himself with such tomfoolery. Why? Because Dr. Kaplan is a Bread Historian, and later this month you can meet him and chew the fat grain with him at Century City's Breadbar. Here's how it all slices:

On Saturday, September 20, BREADBAR Century City welcomes Dr. Steven Laurence Kaplan, widely recognized as the world’s leading expert on French bread, for an exclusive bread tasting and discussion at the artisanal bakery-bistro. Dr. Kaplan will lead the intimate bread tasting and explore BREADBAR’s signature offerings including the Baguette, Rustic Millstone, Buckwheat, and Redwood Rye, among others. Guests will learn about the process of tasting, the criteria involved and the methods and techniques involved in creating exceptional breads. He will also speak about his book, “Good Bread is Back,” and share his extensive taste-testing expertise gained while exploring the bakeries in Paris.

For National Bourbon Heritage Month this September (yes, it's a real event as of last year), we offer two scrumptious ways to celebrate America's native spirit. more ›

LAist Featured Photos contributor ~db~ submitted this tasty treat for us and writes this about it: more ›

Submitted by Brooke Burton/Food Woolf more ›