Food

Popovers, much like airplanes and radio waves, are kind of magic. There's no yeast or kneading or "resting" involved in the preparation, and these babies come out like fluffy little bread clouds just begging to be filled with butter or gravy or salad or berries or custard or whatever your hungry little heart desires. more ›

To a rousing success, last night the 2nd Annual Taste of Avalon kicked off the Flying Fish Festival for the weekend. Unlike the Taste of Chicago where restaurants set up booths in one central location, Avalon's taste has you going from restaurant to restaurant. And it works because the small city's downtown is about five blocks long, which makes the event a great way to experience the city. more ›

Apparently one Restaurant Week just isn't enough for Los Angeles: popular (and controversial) review site Yelp.com has announced their own "1st Annual Yelp Restaurant Week" starting this Saturday, May 30th. The kickoff event is being in conjunction with LACMA's Muse Artwalk. Participating restaurants include Tasca, Little Next Door, Luna Park, Messob Ethiopian, and Amalfi Ristorante, among others, all of whom will be offering a three-course prix-fixe for $15-30. Mention Yelp when making a reservation, and check out their website for more info. more ›

Roadfood pioneers Jane and Michael Stern's new book, 500 Things to Eat Before it's too Late: and the Very Best Places to Eat Them has just hit the bookstores. Don't worry, the title is not a reflection upon the state of your health or a dire prediction of the apocolypse. It's more of a statement on the homogenization of the country's restaurants. Hit the diner and get 'em while they're hot, before they are forced out by the Chili's on the corner. more ›

The Official Recession has blanketed us for nearly eighteen official months. For the last seven of those shallow-pocketed months, LAist has brought you the weekly Recession Obsession series. We've looked at a some fun things to do, but the focus has been on eating. more ›

Rick's Drive-in in Pasadena serves old-style burgers, shakes, and fries, but those in the know go there for one thing - the spuderito. Stuffed with french fries, tomato sauce, cheese, onions and salsa, this messy burrito comes with a huge handful of napkins. Really, it is so spicy it is almost more like a salsarito. If you like, you can add meat for a dollar ten, but that really isn't what the spuderito is all about. more ›

KCRW's Good Food offers a mini taco truck tour in this video podcast. First stopping in Highland Park (home to recent LAist Recession Obsession taco crawl,) this colorful segment ends by getting their Kogi on. We dare you not to salivate. more ›

Finally! Just in time for Memorial Day! A way to cut hot dogs! It was such a mystery before. I simply could not figure out how to keep my hot dog from exploding in the microwave until this marvel came along. OK, actually, this thing is kind of scary. It may even make certain people of the male persuasion wince. Remember, Mom and Dad, this is not for kids. But your friends will love it! Thanks to Allee Willis for turning us on to this wunder of wunders. more ›

We were excited when Chicago-based Intelligentsia invaded the Eastside, now Westsiders can grab one hell of a fine cuppa closer to home thanks to their brand new and eagerly anticipated Venice digs. Last night they got things started with a heavily-attended opening fete, where the crowd ate, drank, and were very, very merry in honor of the new coffee mecca. We found this video online from the festivities so you can see what you missed last night. Just don't miss out on their killer espresso and brewed coffee drinks and beans. Be smart: Get thee to Intelligentsia! more ›

Good morning! Are you ready for breakfast? more ›

The Hungry Cat in Hollywood has always been a great spot to sidle up to the bar and order a plate full of oysters and a delicious specialty cocktail (and the restaurant's signature blue cheese burger & fries, if you're really hungry). But the deals are getting better by the day at their Hollywood location: they've extended their happy hour so that you can booze it up on half-price cocktails and draft beers from 12p-6p. more ›

The Official Recession has enveloped us for seventeen official months. It’s still no reason we can’t enjoy life. This is LA -- we have a ton of inexpensive options! A Recession Obsession is truly fantastic, whether you've recently been downsized or are about to cash a large commission check. It's not just a "cheap eat." We last obsessed over ginormous Korean Dumplings in K*Town, and via a Taco Crawl in Highland Park. Today, we obsess... more ›

Universal City's Cafe Tu Tu Tango was shuttered back in December, yet is surviving in Orange County and... Orange County, Florida (okay, specifically Orlando). Cruising the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control's website, an LAist tipster found that Samba Brazilian Steakhouse is taking the cafe's place. Unclear if they are connected, there's a restaurant with the same name at the Mirage in Vegas and a similarly themed one in Redondo, too. But inquiring minds wonder, what will they do with those old tutus?! more ›

We may have just wrapped up a Craft Beer Festival and learned we're "ready for craft beer culture," but the brew enthusiasts at HalogenLife aren't totally sold on Los Angeles as being beer-friendly. In fact, in their story spotlighting the nation's 10 best "must try" local beers they preface their L.A. pick by pointing out we aren't "exactly a beer drinkers kind of town." more ›

Since the recession and a new ordinance began, business for a family selling food out of a taco truck in Palos Verdes Estates is down by half. It started last summer, as LA County tried to unsuccessfully enforce a similar, but more relaxed, ordinance that was struck down as unconstitutional. In an article about trying to curb taco trucks nationwide, the LA Times explains: "No longer could loncheras set up for hours at parks or construction sites. Instead, they could stop only at sites where a bathroom was available to patrons, and stay just half an hour, barely enough time to set up and prepare a meal or two before having to break down and drive away again. In addition, all employees had to get background checks." The guys over at Carne Asada is Not a Crime caught wind of an ordinance proposed at neighboring Rancho Palos Verdes earlier this year and spoke to the attorney who represented taco vendors in the LA County case. No word if any action will be or was taken. more ›

They may be only a fourth mile apart, but both family friendly yogurt chain Menchies and newcomer Sweet Rarts just recently opened in Sherman Oaks' restaurant row. First came the addicting and popular Menchies of Valley Village fame, which opened at Ventura and Dixie Canyon, most appropriately next to an elementary school. more ›

The Counter, known for letting customers customize their own burgers anyway they want, finally made its arrival yesterday in Studio City (Ventura Blvd. near Laurel Canyon). The long-awaited restaurant adds to the commercial district's gamut of quality eateries to choose from, including the nearby Artisan Cheese Gallery, Arb Pizza, Vegan Plate and Laurel Tavern. more ›

Rejoice! The Valley will soon have a dedicated vegan ice cream shop. Spotted on Cahuenga Blvd. at Regal Place, Nice Cream is a few storefronts down from recent vegan newcomer, SunPower Natural Cafe, which is from local veteran Chef Rawsheed. more ›

The Official Recession has enveloped us for seventeen official months. It’s still no reason we can’t enjoy life. This is LA -- we have a ton of inexpensive options! A Recession Obsession is truly fantastic, whether you've recently been downsized or are about to cash a large commission check. We last obsessed via a Taco Crawl in Highland Park, and Tacomiendo's meaty tacos in West LA. Today, we obsess... more ›

Franklin Village's Locali is prepping to go mobile. Later this month the "Conscious Convenience" store (you know, where you buy your vegan condoms) launches The Icycyle, a roaming vending tricycle that will be offering up a selection of frozen treats made with diabetic-friendly, handmade vegan, gluten-free, and organic products. "By combining the idea of environmentally conscious living with the element of convenience, Owners Melissa Rosen and Greg Horos are making Locali’s regionally and sustainably sourced, organic, vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, sugar-free, and other eco-friendly products easily accessible to people in their everyday lives," we're told. The Icycle begins serving on wheels May 25th, making for a summer-long treat trek lasting Memorial Day to Labor Day. Follow them on Twitter to see where they'll be stopping. more ›

Good news for those of you who don't eat beef, pork, or pig's anus! Wienerschnitzel has just introduced the amazing new sea dog. Now you can gorge yourself on Alaskan pollock - and fish anus. more ›

LAist has eaten bacon pizza at Mozza, but we turn our attention to the soap in the bathroom. Customers can now wash their hands with soap made from the recycled cooking grease in the Mozza kitchens. more ›

If Budweiser and MGD are your two favorite beers in the world, then you might as well stop reading this post now. more ›

The Official Recession has enveloped us for seventeen official months. It’s still no reason we can’t enjoy life. This is LA -- we have a ton of inexpensive options! A Recession Obsession is truly fantastic, whether you've recently been downsized or are about to cash a large commission check. We last obsessed over Tacomiendo's meaty tacos, and Phillippe's classic french dip sandwiches. Today, we obsess... more ›

Occasional LAist contributor Aarti has been slaving away over a hot stove for some time now on her self-produced cooking video series, Aarti Paarti, and with spring most definitely in the air, and wonderful springtime finds like green garlic and fava beans plentiful at area farmer's markets, she's whipped up this video recipe how-to for Fava Bean Pillows with Brown Butter. This episode features a guest musical appearance by Paul Newman aka Beep Beep, of Helios Jive, who also helps sample the tasty, easy-to-make, and affordable meal based on locally-sourced seasonal produce. more ›

SoCal Diet/Lifestyle Coach/Trainer Sean Croxton has a bone to pick with KFC. In this video he analyzes the ingredients in their new Kentucky Grilled Chicken and he isn't happy with the findings. He's also not too pleased with Oprah Winfrey, typically health-forward, who is pushing this product. One might assume that grilled chicken is a lesser evil than fried. Perhaps, but KFC's new KGC is chocked full of trans fats and MSG. LAist wonders, is KGC finger licking good? [Full ingredient list on the KFC website (PDF.)] more ›

There are certain signs that you can recognize as harbingers of great Italian food. Men greeting each other with hugs upon entering Ciao Cristina was a very good sign, as was the lyrical sound of Italian being spoken by nearby diners. more ›

It's a 9-5, M-F world, which makes elegant brunching a weekend necessity. It also makes it hard to get food bloggers together on a work-week morning, which is why Pasadena's La Grande Orange opted to use a little poetic license and woo us into their historic locale eatery to serve us brunch on a Wednesday night. more ›