Food

Redevelopment can be a bitch. The struggling and slowly burgeoning NoHo Arts District took a hit on Monday when HOWS Market owners announced to employees that the store would be shut down over the next few months. more ›

For those of you partying at home to avoid the crowds, expense, and scary drivers, there is no reason why you can't enjoy elegant and delicious cocktails. These are mostly holiday punches, but don't be afraid to get that shaker out. Even the weird-sounding ingredients are available at any store. We tested out the new X-rated Fusion liquor, a passionfruit-flavored vodka, and it was delicious. Although almost everyone who saw the pink bottle asked, "Where are the high school girls?" more ›

A few days ago we asked for some input on a very serious issue: Who's got the best burger in the Valley? The results were pretty diverse, including the non-carnivore options, and the occasional lapse of awareness of local geography (err, sorry, Stout and 8oz aren't in the Valley), and a range of answers pointing to mostly burger stands and more casual neighborhood joints. While we suggested The Counter in Studio City, commenter AJ remarked that the build-your-own high-end burger spot "is too hit-or-miss for me but when it's good, it's GREAT," adding a pick for a fave: "But all in all, I really think my favorite burger in the valley is at Stanley's on Ventura Blvd." more ›

In a nice addition to Studio City's growing stock of quality eateries, Kings Road Cafe of Beverly Boulevard fame opened its second location on Ventura Boulevard earlier this month. Located just east of Whitsett Avenue, parking is complimentary with the valet, which is shared with the cafe's neighbor, Good Earth Restaurant. more ›

Food blogger Lauren Harb over at the Huffington Post today lists out seven Los Angeles restaurants where vegetarians, even vegans, and meat eaters can all find satisfaction. Her list is spot on. From chains like Z Pizza (the vegan cheese) and The Counter (the vegan burger patties) to original sit downs like mainstay Real Food Daily and Gordon Ramsay-featured Sante La Brea, the choices are well rounded. more ›

New York City, Boston, Philadelphia have all done it, but California this week will become the first state to ban trans fat from restaurants. Assembly Bill 97, which worked its way through the state legislatures and signed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2008 finally becomes law New Year's Day, reports the Sacramento Bee. more ›

Once upon a time, LAist ate our way through Thai Town, and that included a stop at Sapp's Coffee Shop, which is not exactly a coffee shop in the traditional American sense, but rather a place known for its spicy, authentic, Eye Nosh-worthy Boat Noodles. This is what LAist Featured Photos pool contributor stutefish found. The one-sentence review: "They were nothing short of spectacular." more ›

With the end of the year comes the inevitable wrap-ups, reflections, and predictions, and in the world of food this is no exception. Here in Los Angeles our Patron Saint of Dining Out, Pulitzer Prize-winning LA Weekly columnist Jonathan Gold, offers his take on the eating year that was in the LA Times' Opinion section today, noting how many high-profile restaurants our city has seen launch despite the tanked economy (Rivera, Drago Centro, Bouchon, and so forth) and the resurgence of the "tony cocktail bar." more ›

Here are some dining out (and shopping!) deals spotted today on Twitter aimed at taking the bite off your budget: more ›

For those who would like to ring in 2010 with a night on the town, several local restaurants are offering special menus and packages for New Year's Eve. For nights out like this, reservations are required, so planning ahead is a must. Remember, most of these packages won't include drinks, parking, or gratuities, so cushion your budgets accordingly! more ›

The Border Grill's Truck Churro Bites, or Churro Tots, are to be consumed to be believed. These warm, cinnamon sugar-covered, delicate spheres of dulce de leche-infused churro, are a holiday treat that can be enjoyed year round. The homemade whipped cream just ups the likelihood of having a mouthgasm. All for $3.50. The Border Grill Truck is a favorite of LAist, and, of course, they're on Twitter. more ›

Inspired by the savory holiday wonder that is Turducken, the King of Kitsch, Charles Phoenix [LAist Interview] demonstrates how to make Cherpumple, a "Monster" Pie Cake. Maybe you'll give it a try to dazzle your friends and family over the holidays... more ›

For those who would like to ring in 2010 with a night on the town, several local restaurants are offering special menus and packages for New Year's Eve. For nights out like this, reservations are required, so planning ahead is a must. Remember, most of these packages won't include drinks, parking, or gratuities, so cushion your budgets accordingly! more ›

Here are some dining out deals spotted today on Twitter aimed at taking the bite off your budget:

• From Taste: Happy Holiday from All of Us @ Taste! Happy Hour All Day @ Taste on Melrose | Code word: "Let it snow" ...tell only your best friends... [@ilovetaste]
• A trivia contest from the London West Hollywood: The movie "Love Actually" takes place at Xmas in what European city? Answer before 5pm, we'll pick 1 right answer for free dessert! [@LondonWeHo]

For those who would like to ring in 2010 with a night on the town, several local restaurants are offering special menus and packages for New Year's Eve. Granted, NYE is over a week away, and we've still got to get through Christmas, but since reservations are required, planning ahead is a must. Remember, most of these packages won't include drinks, parking, or gratuities, so cushion your budgets accordingly! And now, in no particular order, here is Part 1 of our picks for NYE dining (look for Part 2 this time tomorrow!)... more ›

Newcomer wine bar Pourtal, which opened last June in Santa Monica, is at it again with another California wine theme. For most of January, "Made in Malibu" will explore some of most nearby wineries along the coast. "This is a great opportunity for us to spotlight some of our favorite California wines—all of which are produced right in L.A.'s backyard," explained owner Stephen Abronson. more ›

Our search for the best hot chocolate in LA has led us to Lamill in Silver Lake. In the January 2010 Issue, Bon Appetit names Lamill one of the 10 Best Boutique Coffee Shops in the country. Their hot chocolate had been highly recommended. So it was time to taste hot chocolate 'a Lamill'. more ›

Looks like all the bases are starting to get covered. Last week pizza, this week we learn of Fresser's, which will mostly service Jewish deli meat sandwiches, reports Eater LA via Thrillist. They're serving pastrami, turkey, roast beef and even pot roast sandwiches in addition to " flyover-state-style bowls, jammed with mashed potatoes and gravy and loaded up with your choice of roast beef, pot roast, or turkey & corn, all of which are served with a baguette," says Thrillist. It's already on the streets on the sly and will officially launch in the new year. Follow them on Twitter at @Fressers more ›

Think you have the makings for a panini so full of panache it should be on the menu of a restaurant? Brentwood's Coral Tree Cafe is counting on it, as they continue to accept entries in their first-ever Panini-Off Recipe Contest. more ›

Celebrate with savings! Here are three dining out deals spotted this morning on Twitter that will take the edge off holiday woes or take the bite off your budget: From Henry's Hat: "Today 12-21,lunch,dinner & take out, get every $ you spend back in gift certificates to Henry's Hat & Luna Park rounded up to make good gift" Promo details [@henryhatla]. From the Hungry Cat: "Happy Holidays! To put everybody in the mood, cocktails are 1/2 priced all day Monday 12/21/09. Hope to see you!" more ›

To be honest, there aren't many frozen indulgent foods that would get this writer to leave her cozy apartment in the wintertime to travel 20 miles north up the 2 freeway to Montrose. Yet the small community town, nestled in the foothills of the Angeles National Mountains, happens to be home to a new Danish ice cream export that just may have expanded that threshold of what it means to trek for food. more ›

We've done breakfast at LA Mill before, and the menu has remained generally the same, which means if you know what you like there, chances are you'll be able to get it. And even though our LA "cold snap" is already a distant memory and we're back to watching the palm trees nod in the sunny breezes, our ingredients still have seasonality, which is why LA Mill's Butternut Squash Polenta made for the perfect December breakfast the other day when we stopped by the Silver Lake coffee boutique to pick up some gift beans (yes, we take our own advice). more ›

Lately we've been digging on Trader Joe's-inspired cuisine, but the grocery store chain may want to consider churning out a book of its own based on all those delicious samples they dole out as we leisurely cruise the aisles. Usually we regard a TJ's treat as simply a free snack, and perhaps an inspiration for a shopping list addition, however this particular sweet and savory nibble made us take pause. We immediately slinked back to sample station to steal another bite, as well as the recipe, which has been earning rave reviews at potlucks ever since (including the recent LAist holiday party). This creamy, savory appetizer is a burst of warm indulgence, as well as simple to put together and easy on the debit card. It will no doubt be a welcome addition to this weekend's holiday parties. more ›

Tons of people are plenty excited for the upcoming LA ♥'s Street Food Festival on February 13th. As the event approaches, organizer Shawna Dawson has put a call out on Twitter asking for designers: "Want to design the 1st LA Street Food Fest's logo? We're taking submissions now! Deadline Monday 12/21. Enter @ LALogoContest@gmail.com." There's no pay, but you'll definitely get some street cred (oh, and free food and drink for themselves and family/friends, compliments of the event organizers during the festival). more ›

Who knew? Make an unassuming cocktail how-to for some of the most vile drinks known in the history of the world while keeping a smart, cool and sophisticated vibe and you might just gain some notoriety. more ›

Going Metro is cheap (a one way ticket is $1.50; a day pass $5.00.) But it's not just a lift to work, or a bulky designated driver. It's your way to some great food that doesn't happen to cost too much. We've Chowed The Red Line before (it was good,) and now, it's time do so the same on The Purple Line. more ›

t's about time, no? The Slice Truck is expected to hit the streets next week serving pizza to hungry crowds on the street, reports Eater LA. But no fancy chef or and catchy menu-item will be found here. It's a "bare bones" menu as Eater puts it. That means cheese and pepperoni slices, pop and chocolate and vanilla ice cream. They also have a promo going on where if you snap a photo, tweet it and follow up with an e-mail, you'll get a coupon for a free slice. more ›

While I'm not one for tersely worded reviews, this meal at Corner Place in K-Town could pretty much be summed up as follows, to borrow from an old irreverent pre-meal blessing: "Good food, good meat, good God--GO EAT!" more ›

Today's Food Section of the LA Times brings a somewhat scathing review of former Top Chef contender Fabio Viviani's North Hollywood eatery Firenze Osteria. The recently opened Italian restaurant created quite a stir before it even opened, thanks to Viviani's on-screen sizzle--enough allure to merit a 5-star pre-opening review from one Yelper who had never even eaten there. more ›

Although it soft opened last month, Sweet Surrender Cupcake and Candy Shop in Las Vegas' Palazzo officially announced its opening today, on National Cupcake Day, of course. Besides the more pedestrian cupcake flavors like red velvet, lemon strawberry and chocolate ganache, the superstar sweet treat is the "Decadence D’Or." Retail price: $750.00. more ›

Personally, Famous Cupcakes from Valley Village (now in Beverly Hills, too) takes the cake when it comes to best cupcakes in Los Angeles. It's not about buzz or the crazy themed flavors, it's the cake part. Everyone can do frosting, but the true test is the cake part. Is it moist? Full of flavor? Could you eat it without the frosting? That's just me, though. more ›

Just a few months ago it took one, maybe two hands to count all the food trucks in Los Angeles, which meant it was a helluva lot easier to keep tabs on who was serving where. With more trucks joining the ranks weekly, it helps to have info about the trucks and their stops centralized. There's a new website launching in LA called Roaming Hunger, which touts itself as "the hub for all things street food." more ›

Believe it or not, cupcakes remain a beloved food trend that seems to keep steadily growing as more cupcake-centric bakeries keep opening up around town. Whether you're on the cupcake bandwagon or not, at this time of year many of us make plenty of room for sweet treats as we gather with friends, family, and co-workers to celebrate the season. But it's not just Hanukkah or Christmas we're celebrating: Tuesday December 15th is National Cupcake Day*! more ›

Big news for vegans. Cruzer Pizza's Los Feliz location is going 100% vegan, Quarrygirl announced today. Apparently, once the current stock of cheese and meat product is sold out, the eatery will never purchase it again. "They offer huge fluffy and delicious pizzas covered in daiya cheese and mock meats like gardein," exclaimed an excited Quarrygirl. "And if you see the owner give them a kiss from me, because this is the best news i’ve heard in awhile." The Glendale location will not go vegan, but will continue to offer vegan friendly options. more ›

Tonight is the first night of Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights. But one happy fact is that while not everyone will participate in the dreidel spinning and menorah lighting, the food of Hanukkah is some of the best fare that transcends denominational boundaries, thanks to the universal appeal of fried food and sweet treats. more ›

“Oh, look at that place,” said a friend of a small coffee shop tucked away behind a Downtown Culver City parking structure. “We should totally go there sometime.” “Yeah riiight,” I replied snarkily. “Who would voluntarily grub at a coffee shop in an alley?” For a moment, I forgot who I was, because the answer clearly was: this Recession Obsessionst. more ›

Geeez, we just counted 44 food trucks yesterday and now there's two more to add. Eater LA informs us of the soon-to-open truck, Vesuvio, which will focus on Southern Italian fare. The should launch within a couple weeks and will be serving such items as "arancini stuffed with smoked mozzarella plus a slew of subs," according to Eater. And not to be out done is Komodo, self described on its slick website as "dangerously good food" and "not your average taco truck." Their menu consists of a variety of burritos, from a cheeseburger burrito to a cobb salad one to an Asian marinated chicken one. Sides include truffle fries, guacamole rolls and meatballs. more ›

The ever-so fast expanding world of L.A.'s new food truck culture grew last night with the addition of Louks to Go, a Greek based truck serving up gyros, salads, fries and Greek donuts known as Loukoumades. A tasting last night proved this truck as a serious contender for streetside lines. more ›

Shopping for a food enthusiast for the holidays? Whether they like to be in the kitchen, stock their larder with gourmet goodies, or go out to eat, we've compiled this list of gift items found in and about Los Angeles. more ›

KCRW and Tourism Australia are paired up for the second consecutive year to bring live events to L.A. focused on life Down Under. The eats of Australia will be in the spotlight on Sunday January 17th with "Good Food Live!" hosted by Evan Kleiman. Attendees will join Kleiman and her guests, Aussie chef Curtis Stone, fish expert Peter Evans, mixologist Gus McShane (of Santa Monica's Copa d'Oro) and wine aficionado James Gosper, for an afternoon honoring the food and drink of Australia. more ›

It's official: The mobile location of Umami is hitting the streets tonight. Just this morning they announced via Twitter: "The UMAMI TRUCK will debut tonight at the Festivus downtown at 8. RSVP to festivusdowntown@gmail.com." We've had our eyes out for this roll-out since the popular gourmet burger eatery with a growing number of locations revealed last month they'd soon be taking their eats to the streets. more ›

If you went to UniqueLA this weekend and read the program book, you might have been tipped off to a festival that's guaranteed to get everyone salivating. It's the LA ♥'s Street Food Festival on February 13th. Not much information is out yet, so we spoke to one of the organizers for more info. more ›

It's cold and rainy in LA and that mean one thing. It's time to drink some hot chocolate. more ›

Whether you're a die-hard Food Network devotee or have just caught snippets of "chef talk" here and there, you may know that a chef is expected to put him or her self on their plates. Who you are must reveal itself in the interplay of ingredients, textures, styles, colors, and tastes in any given dish of your creation. For many, this is hard to do, and for many more, hard to understand. A steak is a steak, no? Well, no. more ›

Come on, L.A.! The kids down here would love a Twittering food truck full of steaming hot and tasty ramen noodle soup. LAist's sister site to the north SFist reports that Shirohige Ramen-Ya, a ramen truck, launches this weekend in Hayes Valley. But really, L.A. could use a soup truck this winter. And how about a pizza truck, too? Kthxbai! more ›

Via a tipster, looks like the restaurants are winning in the battle against the food trucks parking in front of their businesses: "Just wanted to let you guys know, as of today the city put up tow zone signs on the entire 5700 block of wilshire, essentially forcing the food trucks to scatter around the area. The tow zone times are 9am to 3pm, suspiciously ending right after the lunch rush." Frustrated with the lunch choices, workers in the area praised the presence of various food trucks appearing at lunchtime. In turn, the loss of business for some restaurants prompted calls to police and elected officials. UPDATE: Some are saying that these signs might be fake, or installed temporarily. UPDATE #2: LADOT confirms they are not fake signs. UPDATE #3: And now LADOT confirms that fake or not, city officials did not place the signs on posts. Read the updated story here. more ›

Season 6 of Bravo's Top Chef is about to come to a close, and this time around Los Angeles can root, root, root for the home team with Chef Michael Voltaggio of the Langham Hotel's Dining Room as one of the four finalists battling it out in the kitchen for the title and honors. more ›

Some of us have a longstanding love affair with sushi. For many that means loyal repeat visits to a beloved spot, and for others its a never-ending quest to taste and try new places. One favorite way to enjoy a sushi meal is to hand yourself over to the chef and to say "omakase," which translates into "it's up to you." This is how LAist Featured Photos pool contributor djjewelz approached a recent dinner at Sushi Toshi in Little Tokyo. He left us some images to ogle, and we had to follow up with him to learn more about what appeared to be a beautiful meal. He explains: more ›

Come December 15th, a new burger truck is expected to hit L.A.'s streets. Grill Em' All pays homage to Metallica and other rock n' roll bands through their rotating menu. For example, the Molly Hatchet, described by Grub Street Los Angeles as "seared fennel sausage gravy, bacon, and maple syrup" or the... more ›