Food

The French are apparently horrified that nary a one of their dining establishments ranked in the top ten of a list of the World's 50 Best Restaurants released this week by S. Pellegrino. But for us Californians, something "French" is pretty much all we've got, thanks to the inclusion of just one of our restaurants: Thomas Keller's French Laundry in Yountville (#32). more ›

It comes up all the time in conversation in Los Angeles, especially if you're talking with East Coast ex-pats: Why are there still no Dunkin' Donuts in Los Angeles? The international donut and coffee franchise has zero presence in California (the coffee you can buy at the grocery store doesn't count), which baffles many who swear by their sweets and caffeinated beverages. more ›

Caviar is synonymous with luxury and decadence and the name Petrossian evokes images of posh people eating copious amount of lavish caviar presentations while laughing about their private planes and yachting adventures. But then we walked into Petrossian in West Hollywood and realized that caviar is not always an untouchable indulgence. more ›

One of the amazing parts of living in Los Angeles is the access to fresh and locally grown food. From vegan to everything else, a plethora of healthy eats can be found throughout the region. But Los Angeles has another obsession... and that's bacon. From the classic streetside bacon-wrapped hot dogs to even bacon-wrapped matzo balls and, yes, bacon-wrapped... bacon. more ›

The Los Angeles Athletic Club and LA Wine Tasting recently hosted "A Taste of the Pioneer Regions". Set against the scenic backdrop of downtown as seen from the LA Athletic Club, LA Wine Tasting's Jean Baptiste took us on an oenophile's journey through California's "Pioneer regions" where the first vines were planted in the early 1900s just before prohibition. more ›

As we told you earlier this week, Saturday is the insanely popular Grilled Cheese Invitational and we've got some new details about food vendors and lines for you. more ›

Pulitzer Prize-winning Jonathan Gold of LA Weekly today acknowledges that naming the best mac and cheese in L.A. is a battle between foodies, but he gives a big nod to Larkin's in Eagle Rock. And it's Larkin Mackie himself who recently opened a mac & cheese-dedicated restaurant in downtown which Gold visited: "It is superb drunk food — on weekends, Mac & Cheeza stays open until 2 a.m. And you get a shot at the classic banana-Nilla Wafer pudding from the recipe of Mackey's mom, an intense, thin custard that resolves into a divine containerful of sweet banana-spiked mush. Is this the mac 'n' cheese of the future? It might be." See LAist's photos of the eatery here. more ›

This weekend, the movement to serve the Los Angeles region with local food grows in the Valley and in Santa Monica. more ›

Lamill coffee, Nick & Stef's steaks, tacos from the Too Hot Tamales, soul food, 25 Degrees burgers, Buttercake Bakery treats, Mexican comfort classics from La Serenata di Garibaldi, macrobiotic food, Korean BBQ and more may soon be some of the options travelers using Los Angeles International Airport will have for layover or pre-flight eats, if the five City Council members who comprise the Board of Referred Power give the go ahead to a major food-service overhaul. more ›

It turns out that Silver Lakers are less into post-post-irony and more keen on higher-end, higher-quality bourbon, or so goes the raison d'etre for The Thirsty Crow, a whiskey-centric watering hole opening in the former Stinkers space this Friday night. more ›

According to Mother Nature Network, the Let's Be Frank and the Green Truck rank among ten of the food trucks cruising U.S. cities from Washington D.C. to Seattle, Washington that are the most eco-friendly. more ›

The 6th season of The Next Food Network Star doesn't hit the small screen until June 6th, but there's already reason to celebrate in Los Angeles, since three of the Food TV stars-in-the-making call our city home. more ›

A few hours before I headed downtown to dinner at LudoBites 4.0, I shot a link to the menu over to a friend via instant message. "This is where I'm eating tonight," I explained, probably inserting one of those cornball smiley emoticons. I swear I heard her gasp over the interwebs, then the fury of her fingers as she typed me a strict order from a couple thousand miles away: "Promise me you will get the seared foie gras pina colada." I assured her I would. In fact, I had a sense that this mealtime mission would be all about the menu, as in the entire thing. more ›

Say cheese! Saturday is the1st 8th Annual Grilled Cheese Invitational, which matches the hot, buttery wits of several cheese-loving competitors and you get to be the judge. more ›

With rains beating down on us thanks to the arrival of a late season storm, this afternoon is just right for a cup of hot chocolate. Maybe you haven't thought about that hot, comforting, chocolate-y treat in a while, but we can't forget some of our favorite places to pick up a cup. We're wild about Lamill's $3 not-too-sweet hot chocolate, deep into Intelligentsia's ganache-intense offering, and sweet on NOLA Ice's red velvet inspired hot cocoa. Sometimes, though, nothing beats the cup of hot cocoa you brew up at home and curl up with on the couch. You can always hit up one of these spots for cafe-made cocoa tomorrow or Thursday...since that's about how long this storm's expected to last. more ›

There are some great lunches to be had in this town, and we want to celebrate the midday meal. So, let's do lunch, shall we? more ›

The once overly-crowded original Pinkberry location that stirred a West Hollywood community into political action has stopped serving yogurt. Beginning today, the Santa Monica Boulevard location will begin its transformation into a "Pinkberry Support Center," or more plainly said, an "administrative space," according to the WeHo News, which breaks down the storied history of the location. more ›

Ready to roll out into the fray come Tuesday--yes, 4/20--is The Munchie Machine, a food truck that aims to go beyond the ordinary. With a promise the truck "oozes love and soul and delivers fun, unique, delectable and often healthful foods it knows you're craving any hour of the day," this foodmobile will have meals, snacks, sides, and desserts, according to their press release. more ›

Today marks a big step for the homegrown revolution. The L.A. City Council unanimously approved a motion that instructs the city attorney to amend an old and ambiguous city ordinance to allow for the on-site use and off-site sale of flowers and fruit grown within city limits. Currently, the simple act of growing them in your backyard with the purpose of selling them is a citable offense. However, vegetables are okay. more ›

This Saturday, food bloggers all across the country are coming together to hold a bake sale for Share Our Strength, a non-profit organization that aims to help feed the nearly 17 million (no, that is not a typo) children in America that are facing hunger. more ›

When The Grill at Hollywood and Highland invited us to try their Liver Lover's Extravaganza (OK, I made that name up) which will be featured from April 19th to the 26th, I agreed under one condition -- that my mother accompany me. Let's just say we had a score to settle. more ›

There are some great lunches to be had in this town, and we want to celebrate the midday meal. So, let's do lunch, shall we? more ›

No, seriously: The octogenarian "Golden Girl" likes her hot dogs plain, which is why the new Pink's Hot Dogs opening in Universal CityWalk next week will be one served without toppings and named in her honor. Betty White will appear on Monday at 10 a.m. for the special hot dog dedication and the location's grand opening, according to a news release. It will be called the "Betty 'Naked in the City' Hot Dog" and a portion of its sales "will go to support the Los Angeles Department of Animal Services' animal shelters," explains cbs2. White will serve as host of Saturday Night Live on May 8. more ›

There are several Los Angeles restaurants and bars offering Tax Day discounts and specials, as well as some large chains who have specials and freebies today. And wouldn't it be nice to have something to snack or sip on while you're in line at the post office today? more ›

LA's food truck scene is spreading to the OC, and growing slowly, according to the Orange County Local News Network, but it's also growing quietly. more ›

Well, good morning! Uh oh... Did you skip breakfast today? more ›

Everyone seems to love Oinkster. They slow-roast their pork and cure their own pastrami. The french bread is tightly stuffed with massive amounts of meat until it is as round as a burrito. The giant sandwiches must be eaten with caution, as they are ready to burst at any moment. Not first date food. For the pulled pork, we highly recommend their killer barbecue sauce It comes on the side and sometimes you have to ask for it. more ›

One of the best ways to enjoy dim sum is on the move. It is ideal street food. Walking around shopping for paper lanterns, Snap Pops and Chinese herbs as you wander from one dim sum deli to the next makes for a perfect late morning or early afternoon. You can even work off some of that pork and sugar. This map is not all-inclusive; it is my own personal jaunt. Feel free to chime in with your own favorites. more ›

As Councilmember Paul Koretz describes it, he's been "bombarded" with e-mails from food truck supporters after a coalition rallied supporters to contact him over his stance on the mobile eateries. "I'm not necessarily a fan, but it's not my mission to stop it," he told LAist on Friday, admitting you'll occasionally find him eating at them, namely the Canters Truck and traditional taco trucks grabbing a burrito. more ›

Last Friday, food blogs announced the closing of two food trucks, Asian Soul Food and Willoughby Road. Both relatively new trucks to L.A.'s growing fleet of mobile eateries, it wasn't a surprise. While Asian Soul Kitchen wrote a goodbye letter on their website, the Southern food-based Willoughby was more elusive: "willoughby will not be at wilshire but will be at the artwalk downtown tonite come down to willoughbys final night." But what that really meant was "last night" before a hiatus. "We are coming back," they twittered in response to the buzz on Twitter. "Just doing some upgrades to the truck." At the end of 2009, a panel of food experts predicted that 2010 will be the year of the Food Truck deathwatch. So far, one down, 89 more to go? more ›

L.A.'s best cupcake shop--that's just, like, an opinion, man--recently introduced a line of cupcake mixes so you can rock out at home and impress your friends. The $13 mixes make 18 cupcakes and include the mix, liners, frosting and any toppings if necessary (like pink sugar crystals for the vanilla flavor). The flavors offered--Red Velvet, Strawberry, Vanilla, Chocolate, Black Tie (dark chocolate), pumpkin and others--are basically the same as what you can buy already-made at Famous Cupcake's Valley Village and Beverly Hills locations. more ›

Holy bejesus! When people wonder why we're fat, this is why and we're extremely happy to oblige. In anticipation of Tuesday's home opener, the Dodgers today announced salivating news. Fans will be happy that the spicy Picante Dog will be back on the menu throughout Dodger Stadium. Officials say it's due to "overwhelming fan demand," including the presence of a Facebook page dedicated to the cause. more ›

Los Angeles, for all that it has to offer the late night set in the way of tacos, deli meats, dancing, and beautifully vacant streets, can’t seem to find it in its heart to make a goddamn chai latte past 11pm. Why? There are more than enough night-owl neurotics with script deadlines (or even term papers due) that you’d think every third Starbucks would be open around the clock. Yet there are vast swaths of our fine city that go dark to couture coffee culture once the clock chimes over to a new day. more ›

That's right, Slaw Dogs. Not Slaw burgers. True, they are a newcomer to the Pasadena scene, and yes, they specifically focus on hot dogs, but this little spot serves up some of the fattest, juiciest, and most creative burgers in town. In fact, owner Ray Byrne was originally considering opening a burger joint before he opted for dogs. more ›

Hey, it's National Grilled Cheese Month (you've been celebrating daily, right?), so what better time to visit dessert eatery than now? Syrup Desserts in downtown is a cafe that focuses on lattes, cappuccino, coffees and teas along with a melted chocolate, waffles, crepes, ice cream sandwiches and more. The last page of their menu, however, is where they start mixing it up. more ›

There was something going on at In-n-Out on April 1st, but it wasn't plans to expand their empire to the Big Apple. It was actually the day they put in place a tiny bump in prices, upping items on their beloved menu by ten cents apiece. That means "their cheeseburgers have finally crossed the $2 line," remarks the OC Weekly, adding that still means they're affordable... more ›

Gentlemen--and ladies--if there's one thing I learned from the evenings I spent with the Chicks With Knives, it's that they want you to know there is absolutely nothing to be afraid of. Yes, they wield sharp cutting tools...but they only use them for good, not evil. And when I say good, I mean good tasting. That's because Chicks With Knives is actually a duo of chefs, Rachael Narins and Suzanne Griswold, and the name of their monthly supper club that focuses on S.O.L.E. food. more ›

You were probably just thinking: "Man, Coffee Cake gets no respect!" And you're almost right. In a city that worships the cupcake, the red velvet pancake, and those steel cut oats your trainer insists you start the day with, there's little room for mention all the other 364 days of the year for the good old fashioned coffee cake. Since we're suckers for oddball food celebrations, it just so happens that April 7th is National Coffee Cake Day. more ›

Ever since HOWS Market announced the closure of its NoHo Arts District location, people have been praying for a Fresh & Easy takeover of the space. Fresh & Easy, for their part, have been diligent in not giving any specifics. Last month, a spokesperson said "We’re looking at sites in NoHo, but not that site at this time." Yesterday, the same spokesperson had a variation: "We’re looking at sites in NoHo, but cannot confirm any sites in particular." So now they are not specifically denying the HOWS space. The second statement came after LAist learned from a source that Fresh & Easy is already in talks with J.H. Snyder Company, the Museum Square-headquartered owners and developers of the property. more ›

Honorees named as Food & Wine mag's "Best New Chefs" of 2010 will be formally announced and celebrated tonight at a party in NYC, but news of who made the list broke a little earlier via F&W's iPhone app, according to GrubStreet. more ›

There are some great lunches to be had in this town, and we want to celebrate the midday meal. So, let's do lunch, shall we? more ›

We've updated our post featuring an ever-growing list of local food trucks and other mobile eateries (as in carts and stands) that use Twitter. more ›

Polkatots Cupcakes in Pasadena is a little girl's fairyland of pink walls and jars of rainbow-colored candies. We love their supermoist cupcakes, especially the adorable little mini cupcakes that satisfy that sweet tooth with minimum guilt. more ›

It is a common misconception that authentic ethnic food has to be hidden away in some hole-in-the-wall with a "C" rating on the door. Some fantastic eats are hiding in plain sight. In the case of Massis International Grill, it is hiding somewhere between McDonalds and Hot Dog on a Stick. more ›

It may not seem possible to read a review of yet another coffee shop on the eastern end of Los Angeles and find something you have not already read a couple of dozen times. Yet somehow there is something new to read because Antigua Coffee House is not just another place to get a caffeine fix. Sure it has amazing coffees, which they roast themselves, teas, and smoothies with a Mayan flavor (they come in three sizes, ce, ome, and yei) and an awesome selection of muffins, biscotti, cakes, and other baked goods. more ›

The love people have for SoCal's In-N-Out burgers is no joke, but the notion of the chain opening up a location right in the heart of New York City is. more ›