What's going on lately in the L.A food scene? Chew on this: There's a basketball-inspired cocktail smackdown happening this season in DTLA, a new Chick-fil-A is opening today in L.A., one restaurant is offering a foie gras farewell menu, a brewery has a bigger, better, badass pub, and more. more ›

There are countless ways to enjoy Vegas. You can go to Sin City to escape — party hard for two days straight and get caught up in the intoxicating rush of the neon city. But after a few raging trips that test your youthful stamina, it comes time to try Vegas another way more ›

If you've ever wondered what inspires local chefs, your curiosity can be sated -- at least briefly -- by popping over to HuffPo, where local restauranteur Susan Feniger has posted a short essay about foods from her childhood. more ›

What happens when a popular restaurant needs a new head chef? For some, the answer is to put in a call to Carrie McCully, a chef recruiter. Considering America's fascination with the restaurant biz, it's no surprise that what McCully does has become the focal point of a new Food Network show, "Chef Hunter." more ›

Chef Mary Sue Milliken is an institution in the Los Angeles culinary world. As a partner with Chef Susan Feniger for over 25 years, she has opened two Border Grill restaurants in LA (and one in Las Vegas) in addition to owning the wildly successful Border Grill food truck. As a chef, cookbook author and TV personality on “Too Hot Tamales”, she has introduced thousands of people to high-end modern Mexican and Latin American food. more ›

The knives are coming out for a third installment of the all-pro TV cooking competition show Top Chef Masters on Bravo, and today the network has revealed the list of 12 "cheftestants" and solidified who will be doing the adjudicating. Representing Los Angeles are two beloved and well-known local culinary stars, Mary Sue Milliken of Border Grill, and John Rivera Sedlar of Rivera and the just-opened Playa. more ›

Looking for something cool to do in Los Angeles tonight? We've got a few suggestions, including a double feature of Cool Hand Luke and Dirty Harry at the historic Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood. Plus, we've got a happy hour that will have your first chance to get a discount on tickets to one of the best food events of the year, plus a lecture at the lovely Getty. See what there is to Pencil In tonight... more ›

It's the last days of Ciudad, the Downtown Latin American restaurant owned by the popular chefs known as the "Too Hot Tamales," Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken. But the gals aren't closing up shop; instead they're turning their urban eatery into a second local full-service Border Grill. more ›

[Update: Since this interview went live, HARD has been canceled. Read the latest update here and read the interview below to see how organizers were approaching this festival from a safety point of view.] more ›

For its sixth season, The Next Food Network Star was shot in Los Angeles, and among the 12 finalists vying for their very own Food Network show are 3 locals, including food blogger and LAist alum Aarti Sequeira. Each week, Aarti will give us her take on the episode, from her unique insider's perspective. Will she be named The Next Food Network Star? We won't know until the finale. Last week, things got hot hot hot on the red carpet; here's how Episode 4 looked from inside the kitchen... more ›

We are fortunate in California to be the home of the avocado, and the velvety, creamy and good-for-you fruit happens to be really versatile. Although sometimes there's nothing quite like cutting a ripe avocado in half, dusting it with salt and pepper, and digging in with a spoon, there are plenty of ways to get cooking with avocados. 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 ›

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 ›

The lines were long--but moving--this weekend in the mobile food court section of the Abbot Kinney Festival. Posted along one branch of the annual street fair and community gathering were several of the city's trendiest restaurants, all on four wheels, among them The NomNom Truck, Get Shaved, and Coolhaus. In line to get some grub at the Border Grill truck, however, a friend leaned over to me and asked: "So, is it that all these trucks are started up and run by really young people just getting into the business?" more ›

Getting a taco from a truck isn't new by a longshot--it's been a way of life here in Los Angeles for hundreds of thousands of people for years and years. Lunch trucks, push carts, and street vendors are old hat for many residents and longstanding threads in many neighborhoods' fabrics. And yet "food trucks" are a buzzword--a trendy buzzword at that--and the people behind the buzz are often thought to be, well, a little "bougie." more ›

Devoted LAist reader Ashley requested a Westside version of Deacon Booze -- and as a former long-time resident of the Westsiiiiiiiiide, I'm more than happy to oblige. Here are some of my top spots for drinks in West LA -- (and trust me when I say I have TESTED these places more than a few times). Why not email me your picks for when you find yourself west of the 405? carrie@laist.com. Did I tell you love email? I sure do. Sigh. [Hits refresh.] Siiiiigh. [Refresh. Refresh.] SIIIIIIIIGGHHHH. more ›

The The LA Times is reporting that beginning February 9th, restaurants in Santa Monica will be facing a ban on nonrecyclable foam and plastic, as city officials are "hoping to put an end to the blight of discarded take-out boxes and beverage cups on their beach." The City of Santa Monica outlines the reasons for their decision on their website:

Expanded polystyrene and non-recyclable plastic together make up the largest amount of waste that ends up on Santa Monica’s beaches. At the annual Coastal Cleanup Day, 10,000 volunteers came out to clean the beaches and in three hours picked up over 75,000 lbs. of trash, most of which was identified as Styrofoam® and plastic.

Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger, Food Network’s “Too Hot Tamales” are Chef/Owners of Border Grill Santa Monica, Border Grill Las Vegas at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, and Ciudad in Downtown Los Angeles. Last week we brought you a report from their fantastic Holidy Cooking Class (including two amazing recipes) and now it is our pleasure to share with you their tips for making your holiday gathering a deliciously smashing success. more ›

TALK: Pulizer Prize-winning food critic Jonathan Gold moderates a Zócalo discussion that focuses on “The Mexican Restaurant in Los Angeles.” Joining in on the roundtable are Gilberto Cetina of the Yucatecan restaurant Chichen Itza, Martin del Campo and Ramiro Arvizu of La Casita Mexicana, and Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger of Border Grill. 7 pm // Central Library – Mark Taper Auditorium // 630 W. 5th St., Los Angeles // Free. (Reservations are recommended.)... more ›

Last weekend we were lucky enough to snag at seat at the demo-style Holiday Cooking Class hosted by Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger, aka The Two Hot Tamales, at their Border Grill restaurant in Santa Monica. The room was packed with enchanted attendees focused on the endearing antics of the celeb chefs and the amazing food they were making, which we were served in tandem with the recipe demos. The menu was set to... more ›

We at LAist love Zocalo's Public Square Lecture events (especially when they're either about porn or food porn) and we know lots of you love Mexican food. So we're excited about their event coming up on Tuesday December 11th called The Mexican Restaurant in Los Angeles, which will be moderated by Jonathan Gold, L.A. Weekly Restaurant Critic and idol-worthy food writer. The scoop and the lineup, from their website:Zócalo has gathered together some of the... more ›

Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger are two of America's most beloved chefs. The duo have been business partners for over 20 years, beginning with the opening of City Cafe on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles in 1981. Currently they are hands-on owner-operators of the popular and critically acclaimed Border Grill restaurants in Santa Monica and Las Vegas, serving upscale, modern Mexican food in a hip, urban cantina setting. The pair also own and... more ›

LAist knows that there's tons of great places to get your grub on in the city, but that many of our budgets don't necessarily afford us the luxury of checking them out. We also know that we're fortunate enough to be able to dine out, but that there's plenty of folks for whom a meal is not a given. Today kicks off two weeks of opportunities for dining out at reduced prices at some... more ›

Chances are your plans for this weekend will include eating of some sort, so why not make eating your plans? Check out any or all of these three food-focused events taking place this weekend: September 15, 16, & 17: Port of Los Angeles Lobster Festival Enjoy $17 Maine lobster meals and a variety of entertainment (free with admission) down at Ports O'Call Village in San Pedro. Admission is $8, Kids 12 & under free.... more ›

So the saying goes, "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas." But what happens when Vegas is actually in Santa Monica's Barker Hangar? more ›

As promised, LAist attended the Opening Reception event for this year's magnificent photo l.a.. This LAist, an ardent east-sider/Valley girl, was only a little bitter about making the rush hour trek to the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, but since we know our south and west-bound streets well, made it there in record time. The place was brimming with all sorts of minglers, from young bohemians in scruffy denim, to older men and women in elegant evening wear and pricey suits. The Santa Monica Civic isn't the prettiest of venues, particularly with its arena concrete floors and sixties design aesthetic, but photo l.a. used the space well to set up a seemingly seamless maze of booths, each hung with representative photography and staffed with plesant and eager reps to show their wares. Our first stop was the food patio--it was dinnertime, and that drive made us hungry--to check out what kind of wine and cheese was being offered. Not only is this LAist an ardent east-sider/Valley girl, but she's also the LAist food girl, and we were tickled to see the food sponsors, like Border Grill/Ciudad (where aren't those two tamales?), Grace, Cinch, Cobras & Matadors, and Sonora Cafe. But, bestill our heart--is that Susina Bakery? And plates of gorgeous treats from La Provence? The most neglected table, curiously enough, was the one loaded with boxes from Krispy Kreme; can it be that their once-hot donuts are now passe? more ›

Tonight, many Los Angeles-area restaurants join with OpenTable.com and the charitable organizations Share Our Strength and Windows of Hope to raise funds for relief efforts for victims of Hurricane Katrina. The following restaurants are slated to participate: 310 Lounge & Bistro, Asia de Cuba, Border Grill, Chaya Brasserie, Chaya Venice, Ciudad, Doug Arango’s, The Edendale Grill, Il Fornaio Manhattan Beach, Il Moro, Joe’s, Josie, La Cachette, L.A. Prime, Literati II, The Lobster, Locanda del Lago, L’Orangerie, Madre’s, Mark’s, Mi Piace, Minibar, O-Bar, Ocean Avenue Seafood, Pacé in the Canyon, Reed’s, Röckenwagner, Tesoro Trattoria, and many, many more. A full listing with dining information is available via the OpenTable site's page for the event. A portion of the proceeds from your meal will support relief efforts. Reservations are recommended, and can be made via OpenTable, or by contacting the restaurant directly. Bring your appetites and help bring some relief; every little bit counts. more ›

Well, it's another month in magazine publishing, so it's another month's list from the folks at Los Angeles Magazine. This time, like they do every year, they're apprising their readership of their picks for the "Best" in LA. We've noticed over the years that there's no particular method to their madness, just for them to make mention of 101 things that have struck their fancy this year in this city. In looking at their food and drink selections, we're frankly not surprised. They invoke a handful of the currently most dished about spots for dining in town; places they've name-dropped as recently as last month's "Cheap Eats" feature, like KP'S Deli, and places we've talked about, like The Farm of Beverly Hills (renowned here for their brownies), and The Border Grill (amazingly, for a non-alcoholic cocktail, the Minty Lime Cooler). We noticed a heavy favoritism towards restaurants in the Beverly Hills and adjacent areas, with only the ethnic entries coming from elsewhere around town (Middle Eastern at Mandaloun in Glendale, Tamales at Tamales Liliana in Boyle Heights). Naturally the inclusion of a "Small Plates" category was to hail the popular A.O.C., and we're also basking in the obviousness of the "Best Chowder" choice of downtown's Water Grill, highly reputed for their seafood. Some, like us, may balk at their assertion that Canter's Deli serves the best waffles, that the higher end Jar is the spot for french fries, and that a Curry House in Little Tokyo is the best spot for kids. So what was missing? We wish they'd settle our "Best Burger" debate, and also offer us insight on eats near and dear to us, like cupcakes (no mention, despite frequent foodie talk on the topic), ice cream, group dining, happy hour, and sushi. While we know that LA Mag's LA is not our LA, or that there's no such thing as one LA, but we sure wish they would up and surprise us. more ›

LAist promised that we'd let you know when we went to check out Ciudad, Milliken & Feniger's downtown abode for inventive Latin American food. In fact, we're such keepers of our words that we even made our reservation via OpenTable.com, which earned us some more dining points. We'd been excited about this trip for some time now; we've been fans of the Border Grill for years, and were waiting for just the right time to head to the corner of 5th and Figueroa. The meal had a brilliant start, with their savory flatbread crackers and bread we dipped in their truly tasty tapenade, and our deliciously pink Guava-Cachaca (liquor made from sugar cane) cocktail. Our server was on her game (in thankful contrast to the patron reviews left on the Citysearch profile) and seemed to be training someone, although why this doesn't seem to get mentioned anymore in restaurants is a mystery to us. It left us feeling like we had a server and her hovering, silent, helpless shadow, and, much later, when the level of service began to dwindle, and the shadow was spotted serving on his own, we wondered why two people now couldn't manage the job of one. more ›