Tonight in LA, the Hel-Mel neighborhood holds a mural unveiling and an art walk; Ghettogloss parties at the (golf) club; a cheese class in Santa Monica; comedic storytelling during Sit 'n Spin; words and food unite at Taylor de Cordoba; and La Luz de Jesus hosts a Fish Fry salon. Read on for all the details. more ›

There's still time to get some shopping done for Hanukkah and Christmas and whatever else occasion is on the horizon, and if you have a food lover on your list and want to get them something "so L.A." we have put together a few gift ideas we think they would love. more ›

Feta fetishists and mozzarella maniacs, this could be your day! Go ahead, have a slice. Have two. Have a whole dang pie. It's National Cheese Pizza Day, and you don't need to fight for your right to partake in all its gooey goodness. more ›

Wine with cheese is a natural partnership, as the folks at Eagle Rock's Colorado Wine Company know. But they also tiptoe into beer territory, and, with the Sunset Beer Company's imminent opening (soon!), this past weekend found the small wine shop hosting a Beer and Cheese pairing event as a sneak preview of good things to come. The event featured Alex Macy, beer expert and manager of Sunset Beer Co., with cheese pairings by Alex Brown of Gourmet Imports. more ›

June is nearing its end, so why not end it on a high note? Tonight's offerings begin with a lesson in cheese and end with a lesson in literacy. Andrew's Cheese Shop holds its acclaimed Cheese 101 course this evening, but if you and dairy refuse to be friends, eat at home then head to the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre for a dose of enlivened viral videos. If you feel bad leaving your dog at home, do not despair. Bark N' Bitches invites you and your four-legged compadre to their summer singles night. Perhaps a group reading of a newly released literary journal sounds more tempting tonight. L.A.'s got it all, and all the deets are below. more ›

Quenby Hall Blue Stilton Cheese, a nationally distributed product by Schratter Foods Incorporated in Fairfield, New Jersey, is being recalled because of possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The organism, which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, elderly people, those with weakened immune systems and pregnant women, was revealed during routine testing by the company, notes the FDA. more ›

Now in its "2nd 8th Annual" (aka 9th) year, the ooey, gooey, cheesy good fun that is the Grilled Cheese Invitational is happening on April 23rd, and tickets went on sale today at $12 a pop. "The event has expanded include more space, more vendors, more free samples, more entertainment and what is expected to be a combined grand total of over 30,000 grilled cheese sandwiches available for your eating pleasure," boasts organizers. more ›

For centuries, Italian cheese gnomes in the Alps have been producing a soft, cows' milk delicacy called Taleggio. Despite a moderately strong smell from this washed rind offering, Taleggio is mild in flavor and endlessly spreadable on your favorite crusty bread. Considered to be among the oldest soft cheeses (the name Taleggio has reportedly been used since before the 10th century) the production of this creamy treat takes place notably in the fall and winter when cows are tired. Moral of the story: Lazy cows make bitchin' cheese. Pick some up at The Cheese Store of Silverlake and giggle about how good it is. That's what we did. more ›

Earlier this week, we wondered who put the E. Coli in our Emmental. KTLA reports that the Bravo Farms E. Coli and Listeria recall is now affecting your local Whole Foods store. Seven cheeses bearing "Distributed by Whole Foods" stickers have been recalled, so unless you'd like to do the kidney failure dance, check your fancy cheese stash and toss them out: Sage Cheddar, Silver Mountain Cheddar, Chipotle Cheddar, Premium Block Cheddar, Premium White Chunk Cheddar, Chipotle Chunk Cheddar and White Black Wax Cheddar. Who's up for a trip to Cheese Store of Silverlake instead? more ›

Bravo Farms did! The California Department of Food and Agriculture is widening its recall of all Bravo Farms cheeses after 40 people in five states became ill after ingesting bad cheese, according to CBS Los Angeles. What sort of yuck awaits your digestive tract if you eat this deemed-bad cheese? E. Coli and Listeria. Yummy. Bravo Farms is encouraging all customers to toss the tainted cheese or request full refunds from the stores where they were purchased. Bravo? more ›

Remember those cute commercials showing cows auditioning American Idol-style to be the next "face" of Real California Milk? Too bad they were all shot in New Zealand, and not California. more ›

The monthly Cause on the Rocks mixer returns to the Viceroy Santa Monica tonight from 7-10 pm. The cocktails with a cause will benefit St. Vincent Meals On Wheels, a program that prepares and delivers more than 2,600 nutritious meals daily to homebound elderly and other vulnerable clients around Los Angeles. This April's drink is the Cuba Libre and 100% of the proceeds will be donated directly to St. Vincent’s. RSVP online! more ›

All hail the cheese! Today happens to be National Cheese Lover's Day, and while the powers that be have not been wise or kind enough to grant us all a day off in observation, there are still plenty of ways you can mark the occasion on your own. We culled some inspiration from our LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr to illustrate the gamut of cheese options, though, of course, this is just the tip of the Jarlsberg. more ›

There's a new multi-faceted food destination now open in Hollywood. The Mercantile comes from the business mind of relocated New Yorker George Abou-Daoud (Bowery, Mission Cantina and Delancey), who describes the restaurant as "equal parts gourmet marketplace, daytime café and nighttime wine bar." In the kitchen is Chef Kris Morningstar, most recently of DTLA's Casa, who helped the modern Mexican eatery get on its feet before announcing an amicable split calculated to prep him for his new gig in Hollywood. more ›

After weeks of drool-worthy anticipation, it's official: The Grilled Cheese Truck gets rolling tomorrow night at The Brig in Venice. The announcement came down overnight via Twitter: "Well, THE WAIT IS OVER AND IT'S TIME TO MELT! Who's busy Tuesday evening? Meet us on the westside....? CheesyMac&Rib w/ some tots anyone?" Of course, in typical 140-character's worth fashion, the details have been rolling out bit(e) by bit(e): "Here's the deal.World famous Brig to host our unveiling Tuesday night @830 til 1015 so we leave and make room for Kogi @1030. Short & sweet." more ›

Utensils down, chefs! Do you know where that cheese was made? If you don't, you could be cooking with what the Los Angeles County Health Officer calls "a recipe for disaster," and that has zero to do with your culinary prowess. A press release issued by the county's Department of Public Health is warning consumers about dairy products, particularly "Latin American-style soft cheese and sour cream, purchased from unlicensed manufacturers or vendors," because they may be full of contaminants. more ›

FOOD* Palate Food + Wine in Glendale presents “Le Cirque du Fromage” tonight at the Wine Bar tonight (and every Tuesday night) at 7 pm. The Truffle Brothers drop in with pounds of black summer truffles from the Molise region of Italy. In addition to this week's Cirque menu (three cheeses + one wine = $12). Fresh table-side shavings for a $6 supplemental. Little nuggets will be available for retail @ $30 per ounce. Cheeses on the menu are stilton, bleu des causses and gorgonzola piccante. No reservations are necessary. more ›

"Just look at that picture. Look at how that cheese is melting, you know it belongs in your fucking face." That's vegan blogger Quarrygirl for you on her above photo from Chango in Echo Park. The coffeeshop is now offering grilled cheeses with that new vegan cheese that some pizzerias have started to use. Is this a trend that we'll see continue across the city? Is this Daiya vegan cheese so good that chefs are actually willing to put it on their menus? We'll see... more ›

If yesterday's photo gallery of all the deep fried food to be found at the LA County Fair was not enough for you, then check this $8 brick of cheese fries out. Tip: the easiest way to eat it is to pick it up like a sandwich go nom nom nom... more ›

While not generally synonymous, Los Angeles and barbeque food have a lot in common. Both seem to attract the eccentrics, the slightly misguided. Both have a worldwide appreciation, but not many people talk about the greasy, slimy mess that gets left behind when all else is gone. And both are responsible for a lot of bad gas issues, and a sizable hole in the ozone layer. more ›

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 ›

Artist and forager Nancy Klehm will be holding the last of her highly unique cooking classes at Echo Park gallery/performance space Machine Project this Monday, March 10th, from 6-9pm. There are still a few spots left (tickets cost $85 for members, $95 for non-members), so head on over to the website to sign up for a lesson on making your own fermented fruits and vinegars. Fruit wine sounds like a fantastic way to take advantage of Southern California's many urban fruit trees! more ›

It's National Cold Cuts Day. That term has always brought to mind those not very fresh, tasteless sandwich fillers served at large functions that you eat because you don't want to eat only macaroni salad. With the beef recall, dashing to your local butcher for some cold cuts sounds less appetizing than ever. However, the term "cold cuts" can include cheese and that's where you can freely celebrate. more ›

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- Franklin Ave: Photo of Elaine from Seinfeld as she was out on the picket lines, her new show is one of a half dozen that had to stop production today - LA Observed: No LA blog has covered the SB News Press fiasco better than Mr. Roderick, which is tricky since the N-P's website is decidedly Web 1.0. Today we learn that another staffer had to be escorted from the premises. - Defamer:... more ›

Another festival alert, this one concerning cheese! Hosts Jimmy Kimmel and Adam Carolla will be celebrating the Italian-American immigrant experience this weekend in Hollywood at the 6th Annual Cheese Feast of San Gennaro. Eat some excellent Italian food, play some bocce ball (courts will be set up all day), research your heritage, and watch a parade of the saint through the streets of Hollywood. (San Gennaro was one of those indestructable superhero saints who... more ›

I love food. I love talking about food. I can spend hours discussing the merits of different mustards, or trying to figure out the mystery flavor in a pasta sauce. But I think food should be accessible. It should not be intimidating. I avoid saying things like ”flavor profile”. I am more likely to say things like, “This gravy is so good I want to fill a jacuzzi with it and jump in naked.”... more ›