This weekend several celebrity chefs and award-winning cookbook authors will demonstrate recipes as well as sign copies from their latest cookbooks at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books. This year’s lineup includes Thomas Keller, TV personalities Graham Kerr (The Galloping Gourmet), Duff Goldman (Ace of Cakes), Bob Blumer (The Surreal Gourmet) and Fabio Viviani (Top Chef All-Stars), and Academy Award-winning producer Laurie David. 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 ›

Former Top Chef contender Fabio Viviani has left his Moorpark restaurant and moved quickly into a new spot, Firenze Osteria. The eatery has taken over the North Hollywood space formerly occupied by Barsac Brasserie, and underwent a quick turnaround to transform the restaurant. Now in a "soft-open" phase, Firenze Osteria is set to officially open this Saturday, with a public (with RSVP) cocktail reception, and the phone line is up and accepting reservations starting at 7:45 p.m. more ›