Considered one of the premiere culinary events in the nation, the American Wine and Food Festival, held Saturday on the Universal Studios Back Lot, was a feast for the senses. Among the pantheon of American food and drink stars were a host of local chefs who shone while representing the dining landscape of Los Angeles. more ›

This summer Chef Traci Des Jardins traveled to Mongolia with a group of female chefs to hunt and cook a wild boar. Together with friends Loretta Keller, Mary Sue Milliken, Anita Lo, and April Bloomfield, they camped out in yurts and spent their days tracking wild beasts. In the culinary world these women know that hard work, talent, and creativity are necessary for a successful career as a chef. Hunting and cooking in Mongolia adds another layer of depth to their culinary experiences in the world. more ›

While many not-for-profits are struggling when it comes to funding and donations, one more positive fallout of this little recession is an increase in volunteer hours. LA's Zach Istrin and Justin Bird are perfect examples of this wave of volunteerism. With more time on their hands, they decided to start volunteering, a lot. With hopes of raising awareness and motivating other young people, they began writing about all their experiences on their blog, the LA Karma Project. So for anyone who has been thinking about donating some of their time, the LA Karma Project is a great starting point for reading about some first-hand experiences with different LA organizations, such as Project Angel Food and Shane's Inspiration. Zach and Justin were kind enough to answer some of our questions and offer up some good advice...you can even join them on one of their volunteer adventures. more ›

American Wine and Food Festival's Red Hot party at the Red Seven restaurant in the Design Center was too rocking for just one post. Usually as an event hits its last hour, things start to wind down, but this party was just getting revved up. Hors d' Ouvres were passed with the same regularity, fresh steaks were thrown on the grill, and even cigars made a quick turn around the patio. The event, which was a benefit for Meals on Wheels programs of Los Angeles, was not only a good deed, but a good time. more ›

Friday night American Wine and Food Festival started off with a rager called Red Hot @ Red Seven. Only in its second year, Red Hot is a celebration of red meat, alcohol, cars, and everything else that made this country great. An expensive but doable $150 guaranteed unlimited kobe beef and caipirinhas -- a definite bargain. more ›