Articles in the “food” category

For restaurants trying to ditch food delivery apps, the struggle is real.

Namaste Spiceland caters to a diverse clientele but still feels like it's run by Indians, for Indians -- and that's no easy trick.

Jess Starwood used to forage wild fruits and herbs for some of L.A.'s top restaurants. When they fully reopen, she's not sure she'll sell to them again. 

In the middle of March, chefs and owners Jaime Martin del Campo and Ramiro Arvizu of La Casita Mexicana shut the critically acclaimed Bell restaurant all the way down due to the pandemic. The future looked uncertain. Now there's a ray of hope.

"When we take care of each other, when we give half of our very little to other people, it's because we're all connected in this collective struggle."

Business is booming for Myra Vasquez, who updates a classic Mexican dessert with a world of flavors and unapologetic Latinx pride.

The bastion of "south Silver Lake" foodie hipsterdom allegedly sold moldy jam, operated a secret (and illegal) kitchen, and failed to credit the its opening chef, as well as other employees of color, for their contributions.

Also known as live animal markets, they fill a need for thousands of residents. City officials want to ban them -- but first, they need to figure out what "wet markets" are. 

One owner worries, "Everyone's going to freak out and not feel safe to go out" but also believes, "What the state is doing is the right decision."

This is the new normal, not just for Tommy Mofid but for the proprietors of most L.A. County bars -- if their establishments haven't closed for good.

Which is to say: very fast, messy, and possibly risky to your health.

There's an excellent Google doc that lists a bunch of them. We can't take credit for it but we want to spread the word.

They just have to follow the county's health and safety guidelines... even though the health department hasn't yet released detailed guidelines.

At the King's Roost, Roe Sie is spreading the gospel of heritage grains -- and because of coronavirus, more people are listening.

You'll almost certainly be able to eat in the streets later this summer but what if you want a beer with nosh? It just got a little easier.

Old school restaurants pivoting to stay afloat, new ones struggling to establish themselves, diners showing their support. A glimpse into the 626's vast and diverse restaurant culture.

Pasadena, Palm Springs and Sierra Madre are all considering similar initiatives.

Here's our question: Does this new iteration of Taix even deserve the name?

Concerns about delivery app fees have been growing for the last few years but the COVID-19 quarantine has given them new urgency.

"In a way, this feels almost like a spiritual lockdown within a physical lockdown."

Coronavirus might be the death knell for other buffet restaurants.

Only thing is you've got to crack them open and scoop out the gonads on your own.

In a particularly bitter irony, two restaurants just named as finalists announced last week they're closing.

"It's not just me, it's thousands of people," said Maria, choking up. "I feel a sense of despair, I feel worried.

And they did it in the middle of a pandemic.

Since March 18, nearly 3,000 workers and volunteers have distributed hundreds of thousands of meals each day.

Musso & Frank is the most famous local restaurant to file a lawsuit against its insurance company for denying its coronavirus-related claim.

A few food vendors are willing to risk their health and freedom so they can make ends meet.

The Irvine-based restaurant chain has 25 locations, $24 million in cash on hand, and access to $20 million more.

"Soldiers of the soil" planted 20 million victory gardens and they supplied 40% of the produce in the U.S.

How did Shake Shack, which has earned $143 million in 2020, even qualify for the PPP?

"No one's ever seen anything like this," says the CEO of Second Harvest.

The food bank is one of the few places that has been a consistent source for Latinos from around Southeast L.A., including undocumented and mixed-status families left out of federal stimulus relief. 

It's one way to turn all those unused lemons into lemonade.

Community organizations are hosting drive-thru pantries and other food distribution events every day for people in need. Here's a list of upcoming events around L.A. County. 

Strawberry season is about to peak in California. So is coronavirus.

Here's everything we do and don't know, so far, about COVID-19 and food -- and here's what you can do to minimize your risk.

Take a trip to L.A.'s scrumptious past for a zucchini casserole, Hungarian comfort food and a chili so delicious Elizabeth Taylor requested it in the hospital.

Say hello to short(er) lines and extra provisions -- but not necessarily a lot of rice.

Here's what Southern California is doing to feed the medical personnel on the frontlines, fighting the coronavirus.

An effort is underway to save cornerstone businesses in Little Tokyo that relied on foot traffic by creating takeout menus and getting them on social media.

These mom-and-pop shops have played a key role keeping their shelves stocked and people fed.

One bean supplier reassures us calm is coming and then 'walking into the supermarket will not look like you're in Venezuela or Cuba.'

Uncle Sam wants you... to eat out!

Empty dining rooms. Shuttered businesses. Laid off employees. For restaurants and bars, the stakes are dire.

How can they do this? The liquor you pour in your martini and the sanitizer you rub on your hands have the same key ingredient.

All L.A. restaurants are hurting now because of coronavirus. But some Chinese restaurants felt it weeks earlier.

We are updating this list as we hear more - and we want to hear from you.

What's happening to L.A.'s service industry right now is terrible but necessary. What's going to happen to the street vendors will likely be worse. 

There are 60 spots around the district where kids can pick up breakfast and lunch while schools are closed.

Does it actually reduce the coronavirus risk? And where can you find Southern California stores doing this?

We asked experts to help us understand the supply chain and let you know what to expect to see on the shelves of your local stores.

We are updating this list as we hear more - and we want to hear from you.

Portuguese laborers and traders brought pao doce to the world -- and the world has brought it to Los Angeles.

The Bavarian hamlet off the Harbor Freeway is shutting down after 51 years of sausages, schnitzel and sweets.

And why, after 37 years, did it really shut down?

Including a vegan one.

On February 14th, revel in or renounce your romantic choices. Either way, we salute you.

Sandwiches don't get more basic than cheese and bread yet a grilled cheese sandwich is much more than the sum of its parts.

Remember those faux In-N-Out sneakers that weren't actually sanctioned by In-N-Out? These are different.

From Monday through Sunday, we've got you covered.

In a world of bastardized, barely edible supermarket hummus, what is truth?

It's a different tale at two acclaimed San Gabriel restaurants, and it's Chinese diners who are steering clear of the one specializing in Wuhan cuisine

Your perfect bottle is out there. Here's how to find it.

Old-school cool still reigns in Southern California... except when it's being demolished by developers.

Black fungus, pi dan, haw flakes and taro rolls. Happy eating!

Ever wonder how many places in your area make a great taco? Someone decided to find out... for one 'hood.

The beloved restaurant is in a strip mall that's set to become a 25-story apartment complex, as Chinatown continues to gentrify.

At its most basic, café de olla is an old timey way of making instant coffee. It's also a ritual that nourishes the soul.

Crunchy on the outside, moist and fluffy on the inside, falafel is a simple food prepared with exceptional technique.

Starchy, beefy and satisfying, lomo saltado is one of Peru's most popular culinary exports.

Ramen isn't just for pork lovers. Warm up to these vegetarian, chicken and beef bowls.

As of Jan. 1, every L.A. street vendor of tacos, pupusas, hot chicken sandwiches, even clothes, or anything really, will have to buy a permit or eventually face fines.

For Raul Morales, the road to success was paved with slowly roasted pork.

LA City officials appear to have heard the please of street vending advocates who have been warning for weeks neither the authorities or the vendors seem ready for the new rules that go into effect Jan. 1.

The aromatic Christmastime staple conjures memories of childhood -- and has a high-octane kick.

Congee. Bobar. Chok. Juk. Bubur ayam. One of the most comforting comfort foods, it goes by many names and has many preparations.

Give everyone on your gift list -- or yourself -- a taste of Los Angeles.

One of our colleagues asked if she should take avocados from her neighbor's tree. We decided to ask all of Los Angeles for the answer. 

Get ready to go hard on Napa cabbage, mu radish, garlic chives and petite cucumbers.

It took years of debate before L.A.'s City Council passed the new law. Now a motion seeks to tighten street vendor permit enforcement just weeks before it starts.

No one goes all out for the Christmas season like Disney does -- and that includes the food.

Christmas is barreling down on us, as relentless as a winter storm. So order your tamales now.

These aren't your mama's tamales but they are packed with flavor and they have the texture you've come to expect from this holiday heavyweight.

Here's how a dude named Jim Baker rechristened himself Father Yod and planted the seeds for a food revolution.

Here's how.

Your Twitter followers won't be around to dig you out of the debris -- but your neighbors might.

Want to find the best spicy fried chicken in the 818? Head to a car wash after dark.

Here in Los Angeles, poutine is having its deep-fried, stains-on-the-shirt moment.

And you can't get there via car.

If you want a microcosm of gentrification in Los Angeles, circa 2019, you won't find a better case study.

For 56 years, this unassuming pizzeria has been serving delicious, ultra thin pies and their trademark shredded pepperoni.

Artisan grocers, butchers, and retailers will be open for the event, along with 10 workshops lead by specialists in each topic.

California produces plenty of squid but most of it ends up halfway around the world. Meanwhile, most of the squid we eat comes from South America. This is how globalization tastes.

Sauerbraten. Diplomat pudding. Stuffed celery. As palates evolve and tastes change, some dishes stay on the menu for 100 years.

We know where to find the best spots for scoring seasonal sugar on Halloween.

We conduct a semi-secret social experiment and we gleaned some important scientific-adjacent results.

Mamey, tejate, tlayudas, chilacayote and so many delicious foods you'll find in a Oaxacan market.

L.A.'s most densely developed neighborhood has a good drinks, good food and good deal$. You just have to know where to look.

The Great Depression, changing demographics, development, recessions, politics, evolving palates. This old school Italian deli has endured it all.