Elise Thompson

Photo by Naquib via Flickr It's finally here! Tomorrow Union Station will be the site of "Jonathan Gold's Union Station Cocktail Party", which makes the name just perfect. The event is a benefit for Zócalo, "a non-profit organization that builds community by broadening access to civic discourse". Here is the third and final interview in our series with Jonathan Gold: I see Rivera is on the list of participating restaurants. Do you know if...

Our first taste of DineLA week(s) was really a matter of practicality. It was lunchtime in Pasadena. What was convenient? The menu at Cafe Bizou was varied, appealing and reasonable. We arrived just as they were opening and the first impression was not good. It was an empty FrancoDenny's with a disorganized staff. Within 30 minutes the place completely turned around. Soon the room was bustling. Bread was brought to the table quickly, the fries...

This Saturday sees the much-anticipated benefit for Zócalo, "Jonathan Gold's Union Station Cocktail Party". Participating restaurants like Rivera and Providence, along with Cedd Moses' signature cocktail pairings makes for an exciting event. Here is part two of our three-part interview with Jonathan Gold:

On Monday nights, Campanile has been serving the super-popular "Family Dinner", a three-course meal served family style. The dinners highlight Mark Peel's take on comfort foods. Someone finally got him to publish a cookbook of Monday night recipes and co-authored the book with him. Martha Rose Shulman has written over 25 cookbooks and is a regular contributor to Bon Appetit, Food and Wine, and the New York Times. Her newest venture is the Venice Cooking...

Last Friday Universal Studios premiered its Halloween Horror Nights which will run from 7pm to 1am on weekends and the occasional weeknight. It is a special after-dark event that requires separate tickets than the daytime entry. The regular rides and attractions, including The Simpsons Ride will remain open. Check out the schedule here.

Friday evening Morton's in Burbank hosted a tasting of Piper-Heidsiek champagne and Vosges chocolates. The evening started with generous pourings of Piper Sonoma Brut and hearty appetizers including Smoked Salmon Wedges, Broiled Sea Scallops and Petite Filet Mignon Sandwiches. The party then moved into the dining room where tables were set with champagne glasses and chocolates along with various fruits and vials of scents for "nosing". Yes, "nosing". French people often use the term for...

Rarely has an event caused as much buzz as the upcoming benefit for Zócalo. And who can resist? The restaurants are hand-picked by Jonathan Gold, LA's patron saint of good eats. Just check out a few of the participants -- Rivera! Perrier Jouet! Church & State! Providence! All this and one of the most beautiful locations in Los Angeles, art deco landmark Union Station. It definitely makes for a night to remember. How much would you pay? But wait!

Walking tours are a convenient way for tourists to learn about the history and architecture of a city. Why not take advantage of these tours to learn about your own town? Los Angeles hosts a variety of walking tours, but one of our favorites is one of the newest. And only partly because they give you Chinese food and cake. Enchanted by the diverse cuisines of Los Angeles, sisters Diane and Lisa Scalia started Melting...

Sunday San Antonio Winery threw another raging bash -- this time its " “Taste of the Americas ” Food and Wine Festival. It is the second of three festivals held at the San Antonio Winery this summer. Attending events at San Antonio is a lot like going to a party at a friend's house. It sometimes feels like you are crashing the most fun wedding in Los Angeles. It is much more of a fiesta...

The newest edition of Zagat covering Los Angeles and Southern California Restaurants was released today. Zagat 2010 covers 2,034 restaurants as voted on by local amateur foodies. As with anything in today's internet age, the guidebook, ratings and reviews are not only listed on Zagat's website, but they are now available for the first time on mobile platforms, including apps for the iPhone and Android. Oh, and they Twitter (of course).