My daughter and I recently traveled to visit family friends in Texas. Since my daughter is 16, I know my days traveling with her are numbered. Soon she will enroll in college and after that, she will probably start to branch out on her own. Our Texas friends met us at the airport and we…
Oktoberfest Events in LA
Fall is here and it’s time to drink outdoors without baking in the hot summer sun. Fortunately, LA has many offerings this month, not to mention the many Oktoberfests that take place. Following is a roundup of LA and OC beer festivals. Be sure to take advantage before tickets sell out! October 4 & 5,…
Cuban Cooking Class at The Gourmandise School
My wife and I enjoy cooking. I follow recipes and for the most part, my food ends up satisfactory. I need a lot more time to prepare a dish than the average person because I can’t multitask. On the other hand, my wife can not only multitask, but she can also efficiently prepare a recipe…
Miyabi Uni showcases the delicious sea urchin
In Japanese, the word miyabi is used to describe the things in life that give lots of happiness and pleasure for being stylish and perfect. I suspect that the owners of Miyabi Uni were set on creating a restaurant that would pay homage to the sea urchin. Miyabi Uni is located in Plaza del Prado…
Little Sister Offers Delicious Asian Fusion to Redondo Beach
While plenty of Japanese restaurants in the South Bay exist, there is a surprising dearth of Asian fusion restaurants in the area. Little Sister in Manhattan Beach was one of the recent Asian fusion restaurants that broke ground in the South Bay. They extended their reach into Redondo Beach. Chef Tin Vuong and restaurateur Jed…
Telefónica Gastro Park – Food Trucks and Beer in Tijuana
My wife and I recently celebrated my birthday by vacationing in San Diego. Because I like the food landscape in Tijuana, we took a quick trip across the border to enjoy a late lunch. After crossing the pedestrian border in San Ysidro, we boarded a taxi and headed to the Telefónica Gastro Park. I learned…
Yang’s Kitchen Succeeds with Asian Fusion in the SGV
Many years ago, I frequented the Alhambra / Monterey Park area on a regular basis. As I recall, the scene was very much Chinese cuisine with BBQ shops, bakeries and stinky tofu eateries. As I drove through Alhambra, I was surprised to see the changes: ramen shops, Vietnamese food, and some Southeast Asian digs. The…
El Barrio Opens in the South Bay
Chef/Owner Ulises Pineda-Alfaro (Tikifish, Umi by Hamasaku) didn’t waste any time when Angel City Grill closed. El Barrio quickly took its place and he and his co-owner Joe Lin transformed the location to a modern LA taqueria. This is not your typical taco restaurant that serves street tacos. The menu is chef-driven and it is…
Manuela – South Meets West For Delicious Plates
Three years ago, a Texan named Wes Whitsell set out to bring “California Southern” cuisine to LA. After cooking Mediterranean food for a while, he was happy to open Manuela, a place for him to prepare the food that represents his upbringing. Fast forward three years, Chef Kris Tominaga now runs the kitchen at Manuela….
Cemita Poblanas El Sapito for Unique Sandwiches
Los Angelenos are able to enjoy a wealth of authentic Mexican food. While Sonoran cuisine is quite plentiful across LA, you have to visit South LA and Boyle Heights to experience food from other states such as Oaxaca, Yucatan, and Puebla. My goal that day was to eat a cemita poblana at Cemita Poblanas El…