Barbecue is classic American comfort food and I look forward to opportunities when I can experience it. I recently learned about Maple Block Meat in Culver City and a friend of mine recently joined me for dinner. Owners Adam Cole (Ink) and Daniel Weinstock (Spago) teamed up to open Maple Block Meat. Cole had experience…
Primo Italia Features Delicious Italian Sunday Brunch
I’m noticing more restaurants featuring Sunday brunches. I’m really happy about that because brunch is a great way to have a relaxed conversation over a delicious meal. When I heard that Primo Italia started their Sunday brunch, my wife and I quickly made reservations. Entering Primo Italia, the first thing diners notice is the Frank…
BaBoys Introduces the Lumpia Burger
Ever heard of the Lumpia Burger? Neither had I. It turns out that a place called BaBoys makes this creation and I felt compelled to taste it because of the buzz on my social media feed. Ground Zero for Filipino food is in Carson. The locals flock to Goldilocks, Red Ribbon, Tita Celia and pour…
Ocean Market Grill Features Innovative Seafood Menu
2020 update – Ocean Market Grill has closed. It doesn’t seem that long ago that eating seafood at a restaurant was an expensive outing. Typically you found fresh seafood in swanky restaurants with a comprehensive list of adult beverages. Fortunately, casual seafood restaurants with attractive price points are becoming prevalent. The latest is Ocean Market…
Locanda Del Lago Features Monthly “Bite of the Beast”
I recently learned that Locanda Del Lago in Santa Monica features a monthly Morso Della Bestia or “Bite of the Beast”. I had to satisfy a compelling curiosity, Bite of the Beast, what is that all about? The last Thursday of every month, Locanda Del Lago hosts a communal meal, featuring animal roasts and traditional,…
Slidebar Collaboration Produces the Cali Bandito Taco
The Gringo Bandito hot sauce is at it again. Not willing to rest on their laurels, the makers of this popular hot sauce recently collaborated with OC’s popular Slidebar Rock-N-Roll Kitchen to produce the Cali Bandito Taco. Walking into Slidebar, I heard the song “Dream Weaver” by Gary Wright. Hearing that tune and sipping on…
AR Cucina Delivers on Italian Rustic Cuisine
For some reason, restaurants have experienced a greater than average turnover in Culver City. I find this odd when many of these restaurants are solid, get good reviews and have lots of customers. Despite an endorsing review by Jonathan Gold, Sambar, became a recent casualty and since I missed eating there, I didn’t want to…
A Kosher Day at Fleishik’s Sandwiches Nosh & Whiskey
Eric Greenspan, (Mare, Greenspan’s Grilled Cheese, The Roof on Wilshire, The Foundry on Melrose) recently opened Fleishik’s on Beverly Blvd. just north of LA’s original farmers market. Fleishik is Yiddish for “meat” and as I read up on the restaurant, I became interested in the fact that Greenspan wanted to create a unique take on…
BäcoShop Finally Opens in Culver City
The long awaited opening of BäcoShop took place without me knowing it. I heard about Josef Centeno (Baco, Bar Ama, Orsa & Winston and Ledlow) taking over Chop Daddy’s space in Culver City last June and I was on the lookout for its opening. Last weekend, I decided to visit a particular restaurant in Culver…
Visiting the Riviera Village Farmers Market
The Riviera Village Farmers Market used to operate on Friday afternoons in Redondo Beach at the intersection of Avenue I and Catalina Ave. They moved to the Triangle Parking Lot across from Trader Joe’s in Riviera Village. Operating in the Triangle Parking Lot has alleviated the previously poor parking situation. It also avoids the need…