Usually I will take a Saturday or a Sunday to find an interesting dining destination. It could be breakfast, lunch or dinner. It may be as simple as a food truck or a restaurant on my special occasion list. Instead, we traveled to Santa Ynez Valley to visit Melville Winery. In addition to food, my…
Mamacita: A Peruvian Fast Casual Concept by Ricardo Zarate
Mamacita is a fast casual concept located at the Hollywood and Highland Entertainment Complex. This is home to the world famous Dolby Theater. This location is also Ground Zero for tourists. Fans of Ricardo Zarate (Mochica, Paiche, Picca) have anxiously been waiting for him to open Rosaliné. What caught me by surprise was the fact…
Viva Hollywood Raises the Bar for Mexican Food in Hollywood
I frequent Hollywood for events at the Dolby or the Pantages. Because of that, I am always on the look-out for restaurants that I can visit before going to an event nearby. Recently, I learned about Viva Hollywood. Entering the restaurant, I was blown away with the interior. It was like walking into a palace-like…
Tokyo Doggie Style Provides Gourmet Japanese Comfort Food
Tokyo Doggie Style is a gourmet food truck serving Japanese fusion comfort food. Their bright yellow truck with a dog waving reminds me of “maneki-neko” or the cat figurine you frequently see in Asian owned businesses. The bright yellow color makes them immediately identifiable! Tokyo Doggie Style is presently celebrating its 4th anniversary. For the…
New Brunch Menu at Firefly Studio City
Firefly is a popular and well-established restaurant located in Studio City. In order to try their updated Sunday brunch menu, I paid them a visit. As you enter the restaurant, there is a library lounge setting with couches and a classic bar from the past. Walking past the bar, you walk out onto a…
Primo Italia Enters Torrance With Fresh Italian Done Well
Recently I heard that a new Italian restaurant opened in Torrance. Named Primo Italia, I had to see for myself what they were all about. Michelangelo Aliaga is the executive chef for Primo Italia. Co-owner Lou Giovannetti described “Mic”, as his brother from another mother. He added that he’s a true heritage based Italian chef and…
Food, Music and Spirits celebration at ¡Latin Food Fest!
Rain was predicted for the day, but it ended up being a picture perfect Saturday. The sun was out, puffy clouds dotted the sky and it was the ideal day to enjoy an outdoor food festival. It was the perfect day for the fifth annual ¡Latin Food Fest! at Santa Monica Beach. I attended the…
Guerilla Tacos: A tasting menu on tortillas
I enjoy when I see someone living out his or her dreams. One such person is Wes Avila who is the chef and owner of the Guerrilla Tacos food truck. Wes Avila’s professional career began as a Le Cordon Bleu grad and started out with a stint in France and later with chefs such as…
Little Sister offers Southeast Asian Fusion to the South Bay
Vietnamese cuisine happens to be one of my favorites. It’s probably because it is an intersection between French and Asian cuisines. The Vietnamese philosophy is that a dish should be balanced between spicy, sour, bitter, salty and sweet. The majority of the Vietnamese restaurants are located in Orange County. Fortunately for me, a Southeast Asian…
Burger Parlor introduces the Gringo Bandito Tostada Burger
If you love burgers, you certainly know about Burger Parlor. Since their 2011 pop-up effort, they have been named one of “Orange County’s 11 Best Burgers” by Thrillist.com. They have also been named “Best Burger at the 2016 Golden Foodie Awards” and listed as one of Orange Coast Magazine’s “Top 25 Things to Eat in…