Cupcakery isn’t a word in the dictionary. I’m not sure who first coined it, but the first time I saw the word, it was on the front of a food truck – My Delight Cupcakery. I was recently invited to see their brick and mortar operation in Ontario. What has always impressed me about My…
Hotville Chicken and Chops brings real Nashville Hot Fried Chicken Experience
Adjacent to Chinatown is a new pop-up named Hotville Chicken and Chops. Only open on Saturdays, this restaurant is an offshoot of the popular Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack in Nashville. Hotville Chicken and Chops occupies the shuttered Michael J’s location on North Spring Street. Like in Nashville, this is a hot fried chicken restaurant. Don’t…
Roman Aroma offers true Italian coffee experience
I live in the South Bay and I was delighted to recently discover an Italian cafe that offers coffee, pastries and savory items. Named Roman Aroma, it is located on Catalina Ave in South Redondo Beach just south of the Redondo Beach post office. I typically drink black coffee. For me that means, I will…
Happy Hour at Sea Level Restaurant and Lounge
Sea Level Restaurant and Lounge opened last November as part of the new Shade Hotel in Redondo Beach. A friend of mine suggested that we go there during Happy Hour and we recently paid them a visit. Shade Hotel is right on the beach and I fully expected to have to use their valet. I…
Ayara Thai opens Ayara Lūk Pop-Up on Sat. Jan 7
This Saturday, Jan 7, Ayara Thai in Westchester will open their pop-up Thai eatery and culinary project, Ayara Lūk. In the Thai language, lūk, means child and the pop-up is named that way because the second generation of the family, Vanda Asapahu and her siblings Peter and Cathy, will operate it. Some of the more popular…
Enjoying Latkes in Larchmont Village
My wife typically celebrates ethnic holidays eating food that represents that culture. For example, on Lunar New Year, she enjoys Chinese food and on Bastille Day, she brings out the French Press and makes our morning coffee with it. In continuing her spirit, I decided to eat latkes during Chanukah. Canters and Langer’s Delis were…
Bonafide Ramen Lands in Redondo Beach
It was a cold, windy, and rainy Friday night. My wife and I didn’t feel like cooking and knew that we would like to get something to warm ourselves up. What better than a bowl of hot ramen? We just heard about a new ramen shop that opened nearby. Named Ramen Shack Takumiya, it took…
Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern Now Offers Brunch
Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern, or better known as JFAT, recently introduced a new brunch menu. I was happy to learn about it and my wife and I recently visited their location in Brea. JFAT is located next to Whole Foods in the Village at La Floresta on Imperial Hwy. just east of Kraemer Blvd in…
Legit Mexican Food in Boyle Heights
While tamales are available city-wide in LA, I’m extremely particular about having good tamales. Tamales Elena has been my favorite “go to” place, but since they aren’t always parked in the same location, I decided to go to a regular brick & mortar establishment. Because I was interested in going to a tortilleria in Boyle…
Torrance Marriott Opens 21 Square Bar + Kitchen
Marriott Hotels is an international chain. Despite its global status, I’ve been surprised to see how much latitude is given to local management in adopting the tastes and interests of the surrounding community. I’ve observed this with a few Marriott properties in the LA area and most recently at 21 Square located inside the Torrance…