A friend of mine recently invited me to lunch at Soban. While you may have never heard of the restaurant, Jonathan Gold reviewed it for LA Weekly, and in 2017 while he was the food critic for the LA Times, he placed it on his Top 101 Restaurants in LA. Soban is located on the southern…
Where To Celebrate Fat Tuesday in LA
Tuesday, Feb 21, is Fat Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday. It is best known as Mardi Gras in New Orleans, the day of feasting before preparing for the items you plan to give up for Lent. While New Orleans holds the crown for Carnival and Mardi Gras celebrations, LA features numerous restaurants featuring Cajun…
Banh Cuon Luu Luyen For Velvety Rice Cakes
Continuing my desire to experience new Vietnamese street food, I selected bánh cuốn as my next Vietnamese experience. Bánh cuốn is a rolled rice cake from wide sheets of fermented rice batter filled with seasoned meat and vegetables. I visited Banh Cuon Luu Luyen in Garden Grove to complete my OC mini-staycation It’s common to…
All’Antico Vinaio Sandwich Popup Ends Sun Jan 29
Florence, Italy’s famed All’Antico Vinaio, is currently running a weekend popup from the storefront of Mozza2Go in Hollywood. Mozza2Go is Pizzeria Mozza’s takeout operation on Melrose and Highland. The popup began on Sat Jan 28, and runs through Sun Jan 29. All’Antico Vinaio opened in Florence, Italy, in 1989. Over time it occupied four storefronts…
Long Beach Black Restaurant Week Takes Place Jan 22 – 29
The Long Beach Black Restaurant Week is an eight-day event taking place from Jan 22 thru Jan 29. The event celebrates African, African American, and Caribbean fare in and around Long Beach. Also highlighted are Black-owned food businesses, Black chefs, and bartenders. Long Beach Food & Beverage sponsors the event. Long Beach Food & Beverage…
Ben Ngu Delivers Tasty Central Vietnamese Cuisine
I recently enjoyed a food-focused staycation in Orange County. Because I would be eating more than usual, I combined delicious food with walks that involved beautiful scenery, such as the Peter’s Canyon Loop in Tustin Ranch. My first stop was Ben Ngu, a Vietnamese restaurant in Garden Grove. Ben Ngu is Ngu Binh’s sister restaurant…
Where To Dine On New Year’s Eve in the South Bay
Fortunately, many restaurants across LA are featuring New Year’s Eve specials this year. Here’s where to enjoy a memorable meal with your special person on New Year’s Eve in the South Bay. Nomad Eatery I appreciate Chef Scott Cooper because he develops exquisite New Year’s offerings without breaking the bank. Cooper features a three-course menu…
How to Celebrate Japanese New Year in LA
Osechi Ryori is the traditional food enjoyed on New Year’s day in Japan. Many Japanese Americans also practice the custom as well. When I was a kid, my family had the luxury of being invited to my grandparent’s home, where my step-grandmother had an impressive spread of food. Every dish of these traditional foods has…
Petit Trois, Delicious, But Not Petit Prices
My wife and I recently walked on Highland Ave in Hollywood, and I noticed Petit Trois, which made me remember that this was one of the restaurants on my bucket list. If you wonder why, the owner is chef Ludo Lebevbre, a master chef who managed kitchens at a young age and began LA’s fried…
Polanco, A Modern Mexican Steakhouse In The Ayres Hotel
Hotel restaurants aren’t usually a destination for those not staying there. These restaurants are typically owned and operated by a large corporation and usually lack the creative flair of a passionate chef. My wife and I recently learned about Polanco, a modern Mexican steakhouse inside the Ayres Hotel in Hawthorne. The Ayres Hotel restaurant was…