Located in the cozy Riviera Village in Redondo Beach, Vida Modern Taqueria is a Baja-inspired modern taqueria with Mexican fan favorites, combined with some creative twists on East LA comfort food. Partners Micky Mance and Justin Essman own Vida Modern Taqueria. The pair have extensive experience in the industry. Mance was formerly vice president of…
craft cocktails
Celebrate National Tequila Day at Lanea in Santa Monica
This year National Tequila Day takes place on Saturday, July 24. Unfortunately, no one knows the history behind National Tequila Day and how it began. Perhaps the creators of this holiday just consumed too much of the drink they celebrated to remember they created it. Either way, the exact roots of this day are not…
LA Eateries Fuel Craze for Canned Craft Cocktails
On March 15, 2020, LA Mayor Eric Garcetti ordered the closure of LA bars, nightclubs, restaurants (except takeout/delivery), entertainment venues, and gyms. This action severely impacted restaurants that are set up for dine-in-only business as they were forced to shut down or go into hibernation. Soon after the closure was ordered, California’s Alcoholic Beverage Control…
After a long closure, The Henry in WeHo re-opens
After the CDC announced that fully vaccinated individuals can resume outdoor activities without wearing a mask, it appeared that Americans exhaled a collective sigh of relief. Many restaurants were in hibernation since early last year and piling up debt by keeping their doors closed. Fortunately, some like The Henry have retooled with safety in mind…
Iron Teapot Delivers Quality Dim Sum to the Westside
Dim sum is a Chinese meal of small plates best enjoyed in the company of family and friends. Due to the large Chinese population in San Gabriel Valley, the majority of dim sum restaurants reside there, I learned about Iron Teapot, a dim sum restaurant opening on the westside. My daughter and I visited during…
La Cosecha – Tasty Libations and Latin Food
My wife and I recently traveled to Paso Robles to celebrate her birthday. We traveled there to go wine tasting. Drinking good wines automatically causes me to go from drinking mode to one of sipping and savoring instead. In that spirit, we dined al fresco at La Cosecha. Parklets now line the downtown plaza area…
Cinco de Mayo To Go Options
Cinco de Mayo is a holiday popular for dining out. Unfortunately due to the coronavirus, some restaurants have closed, and others are managing to stay afloat with take out business. Of the Mexican restaurants still in operation, some are featuring Mexican food with beer and cocktails prepared so that you can celebrate Cinco de Mayo…
Gabi James, a Terrific Find in Redondo Beach
Have you ever driven by an interesting-looking restaurant on a regular basis and never frequented it? For me, I’m embarrassed to say that experience is Gabi James in the Riviera Village area of Redondo Beach. My wife and I recently dined there for dinner for the first time. Gabi James is named after the owners,…
After 37 Successful Years, Chez Melange Will Close
Right on the heels of Chez Melange celebrating its 37th anniversary, Chez Melange recently announced that they will close. It’s a sad time for their numerous Chez Melange fans as they have been accustomed to relying on Chez Melange for their delicious creations, fun wine dinners and Michael Frank’s warm, friendly service. To make sure…
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…