Many people flock to diners, and it’s easy to understand why. Delicious food, friendly service, but best of all, a consistent experience. It’s the perfect lift-me-up after a tough week. One such diner is Vicky’s All Day, located in the trendy West Adams district across from Alta Adams. More chefs operate restaurants within walking distance of…
Middle East
Bestia and Bavel Owners Hits a Homerun with Saffy’s
Owners Ori Menashe and Genevieve Gergis struck gold again, this time with Saffy’s in East Hollywood on Fountain. Growing up in Israel, Ori Menashe had penchant for Middle Eastern cuisine and opened Bavel. Saffy’s is named after their daughter Saffron. Menashe and Gergis wanted to create an all-day casual neighborhood restaurant for some time. Gergis…
Palestinian Cuisine Discovered at Jerusalem Chicken
It’s all about chicken at a new Palestinian restaurant in LA’s Windsor Hills section on Slauson. Owner Sami Othman, is a veteran restauranteur who started Orleans and York, a deli with five locations featuring NY deli sandwiches and New Orleans-style po-boys. Othman felt that it was time to go back to his Palestinian roots. He…
Succulent Roast Chicken at Poulet du Jour
If you enjoy eating chicken, one of the best ways to prepare it is with a rotisserie. When it is done right, the skin is crispy and the meat is tender and moist. Some restaurants such as Poulet du Jour use a middle eastern spice rub. Because the chicken is so tasty, they create a…
Al Watan, for Flavorful Pakistani Cuisine To Go
Last weekend, I was picking up food at a Hawthorne restaurant and the owner told me that she is unable to process online orders. She was busy and stressed out and rather than argue with her, I opted to find another restaurant and see about obtaining a refund. Fortunately, I knew the area and I…
Taste of Tehran Thrives in Busy Tehrangeles
Anthony Bourdain, the late host of CNN’s Part’s Unknown, still resurfaces in my memory or appears in my on-line research. One of his visits to LA was recorded in a Part’s Unknown episode and featured Taste of Tehran, a small Persian restaurant on Westwood in Tehrangeles. Chef / Owner Saghar Fanisalek grew up in Iran….
Saffron Food Mart, a Great South Bay Find for Middle Eastern Cuisine
I drive by the Saffron Food Mart on a regular basis. The market is on the way to many stores I frequent. Because it does not have an entrance facing the street and it lacks visible windows, I think of it as a grocery store and not a restaurant. Seeing a recent social media review…
LA Food Bowl: Glendale Walking Food Tour
The LA Food Bowl is the city’s largest celebration of food, chefs, farmers, wine-makers, bartenders, baristas, and, of course, eaters. It is currently taking place in locations across LA. My wife and I attended one of their events, a Glendale Walking Food Tour featuring cuisine from the Middle East. The company Six Taste led our…
Jaffa Impresses with Modern Israeli Cuisine
LA restaurants continue to add more weekend brunch offerings. One of the latest is Rosaliné, a Peruvian option. One, however, caught my attention because it featured “Modern Israeli cuisine”. I invited my cousin and her husband to join us for brunch at Jaffa. Israeli cuisine goes back centuries, but more recently is a delicious melting…