In the sophisticated dining room of the new Pacifique restaurant on La Cienega, guests can sit in intimate Japanese izakaya-style booths with curtains for a discreet dining experience. Pacifique is located at the former Le Petit Bistro, which closed its doors in 2018 after 25 years in business. Restaurateur Joel Herzer and partner and designer…
Category: Comfort Food
Pleasing Peruvian plates at Los Balcones Hollywood
New chef Michelangelo Aliaga at Los Balcones in Hollywood incorporates proteins with Peruvian staple ingredients – corn, potatoes, peppers, quinoa, rice and beans to create authentic and hearty South American fare. Raised in Peru by Italian parents who immigrated to South America, I learned that Chef Michelangelo’s grandfather inspired him to become a chef. After…
Festive St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations in LA
Wear some green and head outside to join others in drinking green beer, while enjoying special St. Patrick Day fare. Here’s a slew of lucky spots to celebrate this weekend: Ike’s Love & Sandwiches – On St. Patrick’s Day Ike’s Love & Sandwiches is offering $7 sandwiches all day long. There are over 500 sandwich combinations that…
Heavenly Hock + Hoof
Chefs and partners Kat Hu and Justin Yi turn offals and vegetables into gourmet fare at Hock + Hoof, next to the historic Hotel Alexandria in downtown Los Angeles. The restaurant, which opened last May, has already earned quite a following because of its creative options blending French techniques with Asian ingredients and flavors. These…
A fine Fellow in Westwood
After cooking in the kitchen of The Churchill, Cliffs Edge, and The Larchmont, Executive Chef Michael Bryant is now showcasing some of his beloved dishes and adding a few new ones at the upscale Fellow in Westwood. I fondly remember meeting Chef Bryant three years ago while dining at The Larchmont, before it changed into…
Preview of the 2019 Masters of Taste
To kick-off ticket sales for Masters of Taste 2019, I was recently invited to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena to experience a preview menu. Approximately 100 sponsors and influential & beverage enthusiasts gathered inside the (not open to the public) stadium locker room for a special dinner. We learned this year’s Masters of Taste takes place…
Mardi Gras Fun in Los Angeles
Mardi Gras season begins on March 2 with parades, King’s cakes and festivities during Carnival. Mardi Gras Day or “Fat Tuesday” is always 47 days prior to Easter Sunday. It’s the last day of the Carnival season and falls on the first day of Lent. Throughout Los Angeles, Mardi Gras celebrations include beads thrown, festive…
Flavor Bombs at Heroic Deli & Wine Bar
Over the last ten years, Adam Fleischman, an avid foodie and successful restaurateur opened his first gourmet hamburger restaurant Umami Burger. Next he partnered with Chef Anthony Carron and opened 800 Degrees Pizza, as part of the Umami Restaurant Group. I’ve enjoyed writing about his innovative restaurant concepts including Umamicatessan, a gourmet food court in…
KASS Wine Bar + Restaurant Sophisticated French Fare
The newest restaurant on La Brea already has quite a following of oenophiles, foodies and Francophiles. Many remember esteemed Michelin starred French chef Christophe Émé when he was at his previous restaurant Ortolan on West Third Street. I’ve already been twice to KASS since it opened this month in the former Wilde Wine Bar. The…
