I had a very odd tasting last week. It was the day before Christmas Eve, and a vegan couple from Arizona were in for the holidays and wanted to come in for a tasting. Naturally I made it work. They did not tell me that the mum was an editor of some Fancy Schmancy food [...]
WHY A multi-purpose café with indie cred in the midst of corporate Old Pasadena. WHAT Of course, Intelligentsia Pasadena has its own pour-over coffees, a gleaming espresso machine and practiced baristas. But this new location, in a historic brick building furnished with reclaimed church pews and electric blue walls, also has a beer and wine [...]
If your 2012 culinary “To Do” list includes exploring Korean food beyond kim chee, you’ll want to head to the 1st Annual Hansik Holiday Festival tomorrow, Friday, December 30th, from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. Hosted by Cathlyn Choi, of Cathlyn’s Korean Kitchen on PBS SoCal, the festival is a celebration of Korean food, wine, culture, and entertainment. In [...]
You swore you wouldn’t do it again and yet, here you are. You raise your bleary, post-Xmas head in which visions of sugar plums — whatever the heck they are — have polka’ed your plan-ahead gene into oblivion. You realize — horrors! — it’s mere days until New Year’s Eve and you’ve forgotten to figure [...]
Go Go’ers, we’re down to a couple days of ho, ho, ho and counting for Baby J’s birthday bash this Sunday. Here’s the problem. After Sunday, comes Monday and there you are with a passel of house guests clamoring to see the “real” L.A. Or maybe that’s just you climbing the walls. Either/or, this bunch of Boxing Day forays is guaranteed [...]
Just about now, you’re hoping it’s YOU who’ll get run over by a reindeer what with the Muzak-mauled carols, the mall-maddened crowds, and the 7-11-icky eggnog. De rigueur holiday gift: a cocktail guide stocking stuffer for the office party planner. To put you out of your seasonal misery, Ms. Go Go advises cutting the sugar with a little spice – say, juniper [...]
You’ve been so very good this year…not to mention this season. Stay at the top of Santa’s “Nice” list while giving YOURSELF some holiday cheer by participating in the 3rd Annual SANTA Monica Pub Crawl, which benefits the Westside Food Bank and kicks off at 5:00 p.m. this Saturday, December 17th. Don your fave holiday [...]
WHY For talented, gregarious chef Mark Gold, and for the Sunday brunch and dinner. WHAT Cozy, minimalist Eva has two faces: the more restrained cuisine, such as udon noodles with clams and scallops served at lunch and dinner most days, and the heartier Sunday dinners. The Sunday four-course prix-fixe meals are a great value, with [...]
WHY An artisan shop that’s opening our eyes to new cuts. WHAT The butcher case offerings read like a fine dining restaurant menu: Angus beef, Kurobuta pork, farmer-direct chicken and duck. Don’t miss the well-edited fish selection, which is tweeted weekly. We love the quality and the mom ‘n pop vibe from the chef-owners; of [...]
You’re SO in the swing of the season, Go Go’ers. You’ve draped a little tinsel on your sleigh-riding boots. (Red and green, natch.) You’ve refined your Merry Martini. (The secret ingredient? Definitely naughty.) Your rendition of Rockin’ Around the Xmas Tree rules. (Two words: more cowbell.) So this weekend? A little giving, a little gallivanting, a little [...]
