I just love looking at these pictures…..
Best Napa Valley Wineries to Visit
The best Napa Valley wineries to visit feature a tasting room in a cave, artisanal cheese pairings, on-site sommeliers and more.
Filtering by Tag: california
Love!
Latino Winemakers Rise in California, Through the Ranks
SONOMA, Calif. — It is harvest season in wine country, the time of year when the scent of crushed grapes infuses the air and flatbed trucks heavy with fruit cargo come lurching down narrow back roads.
For the winemaker Everardo Robledo — who grew up working in the fields alongside his father, Reynaldo, on weekends and after school — the harvest has a particular emotional resonance: a measure of how far the family has come since his Mexican immigrant grandfather drifted from one migrant labor camp to another and his father toiled in the vineyards for $1.10 an hour.
Mr. Robledo, 30, and his family are part of a tiny but growing fraternity of Mexican-American winemakers, many of them farmworkers’ children who now pursue wine business degrees or study viticulture and oenology at the University of California, Davis. “It’s what we have been doing all our lives,” the younger Mr. Robledo said of picking, pruning, trellising, planting and “suckering,” or removing unwanted shoots from vines. “The land is in our DNA.”
For tourists here and in other wine-producing regions, the harvest is an opportunity to swirl, sniff and sip wine, stomp grapes and revel in dinners by master chefs. In Sonoma, visitors can experience an annual “grape camp” whose Web site advertises “three blissful days” picking grapes.
I’m seriously thinking of checking this place out this afternoon. Anyone else want to come? :)
South Hospitality: Abbot Kinney Pizza from a Mozza Vet
You’re in Venice. The LA one.
Thinking about Venice. The Italian one.
And how there’s a lot of pizza there, but none from a Mozza vet…
(And incidentally, the Florida Venice never crossed your mind.)
Meet South End, an intimate wine bar with pizza from the man who was recently running the kitchen at Pizzeria Mozza, now soft-open on Abbot Kinney.
The keyword above was “Mozza.” Which means next time you feel like getting close to someone who appreciates the significance of said keyword, you’ll squeeze into this dark little box of wood slats. It’s got a giant mural of some girl’s face, and that’s about it, decor-wise.
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South End
2805 Abbot Kinney Blvd
Venice, CA 90291
424-228-4736
official website
SUPERBONARA
There are few things in my life that I actually crave. One of them is a double double with cheese, spread and light onion with animal style fries and a small coke. Another is the freshest sushi at least once a week. And the other is a really good carbonara about once every couple of months.
My quest for great carbonaras has been a rather lengthy one. One that started out in Manhattan in the late 90’s. Places like Po, Gradisca and Lupa have always been on my short list consistently offering the traditional, delicious and expected carbonara. In Chicago, there’s RPM and San Francisco – SPQR and Locanda Osteria. Here in Los Angeles, Fraiche, Enoteca Drago and Angelini Osteria (lunch only) offer their versions of a carbonara which I do truly enjoy. And lastly Vito’s on Ocean Park in Santa Monica makes a valiant attempt, but far from the “out-this-world-make-me-crave” attempt that I’m looking for (I just happen to like the old school feeling of the interior).
And then there is Superba. Critically acclaimed, written up in about a gazillion epicurian media outlets with an Eater proclaimed best chef of 2012 recognition in Jason Neroni. I first experienced Superba about a month after it opened. It was divine and the vibe was ultra-cool and relaxed. I enjoyed everything from the Porchetta di Testa with Pastrami on Rye and Dill Pickles to the Fried Duck Egg with Patatas Pravas (fancy for fried potatoes) with drizzled truffle vinaigarette and tuna prosciutto. Dinner was topped with delicious s’mores - a chocolate pudding, graham cracker and smoked marshmallow glass jar of heaven.
But it was really the carbonara from Superba that left an indelible mark on me. It’s a craver. And I can’t shake the habit. Home-made smoked bucatini pasta that is thick and fresh. The egg is meticulously poached at an exact 55.7 degrees Fahrenheit in a device called an Emergence Circulator. Plus if you happen to be at Superba on a Thursday night, your chances increase that you may be eating an egg laid that very morning from Eclectic Acres in Menifee, CA. Of course I cannot forget to mention the chunks of salty pancetta. Every single time I’ve had this dish, it is consistently good – really really good. Not one thing wrong and everything right about this carbonara.
Greatest thing about it is that I have plans with my regular Superba dinner partner this Monday night which will of course include satisfying one of my 3 cravings.
Liezel’s Rating: Worth Going Back Over and Over
Superba
533 Rose Ave, Los Angeles 90291
(310)399-6400
Open: Mon-Thur 6:00p-10:30p, Fri & Sat 5:30p-11:30p, Sun 5:30p-10:00p - Sat & Sun Brunch 10:30a-2:45p - Thur & Fri Lunch 11:30a-2:45p
I don’t surf but I love these retro surfboards. :)
Surfing in the 60’s, Today - Steamship Surfboards
The temp: 75. The sky: blue. The time: now.
Conditions are absolutely perfect for your meeting downstairs with accounting.
Oh, and maybe surfing…
Take a look at Steamship Surfboards, a new Venice-based line of custom retro boards straight out of the ’60s, available now.
Think of that movie Endless Summer. Now think about climbing inside your TV to steal one of Robert August’s boards, but without the Poltergeist-ish creepiness that would entail.
Basically, you’d end up with these. Designed by your new board guy—call him Florian Saylor—who hand-shapes and hand-foils your board not far from the shore. He also uses some futuristic resins and polyurethane blanks to… well, what you need to know is that your board will be about 25% lighter than normal.
He can do them in a bunch of different shapes and sizes, single- or double-fin. But the colors and finishes will give them all a real ’60s vibe that’ll make you look like you’ve been surfing for decades.
With the taut calves of a 19-year-old.
I love thai food and this is a new one in Hollywood!!!
Darabar Thai We’re not very good at keeping secrets. Apparently, neither is Bangkok native Golf “Kevin” Seesod. The sign on his self-proclaimed “secret” restaurant, Darabar, in the back of a Hollywood Boulevard strip mall, reveals its hook straightaway. Secret or not, Darabar is helping to redefine the food in Thai Town. The beaded chandeliers, stainless-steel bar and brown pleather banquettes give Darabar a clubby vibe, but the food is more reminiscent of the best Thai Town dives. Skip the pad Thai and order dazzling plates like Khao Clook Kapi ($8). This dish of shrimp-paste fried rice is presented like Korean bibimbap, sporting piles of shredded omelet, tart green apple, sweet pork sausage and more. Crunchy Pork Soup ($6.50) was pure umami, the cinnamon- and soy-rich broth overflowing with pork offal–including funky liver, lung and crispy fried belly–plus hard-boiled egg and crunchy fried garlic. Most impressive of all was the Ka-Nom-Jeen 4 Park Thai Rice (pictured; $9), which featured four springy rice vermicelli buns and an equal number of curries. We were smitten by both the murky fish curry with spinach and chile, and the darker sauce that touted crumbled pork and firm coagulated pork blood. Head to Darabar and be daring. Darabar, 5112 Hollywood Blvd., Thai Town; 323-668-2717 or darabarthai.com
This looks rad…for lunch.
The Larder at Maple Drive
Weekday lunch is about to get haute.
Suzanne Goin (AOC, Lucques, Tavern) and partner Caroline Styne roll out their latest epicurean venture, The Larder at Maple Drive, this week. Like their Larder at Tavern, the bite-size Beverly Hills space pulls triple duty as cafe/bakery/marketplace.
Sidle up to the deli counter to create your own sandwich from market-fresh produce, house-baked bread, and meats like Iowa ham and sopressata. Or opt for The Pilgrim (roasted turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing) or The Laurel Canyon (avocado, feta yogurt, sprouts).
Salad snobs dig into freshly made creations like the chopped vegan Cobb or spanish tuna with shell beans and marinated tomato. Takeaways (grilled hanger steak, roasted carrots), homemade pastries, and jams are also up for grabs.
Dine in the courtyard, get your grub to go, or have it delivered to your desk (coming soon).
So you can nosh and watch Hulu work.
The Larder at Maple Drive, 345 North Maple Drive, between Alden Drive and West Third Street, suite 100, Beverly Hills (310-248-3779).
I want to check this out in Culver City…..
Oldfield’s Liquor Room
Everybody’s going old-school these days. Mind you: we’re not complaining…
Say hello to Oldfield’s Liquor Room, a brand-new, brasserie-style, old-timey, blast-from-the-past bar, opening Friday on a random corner of Venice Boulevard for your next round of hard-hitting, Mildred Pierce–era cocktails.
Brought to you by the 1933 Group (the Thirsty Crow, Bigfoot Lodge) and named after turn-of-the-century racing legend Barney Oldfield, this place does a good job of making you feel like you were born in 1910: subway tiles on the walls, lots of dark wood everywhere and maybe some ragtime music coming through the speakers.
Two other things you should be aware of: your waitress will look a bit like Dita Von Teese. And your drink will be mixed using housemade jams and syrups by a couple of barkeeps from La Descarga and Rivera. There are plenty of interesting cocktails to choose from, but we like the Blonde Comet, made with 12-year bourbon, grapefruit juice and a peach liqueur (ordering it with a redhead: not advised).
And if you decide to stay for a while (bourbon has that effect), you’ll want to fortify with thick-cut ham sandwiches from a Joan’s on Third vet. Or you might opt for a gin-spiked bowl of Shrub Punch, which serves eight guests.
But in 1930 terms, it serves two.
Oldfield’s Liquor Room
10899 Venice Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90034
310-842-8066
official website
A new quote was up at New Roads today… :)
Rapha at Bike Effect in Santa Monica
Oh my goodness I went a little crazy at Bike Effect today and bought myself some awesome Rapha gear!! Alison was amazing and helped me out 100%. I can’t wait for my hand to fix itself so I can start riding and wearing my new jerseys, shorts, vest, wind jacket…WEEHEEE!!!! :)
Umami Burger is going BIG TIME!!
Umami Burgers brand sizzles with SBE backing by Jessica Gelt
Umami Burger, the California burger chain with a modern spin and cross-cultural vibe, has struck a chord with Angelenos and now has the potential to join McDonald’s, Fatburger, In-N-Out and Tommy’s Hamburgers as one of California’s best-known exports. To celebrate, Umami founder Adam Fleischman is building the chain’s flagship location in a 3,000-square-foot former spa at the Grove, scheduled to open in late fall. With indoor-outdoor seating for 175, this will be the biggest Umami Burger yet.
New restaurant/bar/hang spot in Los Angeles!!!
Venice Beach.
Two words that conjure imagery of corn-oiled biceps, astoundingly innovative piercings and flaming-skateboard juggling. And that’s just the first person you see on the boardwalk.
But in less than a week, it’ll also be the place for alfresco evenings of beer, pizza and Green Curry Mussels…
Take a look around Larry’s, your new favorite Venice Beach patio bar, finally opening Tuesday just steps from the sand.
With funky art, lots of sunlight and 26 gleaming beer taps, the inside of this place is pretty welcoming. Pull up a stool if you like, and start with an Old Speckled Hen English ale. (Whenever possible, you prefer to start your evenings with an English ale.)
But if you’re hungry, all the tables are outside, and you’ve got two options. #1: a handful of high tables to stand around on the intimate front patio, if you’re just going to snack on some ceviche with your brew. Or #2: a slew of actual dinner tables on a larger side patio.
And once you take a seat, your waiter will hand you a paper menu that’s sort of like ordering sushi in a strip mall—meaning, you’ll write down how many orders of Green Curry Mussels, Green Gazpacho and Green Chorizo and Egg Pizza you’re in the mood for.
Be more specific than “a lot.”
What a love letter to Los Angeles….GORGEOUS!