Lunar New Year is a Chinese festival that celebrates the beginning of a new year on the traditional Chinese calendar. It is a major holiday in China and Taiwan and is also celebrated worldwide in regions and countries with a significant Chinese population. I invited my friend Dean to try a relatively unknown South Bay…
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…
Burmese / Malay Cuisine at Mutiara Food and Market
While I am familiar with many Asian foods, I am not as familiar with southeast Asian cuisine. I enjoy Indonesian restaurants such as Simpang Asia and Stop Bye Cafe and made a goal to explore more of this region. I recently visited Mutiara Food and Market, a restaurant specializing in Burmese and Malaysian food. Mutiara…
Mizlala Delivers Solid Israeli Cuisine in West Adams
Simon’s Café was a longtime popular Moroccan mainstay in Sherman Oaks. In 2016, the owner’s son, chef Daniel Elmaleh and his wife Justine took over and renamed the restaurant Mizlala. It quickly became popular and they leveraged this opportunity to open another restaurant named Mizlala in LA’s West Adams area. I recently visited them with…
Jamaica Bay Inn Offers Beachside Happy Hour
I enjoy going to happy hours because it is a way to unwind from a crazy day at the office. It’s also a way to spend time having a few laughs and to enjoy some good food and drink. Because I haven’t been to Marina Del Rey in a while, I decided upon the Jamaica…
Tortuga Bay Serves Tasty Guadalajaran-style Tortas
I recently set my sights on trying a new restaurant. After I arrived, I found a taped note on the window stating that they were closed for the holidays and would re-open on Jan 2. Not wanting to waste the drive, I did a quick Yelp perimeter search and found Tortuga Bay, a place that…
Hotville Chicken Opens Beautiful Brick and Mortar
I was introduced to hot fried chicken when I vacationed in Nashville, Tennessee. While Prince’s Hot Fried Chicken was the standard for fried chicken there, I selected a nearby competitor. When I tried hot chicken, I experienced an immediate endorphin rush and quickly became a fan. Kim Prince is the niece of André Prince Jeffries,…
Delicious New Years Eve at Jame Enoteca
With the string of new restaurants such as Jacksons, Kagura, and Sausal, El Segundo is slowly becoming a destination for good food. One of the most recent to open is Jame Enoteca on Main Street. Food & Wine called it “one of the best new places to eat pasta in all of Los Angeles.” With…
Kagura Opens in Tokyo Central
Kagura is a Japanese restaurant that specializes in tonkatsu. Their first location is in Old Torrance, an area noted for quality Japanese fare. Their second location is located not too far away in El Segundo. I was surprised to learn that they opened a fast-casual concept in Gardena. Their newest location is located in the…
Christmas Eve Dinner at Dominique’s Kitchen
I’ve written about Dominique’s Kitchen a number of times. It’s because the food is consistent, the quality of the ingredients is excellent and the prices are reasonable. The owners strive to make it your everyday dining destination. My wife and I decided to visit them for their Christmas Eve Dinner. We arrived early while they…