As a former business owner, I really enjoy great names of businesses. The Thirsty Merchant is one such name because it invokes images of farmers, bakers, and fisherman assembling in public spaces bartering for luxury goods. After a hard day of negotiating, I’m sure they were ready for a tasty brown malt. The Thirsty Merchant…
wine
Celebrate National Wine Day in the South Bay
Friday, May 25 is National Wine Day. Pop open that special bottle you have in your closet. Even better, why not visit a wine bar and try a vintage you’ve never experienced before. Consider trying the many foreign varietals like a French Bordeaux, an Italian Borolo or a Spanish Tempranillo. Here are some interesting South…
Cal Mare Brings the Amalfi Coast to LA
The Beverly Center is currently undergoing a major renovation. As part of the makeover was the grand opening of Cal Mare, a flashy Italian restaurant. I recently learned that they have a happy hour and I invited a friend of mine to check it out. Cal Mare plays homage to the coasts of Italy and…
A Special Evening at Skirball: Taste of Israel
For one night only, the best of Israel’s culinary creators come together in Los Angeles for an incredible gourmet food and wine experience. The Taste of Israel is a one-time high-end event, black-tie optional evening that will take place at the Skirball Cultural Center on June 7th, 2018. Growing up on the Westside, I was…
Dominique’s Kitchen Winemaker Dinner with Calluna Vineyards
Dominique’s Kitchen modest mission is being a “casual neighborhood hangout serving reasonably priced Euro-French cuisine.” The evidence of their success is the number of cars in their parking lot each evening. I recently received notice that they will host a winemaker dinner featuring Calluna Vineyards on March 27.Calluna Vineyards is in the Chalk Hill American…
Odys and Penelope, an American Churrascaria
I’m extremely fortunate to have a cousin that shares my passion for great food. Because of that interest, my wife and I get together with her and her husband and we dine at various places and share plates. It’s only because of them, that I’ve made some progress in eating my way through Jonathan Gold’s…
Madre Happy Hour Raises the Bar
Through a friend, I learned about Madre in Torrance and I recently visited them during Happy Hour. Madre took over the Buffalo Fire Department’s space and is directly across from Miyabi Uni in Old Town Torrance. The chicken taquitos were crispy and weren’t coated with cooking oil. Instead, a black bean paste coated the taquitos…
Surfside Bar and Grill – Great Eats and Drink
Venice is a city that is strong about community. After local favorite Danny’s Deli closed, the property owners had a mission to keep this location as a meeting place for the Venice neighborhood. The Surfside Bar and Grill accepted the challenge and opened in June 2017. The Surfside Bar and Grill is located in the…
Kosher Food and Wine Experience Returns to LA
The Kosher Food and Wine Experience (KFWE) is an annual event that brings world-acclaimed kosher wine and spirits to the U.S. KFWE LA is a sister event to KFWE London, New York, and Miami. KFWE LA will feature a selection of more than 300 wines as well as crafted spirits from across the globe. This…
Mr C Beverly Hills Plays Host to Celebrate Italian Cinema
Cinema Italian Style recently took place in venues across the LA area. It was an 11 day Italian marathon of films, food and cultural events. To celebrate this event, they recently held a Gala Dinner at Mr C Beverly Hills Hotel. Leandro Luppi, a Michelin star chef was the guest chef and thanks to an…