WHY Great selection of sandwiches, salads, charcuterie and, of course, cheese, along with an excellent array of frozen goods and pantry staples. Call a day ahead and Nicole will make you a gorgeous quiche or a proper potato gratin. WHAT It all started with the cheese, and that’s still a prime take-home item, but the [...]
April 24, 2013 | Posted in
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WHY Vibrant classic and modern Korean cooking made with love by do-gooders. WHAT Kimmy Song, founder and CEO of !It Jeans in Vernon, wanted to use her success to give back, and because she loves food, she decided to do it by opening a restaurant. The result is a light-filled café manned by incredibly nice [...]
April 19, 2013 | Posted in
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WHY Prepared take-home dishes like lasagne and ravioli, huge and delicious sandwiches, savory sausages, take-and-bake pizzas and a bakery case lined with breads, cannoli and Italian cookies. WHAT This old-school Italian market and deli has been around since 1948, starting here in San Gabriel, and it now has five other locations. (This was once an [...]
April 13, 2013 | Posted in
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WHY One of the better-value churrascarias in town, at about $27 per person during the week and $35 on weekends, when sassy dancers entertain the crowd (we prefer the quieter weeknights, which are still not quiet). WHAT It’s a tremendously entertaining scene here, with huge family groups, waiters in gaucho pants carving meat off of [...]
April 9, 2013 | Posted in
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WHY Hip and friendly, with a sangria and tapas menu on Thursdays, when the bustling local farmers’ market comes to life outside its door. WHAT This tented bistro is bright by day and romantic at night, with an always-interesting and usually wonderful menu of multiethnic offerings, from red chile vegetable egg rolls to warm spinach [...]
April 7, 2013 | Posted in
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WHY Abundant, interesting and delicious Persian food at low prices. Try the fesenjon, a sort of Persian mole, rich and complex, with pomegranate and walnuts. WHAT The kindly service can be erratic at this Glendale Persian restaurant, but it’s easy to forgive when you taste the food—and even easier to forgive when you pay the [...]
April 5, 2013 | Posted in
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WHY To spice up your seafood restaurant list. WHAT The Hunan province may be inland, but the restaurant’s name isn’t an oxymoron. The vast Dong Ting Lake and Yangtze River tributaries supply fish, shrimp, frogs and turtle, all of which are on the menu at this modern chrome-and-glass spot. Also here is Chairman Mao’s favorite [...]
April 4, 2013 | Posted in
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WHY The chicharrón de pollo (deep-fried chicken skin) sets the gold standard. WHAT Mildly seasoned chicken, fried whole to keep it juicy, is the house specialty at this branch of the Filipino chain. You can order it spicy, too, and the palm vinegar dip that accompanies both versions is garlic-studded and terrific. 313 W. Broadway, [...]
March 29, 2013 | Posted in
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At 6 p.m. this coming Monday, April 1st, New Belgium Brewery & Congregation Ale House in Pasadena will be presenting a check donation to the Pasadena Toys for Tots charity. As a refresher, Congregation and New Belgium teamed up in December for a month-long promotion where the Ale House featured anywhere from 4 to 8 New Belgium [...]
WHY This Pasadena ‘Chapter’ offers myriad lively suds (both on draft and in bottles) as well as modernized pub grub, just as the Long Beach and Azusa locations. WHAT Congregation may take its religious shtick too far—stained glass windows, Catholic school uniforms, Monday ‘mass’—but it’s one of Los Angeles’ essential beer bars, with a commendable list of [...]
March 27, 2013 | Posted in
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