WHY The widest selection of cheeses east of the Cheese Shop of Beverly Hills, as well as a well-edited wine department, high-quality charcuterie, olives and other gourmet items. Great for gifts for food lovers. WHAT Owner Chris Pollan is a quiet guy, but his passion for Europe and America’s finest cheeses shines through once he [...]
WHAT With the explosion in farmers’ markets, not all of which were created equal, here’s how we gauge quality and integrity. CFMs are places for growers to sell their crops directly to consumers. They are neither outdoor convenience stores nor swap meets. Ask yourself: What’s the ratio of crops to crap? Management’s focus should be [...]
WHY Quality cooking schools are like independent bookstores—distinctive and passionate about their mission. WHAT The focus is still on desserts, but savory classes, a pro series and team-building workshops are now offered at Clémence Gossett and Hadley Hughes’s trendy-looking space on the new third-floor food court at Santa Monica Place. WHO Amateur and aspirational bakers. [...]
WHY For the chance to take home amazing edibles both decadent and divine—or eat them on the spot. WHAT More like Harrod’s food hall or Eataly NYC than the familiar food court, this collection of shops will put your appetite on sensory overload: Primi al Mercato (from Piero Selvaggio of Valentino) offers fresh pastas in [...]
WHY To people-watch, graze, write your novel and experience L.A.’s great cultural stew pot. WHAT It’s not easy to describe our love for this mostly covered outdoor market and collection of eateries. Our love affair began in childhood, when begging our mothers for English toffee from Littlejohn’s; continued through high school, when we could hang [...]
WHY A carefully chosen beer selection and all the accoutrements. WHAT An offshoot of Eagle Rock’s friendly Colorado Wine Shop, Sunset Beer is smartly located in the heart of craft-beer-adoring Echo Park. Beer expert Alex Macy is in charge of the broad but carefully selected array of beers, with an emphasis on Californian and Belgian [...]
WHY A well-chosen selection of global wines and beers in historic Uptown Whittier. WHAT With a truly international selection of wines and specialty beers, including some on tap, Vinatero is a shopper’s dream: a thoughtful staff, custom gift baskets and a gift registry. And with daily wine and beer tastings, it’s almost as much a [...]
WHY Knowledgeable service and some of the best professional-grade knives in the city. WHAT Knives are the big draw—Wolfgang Puck, the Border Grill gals, Joe Miller and Gino Angelini are all customers. You’ll find everything from $50 starter santokus to $3,000 handmade sushi knives. Anzen, which means safety in Japanese, was founded in Little Tokyo [...]
WHY A low-key, compact market that’s easy to navigate, well priced and doesn’t start until 10 a.m., so you can sleep in. WHAT Less of a scene than the nearby Silver Lake Saturday market, this market (from the same nonprofit that runs the great Hollywood one) has gained fans for produce from the South Central [...]
WHY A remarkable selection of Thai ingredients, packaged foods, cookware, even furniture. WHAT Part supermarket, part Costco-style warehouse, this shabby place is the go-to destination in town for everything you could possibly need to cook Thai food, all at very low prices (including produce). You may have to buy in huge quantities, so consider sharing [...]
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