Dose of Vitamin P: Jude Becker’s Acorn Fed Hog @ Café Pierre
It’s no secret that Iowa is home to some of the nation’s finest pigs, but within Iowa, Jude Becker’s hogs have it especially good. Well, until they don’t. On Becker’s Dyersville farm, his pigs feast on acorns, just like their prestigious Iberico cousins, which contributes a nutty richness to the well-marbled meat. Becker raises only 80 pigs per year, and chef Remi Lauvand was able …
Dozois Launches Pop-Up Cocktail Series
Angelenos have already fallen for pop-up restaurants like LudoBites and BREADBAR’s Hatchi Series. Now bartender Michel Dozois (Church & State, Comme Ca, Seven Grand) is launching the city’s first pop-up cocktail series, titled “A Night with Névé.” The Névé Luxury Ice owner plans to host a different cocktail pop-up each month. On February 25 at Pasadena’s Bar Celona, expect a Spanish theme and two cocktails, …
La Vida Stakes Claim to Sunset Gower
February 8, 2010 at 3:20 pm
Patina Restaurant Group finally conceded the northwest corner of Sunset Gower Studios after they couldn’t make Pinot Hollywood or eat. on sunset work. Sunset Entertainment Group promptly claimed the sprawling space for La Vida, offering Spanish-influenced California cuisine beginning on Valentine’s Day 2010.
Executive Chef Joseph Panarello previously cooked at Rivera. Representative dishes from the Valentine’s Day menu include broiled shrimp with pineapple and jicama; Boston …
Café de Camacho Helps Advance Olvera Street
February 8, 2010 at 12:30 pm
Olvera Street may be the epicenter of Latin culture in Los Angeles, but for many years, the vivid retail corridor relied on established restaurants and shops to draw people. The opening of Café de Camacho on February 1 marks a subtle shift in Olvera’s fabric.
Don Luis Camacho, who heads his family’s wide-ranging restaurant group, opened Café de Camacho in a long-dormant Bank of America that …
Favorite Posts from February 1-7, 2010
Here are links to some of the more interesting posts from L.A. food writers over the last week:
Caroline on Crack
Caroline Pardilla: La Descarga: A Little Bit of Havana With Rum, Cigars & Dancing Girls (February 6, 2010)
e*starLA
Esther Tseng: La Descarga: The Underground Rum Revival (February 5, 2010)
gas•tron•o•my
Cathy Danh: Taco Taskforce: Los Angeles’ Best Goat Taco (February 4, 2010)
Glutster
Javier Cabral: Mariscos Martin: Vallarta Hardcore (February 1, …
Stir It 28 Stages Multi-City Haitian Relief Effort
February 6, 2010 at 2:54 pm
The food blogging community has stepped up to assist Haitian earthquake relief efforts. So far we’ve seen bake sales, charity auctions and cocktail events. Stir It 28 is the latest fundraising effort, spanning four cities and involving Chrystal Baker from The Duo Dishes, Bren Herrera of Flanboyant Eats and Courtney Nzeribe of Coco Cooks.
According to the trio’s announcement, “STIR represents the action we as chefs, …
Ludo Fried Chicken @ LA Street Food Fest
February 5, 2010 at 4:15 pm
The inaugural LA Street Food Fest is hosting almost 70 vendors at LA Center Studios on February 13, and the vendor that’s generating the biggest buzz is - no surprise - Ludo! Ludovic Lefebvre has become a rock star in L.A.’s food community, and during the festival, he’ll be making a new variation on his signature fried chicken…inside a truck.
The LA Street Food Fest website …
The Catch Returns to Anaheim
February 5, 2010 at 3:27 pm
The Catch is an Anaheim favorite that was forced to relocate after 32 years so they could steer clear of redevelopment. Today marks the return of the sports-friendly American chophouse on the ground floor of AvalonBay’s Anaheim Stadium, a mixed-use development within walking distance of Angel Stadium, Honda Center and The Grove of Anaheim. “I loved the old free-standing Catch site, but our new location …
L.A. Beer Blast B5: Tactical Nuclear Penguin, Allagash brewmaster Jason Perkins, The Surly Goat, Brew & You, Beachwood BBQ, Blue Palms Brewhouse, Boneyard Bistro, The Daily Pint, Fifth Amendment Alehouse, The Golden State, Ladyface Alehouse & Brasserie, Library Alehouse, Lucky Baldwin’s, Lucky Baldwin’s Delirium Café, Lucky Devils, Stuffed Sandwich, 38 Degrees, Verdugo Bar
The L.A. BEER BLAST is designed to let Food GPS readers know what’s new at select L.A. bars and restaurants with great beer selections. You’ll also discover beer-related events in the area and learn about industry leaders. Expect a new L.A. BEER BLAST every Thursday evening, in time for the weekend rush. Look in the left sidebar, SUBSCRIBE to Food GPS and you’ll receive the …
The Madness of Tactical Nuclear Penguin
The strongest beer on the planet comes courtesy of Scottish renegades Martin Dickie and James Watt, of BrewDog. Tactical Nuclear Penguin is 32% ABV, a truly hardcore brew from the hop mad showmen. Watt - The Emperor Penguin - recently e-mailed to weigh in on TNP and the future of extreme brewing at BrewDog.
Food GPS: Where did the name Tactical Nuclear Penguin come from?
Watt: The …
Q&A with Allagash brewmaster Jason Perkins
If New England ever hosts a brewing Olympics, there’s little doubt that Allagash Brewing Company would medal multiple times. The brewery is firmly rooted in Belgian brewing traditions, and longtime brewmaster Jason Perkins is helping to lead the brewery’s brigade in its 16th year. Perkins grew up in a small Vermont town and took a detour to Montana before settling at Allagash in 1998. He …
Dose of Vitamin P: Palate Braised Pork Cheeks
Palate Food + Wine chef-owner Octavio Becerra and executive chef Jason Mattick have already set the standard for market-driven cuisine in Glendale. Last month, they continued to raise the stakes by introducing “Offal Good,” a three-item nose-to-tail menu that’s available Wednesday nights in the wine bar.
During my recent visit, Palate offered three tempting choices: chicken hearts with rosemary skewers and balsamic-red onion marmalade; grilled lamb …
