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Friday, October 31, 2014
Friday, October 31, 2014
HalloweenThe Ghost of El Carmen
Comments (0)By James Bartlett
Fri, Oct 31, 2014 at 6:06 AM
Categories: Halloween, Alcohol & Spirits, Mexican Cuisine
Eighty-five years ago, Encarnación Elias Gomez took a huge risk — opening the doors on her new taqueria, El Carmen, at La Brea and Third. Back in 1929, this was about as far as the trolley cars went, and for the widow Gomez to open up her own business? Well, that was a scandal.
But Gomez didn't just succeed. El Carmen was a smash hit of a restaurant, one whose regulars — who later included D.W. Griffith, Cecil B. DeMille, Boris Karloff, Ricardo Montalban, Nat King Cole, Loretta Young, Diego Rivera, Busby Berkeley, Mario Lanza, Vincent Price and a young actor named John Wayne – came to know her as “Mama.” Even today it still has a strong presence in the neighborhood, a rarity in ever-changing Los Angeles.
Today, some people believe Mama — and maybe someone else from the family — still have a presence at the darkly-lit, romantic restaurant. But who was Encarnación really? And how did she come to open El Carmen, as a woman alone?
But Gomez didn't just succeed. El Carmen was a smash hit of a restaurant, one whose regulars — who later included D.W. Griffith, Cecil B. DeMille, Boris Karloff, Ricardo Montalban, Nat King Cole, Loretta Young, Diego Rivera, Busby Berkeley, Mario Lanza, Vincent Price and a young actor named John Wayne – came to know her as “Mama.” Even today it still has a strong presence in the neighborhood, a rarity in ever-changing Los Angeles.
Today, some people believe Mama — and maybe someone else from the family — still have a presence at the darkly-lit, romantic restaurant. But who was Encarnación really? And how did she come to open El Carmen, as a woman alone?
Thursday, October 30, 2014
Thursday, October 30, 2014
Food ScienceWalnuts May Help Fight Alzheimer's Disease
Comments (0)By Samantha Bonar
Thu, Oct 30, 2014 at 10:00 AM
Categories: Food Science
A new study published in the October Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease indicates that a diet including walnuts may help reduce the risk, delay the onset, slow the progression of and even prevent Alzheimer’s disease.
Research led by Abha Chauhan, head of the Developmental Neuroscience Laboratory at the New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities (IBR), found significant improvement in learning skills, memory, reducing anxiety and motor development in mice fed a walnut-enriched diet.
Research led by Abha Chauhan, head of the Developmental Neuroscience Laboratory at the New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities (IBR), found significant improvement in learning skills, memory, reducing anxiety and motor development in mice fed a walnut-enriched diet.
Food & Events
3 Fun Food Events This Week, Including an "EastSide" Food Festival
Comments (1)By Amy Scattergood
Thu, Oct 30, 2014 at 8:30 AM
Categories: Food & Events
iHeartSilverlake EastSide Food Festival
Silver Lake is getting its own food festival, with 25 vendors, chefs, DJs, musicians and more, hosted by
Mack Sennett Studios, Castle Gourmet and Food Is the New Rock. Who's coming? Alimento, Auntie Em's Kitchen, Angel City Brewing, Black Hogg, Donut Friend, HomeState, Kitchen Mouse, Little Beast, Mexicali Taco & Co., McConnell's Ice Cream, Starry Kitchen, Sticky Rice, Oinkster and more.
WHAT: iHeartSilverlake EastSide Food Festival
WHEN: Sunday, Nov. 9, 4-8 p.m.
WHERE: Mack Sennett Studios, 1215 Bates Ave., Silver Lake.
COST: Tickets are $45 to $75.
Silver Lake is getting its own food festival, with 25 vendors, chefs, DJs, musicians and more, hosted by
Mack Sennett Studios, Castle Gourmet and Food Is the New Rock. Who's coming? Alimento, Auntie Em's Kitchen, Angel City Brewing, Black Hogg, Donut Friend, HomeState, Kitchen Mouse, Little Beast, Mexicali Taco & Co., McConnell's Ice Cream, Starry Kitchen, Sticky Rice, Oinkster and more.
WHAT: iHeartSilverlake EastSide Food Festival
WHEN: Sunday, Nov. 9, 4-8 p.m.
WHERE: Mack Sennett Studios, 1215 Bates Ave., Silver Lake.
COST: Tickets are $45 to $75.
Food News
This Halloween, Beverly Hills Mom Rainbeau Mars Is Giving Out ... Live Worms
Comments (0)By Jennifer Swann
Thu, Oct 30, 2014 at 7:53 AM
Categories: Food News, Halloween
Horror stories about apples with razor blades and anthrax-laced candy terrified trick-or-treaters in the 1980s and '90s. But this year, one Beverly Hills mom is purposely resurrecting the fear and paranoia surrounding trick-or-treating, with a modern spin.
Rainbeau Mars (and yes, that's her real name, according to her publicist, who says she was born in a teepee under a double rainbow) will be dishing out something really scary to trick-or-treaters in her gated community — live worms.
Rainbeau Mars (and yes, that's her real name, according to her publicist, who says she was born in a teepee under a double rainbow) will be dishing out something really scary to trick-or-treaters in her gated community — live worms.
Halloween
7 Spooky L.A. Spots for Dining with the Dead
Comments (0)By James Bartlett
Thu, Oct 30, 2014 at 7:00 AM
Categories: Halloween
Forget mazes, rides, haunted hayrides and houses of horror with their hordes of mask-wearing actors providing cheap thrills. Instead, grab a drink at one of L.A.'s haunted restaurants — seven dining and drinking spots that all have real resident ghosts far spookier than most made-up macabre.
Befitting their age, most are downtown, but Hollywood and Long Beach also offer eerie places for your dining delight this spooky season.
Befitting their age, most are downtown, but Hollywood and Long Beach also offer eerie places for your dining delight this spooky season.
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Coffee85C Now Open in Pasadena — to the Delight of Coffee Lovers
Comments (0)By Barbara Hansen
Wed, Oct 29, 2014 at 10:45 AM
Categories: Coffee, Bakeries
Thirteen is a lucky number for Pasadena, which just acquired the 13th California outlet of the Taiwanese bakery cafe 85°C.
In case you’re not familiar with this chain—until now the closest branches were in Torrance and Gardena—the name indicates the perfect temperature for hot coffee. This leaves out the bakery cafe’s most famous beverage, sea salt coffee, which is served iced. The salt is in thick cream on a base of strong Guatemalan coffee. You shake it up before you drink. If you’re not a coffee drinker, you can have sea salt green tea.
In case you’re not familiar with this chain—until now the closest branches were in Torrance and Gardena—the name indicates the perfect temperature for hot coffee. This leaves out the bakery cafe’s most famous beverage, sea salt coffee, which is served iced. The salt is in thick cream on a base of strong Guatemalan coffee. You shake it up before you drink. If you’re not a coffee drinker, you can have sea salt green tea.
Asian Cuisine
3 Great Cold Noodle Dishes in the San Gabriel Valley and Where To Find Them
Comments (0)By Jim Thurman
Wed, Oct 29, 2014 at 9:00 AM
Categories: Asian Cuisine, L.A. Restaurants
Folks that have been in Los Angeles for a while know that fall still brings plenty of hot days with it. On days when highs near 90 in the San Gabriel Valley — which is the forecast for today — one of the best ways to beat the heat is with some cold noodles.
If you find yourself on the Eastside (the real Eastside) or are willing to make a short drive, here are three different cold noodle dishes and where to find them in the SGV.
Cooking
Celebrate Halloween Like an Adult with a Dinner Party
Comments (0)By Heather Platt
Wed, Oct 29, 2014 at 8:13 AM
Categories: Cooking, Entertaining, Halloween, Holidays
We've all been there. When we were kids it was trick or treating and sugar highs. Later, we found ourselves at out-of-control Halloween parties where, for some reason, wearing costumes empowered guests to behave erratically.
Now, you fancy the idea of a quiet night in handing out candy to lots of adorably dressed children. But your neighborhood is sadly not exactly trick-or-treat friendly and you usually end up eating that untouched bowl of Jujubes all by yourself. So if you have a “been there, done that” attitude towards the spooky holiday but still want to celebrate in a more relaxed way, there’s always the good old-fashioned dinner party. And what better time of year in Los Angeles than late October for an enchanting fall menu? Don't forget to remind your guests to wear a costume. It's still Halloween, after all.
Now, you fancy the idea of a quiet night in handing out candy to lots of adorably dressed children. But your neighborhood is sadly not exactly trick-or-treat friendly and you usually end up eating that untouched bowl of Jujubes all by yourself. So if you have a “been there, done that” attitude towards the spooky holiday but still want to celebrate in a more relaxed way, there’s always the good old-fashioned dinner party. And what better time of year in Los Angeles than late October for an enchanting fall menu? Don't forget to remind your guests to wear a costume. It's still Halloween, after all.
Wine
Been to Lou Amdur's New Wine Shop Yet? Two Words: Uni and Wine
Comments (0)By Besha Rodell
Wed, Oct 29, 2014 at 5:04 AM
Categories: Wine, Food & Events
If we loved Lou Amdur's little wine shop when it was tucked in next door to Sqirl (and we did), we really love his new wine shop, 1.5 miles away in Los Feliz. With a much bigger selection and a tasting counter, it's a wine-geek's paradise, especially if you get Lou himself to start rhapsodizing about what's on the shelves.
If you haven't had a chance to make it over there, there's a pretty great reason to go: Amdur, along with Santa Barabara sea urchin diver Stephanie Muntz, will be holding an uni and wine pairing/tasting tonight. You have to buy tickets in advance, and choose from a 6 or 7 p.m. time slot, but for $20 you get to taste four different wines along with your very own whole urchin.
If you haven't had a chance to make it over there, there's a pretty great reason to go: Amdur, along with Santa Barabara sea urchin diver Stephanie Muntz, will be holding an uni and wine pairing/tasting tonight. You have to buy tickets in advance, and choose from a 6 or 7 p.m. time slot, but for $20 you get to taste four different wines along with your very own whole urchin.
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
BakeriesMontrose’s Newest Sweet Spot: Bountiful Bakery
Comments (0)By Celia Soudry
Tue, Oct 28, 2014 at 9:45 AM
Categories: Bakeries, Desserts, Restaurant Openings & Closings
At Bountiful Bakery in Montrose, owner Denise Assad is no stranger to early mornings (if you can even call them that): She wakes up at 3 a.m., makes her way to some Stumptown coffee and then heads to the kitchen where hours are spent kneading, twisting, stirring, pounding. The real fun begins around 9 a.m., when that buttery sweet aroma fills the air and customers trickle in to sample the goods.
"I try to bring back the time in my life when I was baking with my grandmother. Whatever I bake, that’s what I remember," says Assad. She stays true to tradition. Nothing is too sweet; there's lots of spice and lots of butter. "Butter satisfies the soul," Assad adds, "It's a taste of your youth, your family. That’s what I do. I bake to remember."
"I try to bring back the time in my life when I was baking with my grandmother. Whatever I bake, that’s what I remember," says Assad. She stays true to tradition. Nothing is too sweet; there's lots of spice and lots of butter. "Butter satisfies the soul," Assad adds, "It's a taste of your youth, your family. That’s what I do. I bake to remember."
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The Ghost of El Carmen
Eighty-five years ago, Encarnación Elias Gomez took a huge risk — opening the doors on her new taqueria, El Carmen, at La Brea and Third. Back in 1929, this was about as far as the trolley cars went, and for the widow Gomez to open up her own business? Well, that was...@ 6:06 AM On Fri, October 31 -
These Gorgeous Flowers Are Made From Sugar
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Walnuts May Help Fight Alzheimer's Disease
A new study published in the October Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease indicates that a diet including walnuts may help reduce the risk, delay the onset, slow the progression of and even prevent Alzheimer’s disease. Research led by Abha Chauhan, head of the Developmental Neuroscience Laboratory at the New York State Institute...@ 10:00 AM On Thu, October 30 -
10 Spooktacular Halloween Treats for Adults
The transition from tiny, gleeful candy-grabbing Miss Piggy to hoodied teenager sullenly knocking on neighbor's doors at 9 p.m. seeking Tootsie Roll dregs to cocktail-quaffing "sexy witch" is one of the bitterest rites of passage. But there's no reason you can't grow up and have your Halloween treats, too. In...@ 6:15 AM On Tue, October 28 -
Celebrate Halloween Like an Adult with a Dinner Party
We've all been there. When we were kids it was trick or treating and sugar highs. Later, we found ourselves at out-of-control Halloween parties where, for some reason, wearing costumes empowered guests to behave erratically. Now, you fancy the idea of a quiet night in handing out candy to lots...@ 8:13 AM On Wed, October 29 -
3 Great Cold Noodle Dishes in the San Gabriel Valley and Where To Find Them
Folks that have been in Los Angeles for a while know that fall still brings plenty of hot days with it. On days when highs near 90 in the San Gabriel Valley — which is the forecast for today — one of the best ways to beat the heat is...@ 9:00 AM On Wed, October 29 -
This Halloween, Beverly Hills Mom Rainbeau Mars Is Giving Out ... Live Worms
Horror stories about apples with razor blades and anthrax-laced candy terrified trick-or-treaters in the 1980s and '90s. But this year, one Beverly Hills mom is purposely resurrecting the fear and paranoia surrounding trick-or-treating, with a modern spin. Rainbeau Mars (and yes, that's her real name, according to her publicist, who says...@ 7:53 AM On Thu, October 30 -
3 Fun Food Events This Week, Including an "EastSide" Food Festival
iHeartSilverlake EastSide Food Festival Silver Lake is getting its own food festival, with 25 vendors, chefs, DJs, musicians and more, hosted by Mack Sennett Studios, Castle Gourmet and Food Is the New Rock. Who's coming? Alimento, Auntie Em's Kitchen, Angel City Brewing, Black Hogg, Donut Friend, HomeState, Kitchen Mouse, Little Beast, Mexicali...@ 8:30 AM On Thu, October 30 -
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How an Underground Supper Club Built a Growing Food Empire
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32,000 Pounds of Gluten-Free Breaded Chicken Recalled
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The menu tussle is one of those conversations we can't seem to stop having. "What are you going to have? The mackerel? I was going to get the fish, but if you're getting it, then I guess I'll get the steak." And so it goes. For many people the point...@ 6:53 AM On Tue, October 28
