World Cup of Yum

Bludso’s Restaurant Review

Gold Dig #55 When I saw that Jonathan Gold’s 101 Best Restaurants list included a BBQ place in Compton called Bludso’s, I tried several times to convince my vegetarian friend who lives in Compton to go with me. Unsuccessfully. I don’t suppose I can really blame her, given the meat-heavy BBQ menu, but I was…

Mexican Casserole

This is my mom’s Mexican Casserole recipe. It has nacho cheese Doritos in it, so naturally I adored it when I was a kid. Actually, I still adore it now! It is cheesy, crispy, meaty goodness. You can dress it up with sides, but honestly it’s good enough to eat plain. Guessipe 20 oz cheddar…

Redbird Restaurant Review

Gold Dig #54 A regular on Jonathan Gold’s 101 Best Restaurants list, I have been wanting to try Redbird for a long time. So when dineLA time came around and Redbird was offering a brunch menu, I jumped on a reservation. It’s located downtown in what was formerly a cathedral, so the space is unique…

Pico de Gallo

When I go to a taco place, I always make sure to get a healthy scoop of the Pico de Gallo at the salsa bar. It’s got a little spice, but also adds a nice pop of freshness to any taco. Pico de Gallo is equally good with just some tortilla chips. Or you can…

Kobee Factory and Syrian Kitchen Restaurant Review

Gold Dig #53 I’m always looking for delicious food at a great price, so one of the things I like about Jonathan Gold’s 101 Best Restaurants list is that there are some $$$$ places on it. Kobee Factory and Syrian Kitchen is one such spot. It is in the middle of nowhere Van Nuys, where…

Charred Tomato Soup with Mint and Croutons

Cookbook Club – Everything I Want to Eat For December’s Cookbook Club, we used Everything I Want to Eat by Jessica Koslow. I made the Charred Tomato Soup with Mint and Croutons. You can see everything we did eat on my Cookbook Club site. For now – my dish! There’s something about tomato soup that…

Pizzana Restaurant Review

Gold Dig #52 Pizzana is the current LA pizza craze. If you go for dinner or during the weekend, it’s an hours long wait. The Sprinkles Cupcakes folks and Chris O’Donnell and his wife have ownership stake in Pizzana. I have to admit that the celebrity involvement and the insane line made me skeptical, but…

Little Sister Restaurant Review

Gold Dig #51 Little Sister is one of the few south bay establishments to make Jonathan Gold’s 101 Best Restaurants list. It is on one of the main Manhattan Beach streets filled with beachy chic spots overlooking the ocean and catering to crowds of relaxed, sun-kissed folks who all look like they’ve just come from…

Brunch-mas

Towards the end of December, people scatter to celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, and other holidays with family. Before that happened, we decided to gather our foodie friends for one more feast… which we called Brunch-mas. In the spirit of enjoying each other’s company as much as the food, Colin invited us all to cook our dishes…

Split Pea Soup

During this time of year, the holiday ham inevitably makes an appearance. While chowing down on sliced ham has never been my thing, ham is pretty wonderful for making a hearty, warming pot of split pea soup. If you have the ham hock, throw that in too, as it will add great flavor. Otherwise, just…

Bombay Frankie Company Restaurant Review

As you know, I’ve been documenting my quest to work my way through Jonathan Gold’s 101 Best Restaurants list. Of course, I eat at places not on his list as well, and occasionally I post about one of those places if it is exceptionally good or a particularly fun/interesting experience. The Bombay Frankie Company turned…

Bavette Cacio e Pepe

Cookbook Club – The Mozza Cookbook For November’s Cookbook Club, we used The Mozza Cookbook: Recipes from Los Angeles’s Favorite Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria by Nancy Silverton, Matt Molina, Carolynn Carreno, and Mario Batali. I made the Bavette Cacio e Pepe. You can share in our full at-home restaurant experience on my Cookbook Club site….