World Cup of Yum

Peach Ribs

My mom would make these peach ribs. I loved how they were sweet from the peaches and a little tangy. I never enjoyed drinking peach nectar as I found it too think for my liking, but it is great for cooking this dish. Guessipe 4 lbs pork spareribs, cut into individual ribs Salt to taste…

Howlin’ Rays Restaurant Review

Gold Dig #50 In the past, Jonathan Gold has included the multitude of eateries that make up Far East Plaza as a single unit on his 101 list. At the moment however, the big draw to Far East Plaza is Howlin’ Ray’s, so in his most recent release it got its own spot on Jonathan…

Ramen Eggs

One of the best things about getting ramen is that flavorful egg with the just-a-touch cooked yolk. You can make this magical treat at home and use it to punch up instant ramen in a pinch. I’ve also been known to just gobble ramen eggs as a snack. Guessipe 2 eggs 1/3 cup water 2…

Shunji Restaurant Review

Gold Dig #49 Shunji is a Japanese restaurant on the west side. I had driven past it dozens of times, always thinking it was an odd-looking building but never feeling inclined to think that the squat silo in a not particularly welcoming area on Pico might have even decent sushi. So I was stunned to…

Curry Chicken Rice Salad

My mom makes this dish, and there’s something about it that’s so comforting. It’s also great because it’s a whole meal in one – grain, meat, and veg. So it’s great for scooping yourself a giant bowl and just going to town. Guessipe 3 boneless skinless chicken thighs Salt and pepper to taste 2 cups…

Sunday Supper II

Fall has come round again, so it seemed like the perfect time for another Sunday Supper of heartwarming food with friends. It brings me so much joy to have a community of friends who enjoy cooking and eating together as much as I do. We started with apples dipped in caramel sauce. The apples were…

Pineapple Trifle

Traditionally a trifle is made up of a fancy cream custard, sponge cake or lady fingers, and fruit compote. This is my poor man’s version of a trifle – much easier to whip up with no cooking involved and using ingredients you could easily have around. But the result is a fancy-looking dessert that you…

Gjelina Restaurant Review

Gold Dig #48 Gjelina is one of the west side spots on Jonathan Gold’s 101 Best Restaurants list. It is one of those super trendy places on Abbot Kinney where pretty and famous people go to see and be seen. At dinner time it gets so loud you can barely carry on a conversation, and…

Tuna Time

My friend went fishing and caught a 30 pound tuna, which we were lucky enough to reap the rewards of when he asked a group of us to come over and help him consume the gorgeous fish. Of course we were happy to oblige. Tuna The tuna was naturally the star of the show. This…

Sherry Cream Brussels Sprouts with Bacon

A friend of mine made these brussels sprouts for a Friendsgiving dinner one year. The combination of sherry, cream, bacon, and mushrooms made a richly nuanced sauce that was wonderful on the brussels sprouts (but would also be good on pretty much anything). I forced him to teach me how to make this brussels sprouts…

Crawfish at the Cabin

My Swedish friends invited me up to their cabin for a Kraftskiva celebration. What, you may be wondering, is Kraftskiva? It’s a crawfish party, where everyone wears bibs and silly hats, eats massive amounts of crawfish, and drinks aquavit and beer while singing Swedish drinking songs. So pretty much the BEST PARTY EVER. While the…