Kalua Pork

My dad went to college in Hawaii, and added some fantastic Hawaiian dishes to his food repertoire during his time there. This is one that is simple and great for a luau-themed party, as it makes enough food for a crowd, especially when supplemented with Hawaiian sides like rice, macaroni salad, fresh pineapple, and ramen…

Otium Restaurant Review

Gold Dig #60 Otium is a downtown establishment that regularly sits pretty high on Jonathan Gold’s 101 Best Restaurants list. It is a gorgeous glassed-in space that opens into the kitchen (you actually walk through the kitchen to get to the bathroom), and an outdoor patio with lovely landscaping, a view of the rooftop herb…

Kobawoo House Restaurant Review

Gold Dig #59 Kobawoo House is one of the many Koreatown restaurants on Jonathan Gold’s 101 Best Restaurants list. It is super helpful to refer to his list when deciding where to eat in this area… there are so many restaurants that it’s hard to know where to begin or imagine that you’d ever be…

Salazar Restaurant Review

Gold Dig #57 I think Salazar might be the only spot on Jonathan Gold’s 101 Best Restaurants list that he specifically notes for its website, which might seem odd until you check it out for yourself. I won’t even try to describe it, as it’s best if you just experience the awesomeness yourself. My first…

A Traditional Yannukah Stew

This story begins with a holiday called Dirktoberfest – an annual celebration thrown around the time of Oktoberfest by my cousin Yan’s German roommate, Dirk. The highlight of Dirktoberfest was a contest to present Dirk with a beer he’d never had before, the winner of which would receive a specially reserved piece of Dirk’s homemade…

Eat-Olympics 2018

This year was the 2018 Winter Olympics. The Olympics is a competition all about bringing people from around the world together. And what better way to bring people together and celebrate diverse cultures than through the window of food? So we had a party to watch the opening ceremony, and everyone brought food from a…

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…

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…

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…

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…

Savory Sweet Ribs

When I was a kid and my mom asked what we wanted for dinner, I often requested these ribs. She was doing salty sweet before it became a thing. They’re her home version of Chinese BBQ ribs. She was a busy woman and cooked them at a higher temp for less time, but I’ve modified…

Shibumi Restaurant Review

Gold Dig #47 Shibumi is a Japanese restaurant whose menu is driven by local, organic, sustainable ingredients. It is located downtown, with a sign for the parking garage but not the restaurant itself, so look out for the uniquely shaped window. That tinted window lets in the only natural light in the place, so it’s…