Don Julio Hosts Pairing with Ilan Hall

Posted on December 11, 2010 by Kiki Maraschino

      

I love Don Julio. I have loved Don Julio since certain members of the press were sneaking it into our peach nectars one night while on a press junket to rescue turtles in Mexico. It was with great excitement I sat down to a pairing with Top Chef season two winner Ilan Hall, whose restaurant, the Gorbals, has long been on my to-do list.    

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Ain’t we Swank! Ilan Hall and Don Julio

Posted on November 25, 2010 by Kiki Maraschino

OK, so by now you all have a basic idea of how this blogger thing works. Sometimes I just go to a restaurant on my own dime and tell you what I think. But sometimes restaurants, liquor companies or benefits host “events” and they invite bloggers to cover them. In return, they expect us to come take pictures and tell you all about the fun.

When Don Julio invited me to try their tequilas paired with Ilan Hall’s food, I eagerly packed my camera and prepared to check out The Gorbals. Don Julio was super-responsible and super-swank by sending cars for those of us who didn’t want to risk driving drunk. Bravo!

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Why you Gotta Hate on Green Bean Casserole?

Posted on November 24, 2010 by Kiki Maraschino

It is a strange thing being on Betty Crocker’s email list. It’s a blessing and it’s a curse. I don’t mean to be a food snob — I have eaten my share of mayonnaise, Top Ramen, and instant cake mix. But some of her suggestions just blow my mind.

Take for instance the upscale Supreme Green Bean Casserole. What makes it supreme? Truffle shavings? Caviar? God forbid, FRESH green beans? REAL fried onions? No way, that’s just not Betty’s style.

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Thanksgiving is Easy!

Posted on November 22, 2010 by Kiki Maraschino

Remember that tear-jerking story-song, Rocky?

She said, “Rocky, I never cooked Thanksgiving before, don’t know if I can do it… but if you’ll let me lean on you, and take my hand, I might get through it…”

Thanksgiving is actually much easier than a lot of dinners I’ve cooked. It’s one of the easiest. People just become intimidated by the sheer size of everything, and the fear of being judged. Just think of it as cooking a giant chicken. Gone are the days where you have to get up a hundred times all night to baste the turkeys. Overcooking turkeys dried them out. Don’t let the charts and graphs freak you out. They are there for reference. And remember, everyone at the table is just so relieved they didn’t have to cook, you can get away with murder.

So let’s do this thing!

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Restaurant Roundup: It’s Truffle Time!

Posted on November 17, 2010 by Kiki Maraschino

It is Autumn, and that means one thing — truffles! OK, Autumn mean a lot of things, but for the sake of this article, let’s just say it means one thing. And that one thing is …truffles! Bouchon in Beverly Hills will be celebrating truffle season by featuring both white and black burgundy shaved truffle as an optional addition to any dish (shaved white truffle mousse, anyone?). The restaurant recommends adding the white truffles to  carnaroli risotto, scrambled farm eggs and the Croque Madame. Or add fresh Burgundy truffles to your Le Burger or NY Strip Steak.

This week’s KCRW’s Good Food with Evan Kleinman airing on Saturday, November 20, from 11am-noon was recorded primarily at the farmers market in Santa Monica. The show will be archived, available as a podcast or on-demand, after 12 noon on Sat., Nov. 20 here. Evan Kleinman will be talking to chefs about vegetarian and ethnic Thanksgivings, turduken, and backyard farms. Jonathan Gold will be talking about Roy Choi’s A-Frame and Lesley Bargar Suter of Los Angeles Magazine will be discussing the best Mexican food in LA.

On Sundays, Palate in Glendale offers a 3-courses featuring produce from the local farmers market. Reservations are suggested for the Sunday supper that runs from 5-9PM.  This Sunday, November 21st the menu features oxtail stew / nshima / sweet potato / collard greens $ 12

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Forget Peking Duck – Get a Whole Peking Turkey!

Posted on November 15, 2010 by Kiki Maraschino

The United States is often described as a melting pot, and Thanksgiving is representative of our diversity. We have Southwestern turkeys, Cajun deep-fried turkey and turkey mole with chorizo stuffing. This year, Chinatown is all over Thanksgiving. Restaurants are offering “BBQ roasted turkeys” to take home. Available only during the month of November, the turkeys are steeped in a soy sauce marinade which is made with two different kinds of vinegar, a sweet syrup, and star anise.

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When Life Gives You Lemons…

Posted on November 14, 2010 by Kiki Maraschino

LA Loves Alex’s Lemonade took place last Sunday on the stately grounds of the mansion at  Culver Studios. Gone with the Wind was filmed there — does it get any more chichi than that? The well-tended grounds were strewn with checkered picnic blankets, and the air was alive with the laughter of children, making the easygoing event feel more like a church carnival or small town fair than an elegant ball at Tara.

The enthusiasm was contagious as everyone carried on the spirit of of Alex, a little girl with cancer whose front yard lemonade stand grew into a foundation that raised over a million dollars before she passed away. The foundation continues hosting lemonade stands large and small, in her name. LA Loves Alex ‘s Lemonade was definitely on the larger end of the spectrum, with world-renowned chefs pitching in to raise money for children’s cancer research.

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My Top Faves at CBS’ Great Chefs

Posted on November 10, 2010 by Kiki Maraschino

 

1. The first offering I came across at the Great Chefs of LA event taking place in the backlot of CBS was Momed’s duck shawarma. Momed, in Beverly Hills, is a contraction of “Modern Mediterranean”. The pita looked awfully generous for someone who knows she is going to be faced with a wealth of tempting food that day. Still, I ate the entire thing (maybe scarfed it down is a more accurate description, but doesn’t sound quite so professional). Rich, delicious and sweet, the duck meat was offset with an intense sauce. A perfect start for the day.

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CBS “Great Chefs of LA” Event Hits another Home Run

Posted on November 10, 2010 by Kiki Maraschino


Last Sunday CBS Studios was once again the site of “Great Chefs of LA”, a benefit for The National Kidney Foundation of Southern California. As usual it was a feast for the senses. The slightly overcast day didn’t turn to rain and provided the relief of cool shade for chefs used to working in the heat. The set at CBS is a residential street, and the quaint porches with swings made a nice backdrop for the event.

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Dia de los Muertos at Olvera Street

Posted on November 8, 2010 by Kiki Maraschino

Every year the Merchants Association of Olvera Street holds one of the most authentic and religious Dia de lose Muertos celebrations in Los Angeles. With the blessings, altars, incense, dancing and rituals, you can truly see the marriage of paganism and Catholicism. Continue reading →

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Cafe 50s Prepares to Rock LACC

Posted on November 6, 2010 by Kiki Maraschino

Just across the street from LA City College, next to a pool hall and an arcade, a Cafe 50s opened this week to bring burgers and sweet potato fries to hungry locals and LACC students.

It’s easy to confuse Cafe 50s with Fred Debevic’s, Johnny Rockets, and a whole other host of retro 50s diners (Although often lumped in with the 50s Cafes, Ruby’s Diner is actually 40s retro). For you young-uns, there was a big 50s revival in the 80s, kind of like the 80s revival of late But Cafe 50s differs in that for all the kitsch, the food is actually good.  The burgers are thick and juicy, and there are lots of fried guilty pleasures.

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Sunday! Sunday! Sunday! Great Chefs at CBS!

Posted on November 5, 2010 by Kiki Maraschino

Once again this Sunday CBS Studios will host its annual “Great Chefs of LA” to benefit The National Kidney Foundation of Southern California. Hosted by George Lopez, himself a recipient of a kidney transplant, it is one of LA foodies’ favorite events of the season.

Piper Heidsieck will be pouring the bubbly, because only the best will do. Hunky Ben Ford of Ford’s Filling Station and Brian Moyers of BLT Steak will be on hand, along with chefs from Akasha, Loteria Grill, and The Bazaar. I can’t wait to flirt with Celestino Drago and catch up with Josie La Balch. I love them, and they can tell.

The size of the event is reasonable, so you can easily sample most of the bites without feeling too full or trekking all over the place. See how much fun we had last year, even without Paul Stanley. General admission is $150. The event starts at 12 noon and continues until 3:30pm. Purchase tickets here.

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This Sunday! LA Loves Alex’s Lemonade!

Posted on November 5, 2010 by Kiki Maraschino

Once upon a time there was a little girl named Alex. Diagnosed with cancer before she was even a year old, she decided to hold a lemonade stand at the age of four to help raise money for the hospital. She ended up raising an impressive $2000. And every year after that, Alex hosted her lemonade stand.

Soon, people all over the world heard about Alex and started hosting their own lemonade stands to help. When Alex left us at the age of eight, she had already inspired donations of more than a million dollars. Alex’s Lemonade Stand took off from there.

On Sunday, Suzanne Goin, Caroline Styne and David Lentz along with Honorary Chairperson Jennifer Garner and MC Jim Belushi will be hosting a spectacular lemonade stand, LA-style. From 12 noon until 4pm “A Decadent Chef’s Cookout will take place on the beautiful lawn of the mansion of Culver Studios (9336 Washington Blvd., Culver City).

The event will feature cocktails and the food of celebrity chefs including Neal Fraser, John Besh, Nancy Silverton, and Giada De Laurentiis. Tickets start at $150 for a general ticket and $350 for a VIP ticket. Children 9 and under are free! Buy tickets here

 
 
 
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LA Mag’s Presentations

Posted on November 3, 2010 by Kiki Maraschino

 

OK, I swear, this is the last LA Magazine Food Event post — this year. Besides a feast of delectables, there were some fantastic chef demos and panels. Chef Rory Hermann of Boucon shows us how to cook vegetables three ways and a lovely roast. Main lesson: let your meat rest!

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My Top Ten Faves at LA Magazine’s Food Event

Posted on November 2, 2010 by Kiki Maraschino

The LA Magazine Food Event had soooooo much food and sooooo many events, it was just impossible to fit them all into one post. So just think of it like Shark Week. With more food. And no sharks. This year there was noticably less seafood and an awful lot of meat. But I like meat. Meat is good. So without further ado, here are some of my favorite dishes. Keep in mind that I couldn’t try every single thing, so it’s a random sampling.

1. Westside Tavern’s shortrib crostini. Meaty and flavorful, with a nice dollop of creme fraiche with horseradish

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