LA Magazine’s Food Event: Is that a Llama in Your Mercedes?

Posted on November 1, 2010 by Kiki Maraschino


Last weekend Los Angeles magazine was host to one of everyone’s favorite food events of the year. It is so representative of its kind, it doesn’t even have to have a name. It’s just called “The Food Event”. Participants are top-notch every year, like the jams and preserves offered by Akasha shown above. The fig was especially addictive.

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My Scary Neighbor

Posted on October 31, 2010 by Kiki Maraschino


I live near the studios, which means we have some really intense Halloween decorations and haunted houses. This guy is back after a 2-year hiatus while they have been completely gutting his house. Beware, some of the pictures are pretty gory.

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Posted in cupcakes, holidays, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Out and About: Local Specials

Posted on October 29, 2010 by Kiki Maraschino

The beautiful brie shown above was a last-minute substitution for frites at Cafe Massilia, a fantastic little bistro in Monrovia that I dicovered by pure serendipity this week. They will be hosting a Wine Tasting Dinner Event called “All Around France” on Wednesday, 3rd of November, 2010 at 6:45 pm. The bistro will offer 5 Courses Paired with 5 Wines:

Welcome Drinks: Glass of Champagne

Amuse Bouche au Crabe et Sauce Tartare ~ Crab Cake Served with Tartare Sauce ~LoireValley:  Pierre Luneau Papin, Muscadet, 2008 White

Carpaccio de Boeuf, Salade de Roquette et Lamelle de Parmesan ~ Beef Carpaccio, Shaved Parmesan and Arugula Salad ~Languedoc:  Reserve Sainte Channelle, Pinot Noir, 2008 Reserve

Lotte Meuniere en Robe de Jambon Cru, Feuille de Romaine et Sauce aux Champignons ~ Monk Fish with Prosciutto, Romaine Leaf and Mushroom Sauce  ~ Loire Valley:  Gitton Pere et Fils, Sancerre, 2002, White

Choucrute Garnie

~ Sauerkraut Garnished with Frankfurt Sausage, Pork Skin, Back Ribs and Pork Belly ~ Alsace:  Kuehn, Pinot Gris, 2008, White

Ile Flottante, Sauce Anglaise et Caramel

~ Floating Island with English Sauce and Caramel ~ Languedoc:  Reserve Sainte Channelle, Cabarnet Sauvignon, 2007, Red

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How to Make the Best Grilled Cheese Sandwich in the World

Posted on October 27, 2010 by Kiki Maraschino

I spent some time with the guys from The Foundry, kings of the world’s best grilled cheese sandwich, last weekend at LA Magazine’s Food Event. I’m serious about this sandwich. They even have the trophies to prove it. Check out Josh McKnight as he rocks the grill.

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Remember to Pace Yourself Sunday at LA Magazine’s Food Event from the Vine!

Posted on October 22, 2010 by Kiki Maraschino

People, I cannot stress enough the importance of doing your stretches. This Sunday, LA Magazine will be hosting its 5th annual Food Event and you will want to be in it for the duration. Sure, you’ve been to big food events before, but did you ever have to outrun a camel?

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Oktoberfest at Rush Street

Posted on October 21, 2010 by Kiki Maraschino

I grew up near Alpine Village where Oktoberfest is a big deal and frankly, kind of scary. But when Rush Street invited me to their Oktoberfest, I couldn’t accept fast enough. I love Rush Street and there was no chance of being accosted by an oompah band.

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Roy’s Unveils its Fall Fusion Menu

Posted on October 20, 2010 by Kiki Maraschino

I will confess that I had not seen the inside of a Roy’s Restaurant prior to an invitation to join Queequeg for a special sampling of their Fall Fusion Prix Fixe menu. I had always assumed Roy’s would all be sticky, sweet sauces, pork and pineapple. The delicious 1988 Martini with grapefruit and pomegranite juices was  the only tropical treat we sampled.

Roy’s is more of an upper middle-class restaurant with a varied menu. Although it is a chain, the chefs are allowed leeway beyond Roy’s signature dishes and special event menus, so each restaurant features a number of different options. For example, Roy’s Pasadena offers opah, and Anaheim features barramundi, while Roy’s LA is much more meat-heavy.

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Jonathan Gold’s Cocktail party to Benefit Zócalo

Posted on October 11, 2010 by Kiki Maraschino
Zócalo‘s Gregory Rodriguez: Founder/Executive Director/Executive Editor, Swati Pandey: Managing Editor, Laura Villalpando: Media & Field Producer, Dulce Vasquez: Program Director with Zócalo supporter/award-winning author/bon vivant Jonathan Gold

      

Zócalo Public Square is a Los Angeles-based idea-wrangler. Their popular lectures and panels often focus on politics, food, and the politics of food. But it would be unfair to pigeon-hole them, as their mission is about offering a forum for the entire spectrum, bringing together disparate fields and giving a voice to the unheard since 2003.        

Zócalo also offers screenings, conferences, and produces a web-based magazine. Focusing on community, they They reach out to “…a new, young, and diverse generation…Zócalo Public Square connects people to ideas and to each other in an open, accessible, non-partisan and broad-minded spirit.”      

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The Elusive Midnight Buffet

Posted on October 8, 2010 by Kiki Maraschino

I grew up hearing my parents’ stories about cruises they had taken with fabulous midnight all-you-can-eat shrimp buffets. Their descriptions bordered on the Bacchanalian. As I prepared for my most recent cruise, people commented, “Lucky you! You get the midnight all-you-can-eat shrimp buffet!”

I retorted, “I don’t believe there is such a thing as a midnight all-you-can eat shrimp buffet! It’s an urban legend. I have been on TWO cruises and there was no midnight buffet in sight.”

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I love it when we’re cruisin’ together

Posted on October 8, 2010 by Kiki Maraschino

So…by now you are probably all wondering how the food was on the ship. There was a choice between a buffet and a sit-down dinner. There was also a little burger stand out by the pool. I didn’t make it to the two restaurants where you pay to dine. The buffet was the usual thing, not always my favorite. But they did have some wonderful international food, including a spectacular Indonesian chicken curry.

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The Pig Hands of Puerto Vallarta

Posted on October 7, 2010 by Kiki Maraschino

I had an afternoon to myself to wander the streets of Puerto Vallarta. Why would they ban corgies? Those dogs never hurt anybody, and have no political leanings of which I am aware.

I asked the taxi drivers where they go to eat and they all said they only eat at home. Finally I said I wanted to go somewhere where a grandmother was cooking and they understood. I was delivered with haste to the door of Cenaduria Dona Raquel.

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One Bitchin’ Boat

Posted on October 5, 2010 by Kiki Maraschino

I recently went on a cruise to Mexico. The ship was gorgeous. Upon first embarking, we were greeting by huge glass sculptures reminiscent of Chihuly.

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Blogger Prom 2010 at Yamashiro

Posted on September 23, 2010 by Kiki Maraschino

Faithful readers may be wondering where Kiki Maraschino has been lately. Just the usual really, living a life of glamour and intrigue. Last night we attended the Blogger Prom soiree at Yamashiro above the glittering lights of Hollywood. Yamashiro, set on the hill above The Magic Castle is so glam The L Word used it for Jenny’s movie premiere, and we all know what a diva she was.

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Cacao: Are You Game?

Posted on September 22, 2010 by Kiki Maraschino

With beloved eateries like Casa Bianca Pizzaria and Oinkster, Colorado Boulevard in Eagle Rock is quickly becoming “home to all things delicious.” One restaurant at East LA Meets Napa had served wild boar tacos — and I missed it. So it was like instant karma when I met a friend for lunch at CaCao in Eagle Rock. What was that on the menu? Wild boar! This was the place. Colorado Boulevard scores again.

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Chicken in a Can

Posted on September 10, 2010 by Kiki Maraschino

We eat chicken in a can, just like tuna, but for some reason I found this can really disturbing. ONE WHOLE chicken. Do you open it up and pull out a whole chicken? If it said entire chicken it would have a different meaning. This implies you get beak, feet and all. Well, except for the giblets.

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