It feels like I've known about The Huntington Hotel for as long as I can remember. I remember being taken there once as a child by my parents, and while I don't remember the meal, the images of traveling through a forest of oak trees before arriving at a huge, grand structure in the middle of all of that have become an indelible memory. A few [...]
On my first visit to Mori Sushi (in 2007), I had just come to appreciate the wonders of Sushi Zo, and came away from Mori Sushi impressed, but put off by the cost. Still, I felt that Chef Morihiro Onodera delivered some great Sushi and a great dining experience overall. But this was before my culinary journey to Japan, and my visit to Urasawa in [...]
Hatfield's is one of those restaurants that's garnered a lot of positive comments amongst food lovers. It's generally consisted of good recommendations without the hyperbole, almost "understated praise" in a way. And after our visit last night to Hatfield's, I think "understated" is one of the best descriptions (in a good way).From the moment I [...]
Years ago in the culinary world, the hot new buzz word was "fusion." I heard it at school, I read about it in magazines, with restaurants serving "fusion cuisine" with a mix between 2 or 3 different styles. While the term itself wasn't offensive at the time, over the years "fusion" + any cuisine has come to take on subtle undertones of disdain [...]
The Westside has been blessed with quite a few Italian eateries that have gotten a fair amount of praise over the years. While most of them are conveniently located, I've just never gotten around to visiting them for one reason or another. One such place has been La Botte in Santa Monica.La Botte occupies an understated corner space along Santa [...]
Sushi is probably one of my all-time, favorite types of food. And after having "graduated" from Nobu / Matsuhisa to Sasabune, Nozawa and Shibucho, and then to Sushi Zo, Mori Sushi, Urasawa and Sushi Mizutani, I was surprised when I realized that I hadn't been back to Sushi Zo since my last Japan Trip in 2008. Before I left for Japan, Sushi Zo was [...]
The first time I had heard about all things "Mozza," was when Pizzeria Mozza was just about to open. I remember hearing about the Mozza plan being a multi-restaurant project, with Nancy Silverton (of La Brea Bakery fame), and the always charismatic Mario Batali (of Food Network's Molto Mario and Iron Chef America fame) partnering to bring some [...]
Valentino is one restaurant that I've always meant to try, but circumstances have come up again and again to prevent me from a visit until recently. The fact that Valentino was awarded a Michelin Star last year, raised my curiosity and expectations even more.Located in a simple stretch of Pico Boulevard with a partially enclosed courtyard for [...]
