World Cup of Yum

Manuela Restaurant Review

Gold Dig #67 I think Manuela makes Jonathan Gold’s 101 Best Restaurants list as much for its atmosphere as for its food. Located downtown in the Hauser & Wirth building, the restaurant blends into the art galleries with specially commissioned lighting and artwork of its own, and a patio that looks out onto the sculpture…

Japanese Restaurant Dressing

You know that salad you get at the start of a meal at so many Japanese restaurants? And somehow they all seem to have the same dressing (which I’m not complaining about, because it’s sweet gingery deliciousnous)? Well, I always enjoy that salad, and found myself wondering why I couldn’t have it more often. So…

Kismet Restaurant Review

Gold Dig #66 On Jonathan Gold’s 101 Best Restaurant’s list, Kismet is referred to as a “neo-Middle Eastern bistro”. The all-day eatery (open 10am-11pm) has the sleek, modern feel recognizable in Jon and Vinny establishments. Located in Los Feliz, it was a long trek for me from the west side, but I talked a friend…

Rosaline Restaurant Review

Gold Dig #65 Rosaline is the only Peruvian restaurant on Jonathan Gold’s 101 Best Restaurants list at the time of this writing. Located in the prime eating area of West Hollywood, the front room has a bar and somewhat of an open kitchen where you can watch the magic happen. The back room is a…

Aburiya Raku Restaurant Review

Gold Dig #64 Aburiya Raku is a West Hollywood branch of the much-talked-about Japanese izakaya restaurant of the same name in Las Vegas. The cozy spot apparently has a very different feel from the Las Vegas original, but the food is just as good and it makes Jonathan Gold’s 101 Best Restaurants list. Aburiya Raku…

Roasted Acorn Squash with Hazelnuts, Brown Butter and Rosemary

Cookbook Club – Gjelina: Cooking from Venice, California Our April Cookbook Club book was Gjelina: Cooking from Venice, California by popular LA chef Travis Lett. You can see our whole recreation of the Gjelina experience on my Cookbook Club site. For now – my dish! The idea of brown butter, hazelnuts, and rosemary immediately conjured…

Connie and Ted’s Restaurant Review

Gold Dig #63 Connie and Ted’s is the big place with the swooping ceiling on a main stretch of West Hollywood that on Jonathan Gold’s 101 Best Restaurants list, he calls a “clam shack”. Inside is an open kitchen and a bar. Outside is a fantastic patio, which unfortunately looks out onto the parking lot…

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…

Garlic & Chives Restaurant Review

Gold Dig #62 There are typically a handful of Orange County spots that make Jonathan Gold’s 101 Best Restaurants list, and Garlic and Chives is one of them. There is always some debate among followers of Jonathan Gold about whether or not he should be including these restaurants on his list, as the OC is…

Ramen Salad

I’m not gonna lie… instant ramen is delicious. It was one of my favorite snacks as a kid, and it was only later in life that I discovered it has almost no nutritional value. But it’s still delicious. So use it to make this super easy salad, and you get the flavor you love in…

Drago Centro Restaurant Review

Gold Dig #61 Drago Centro is an Italian restaurant located downtown in City National Plaza. On Jonathan Gold’s 101 Best Restaurants list, he calls it one of “the most commanding restaurants downtown”. The large, glassed-in dining room has a high arched ceiling, an impressive tower of wines behind the bar, and a great view of…

Lemon Posset

This is a creamy lemon dessert that feels in the genre of panna cottas and mousses, only without all the fuss in the making. With just 3 ingredients and 3 simple steps, a magical food science thing happens where the dessert thickens into silky goodness without having to mess with any of the typical thickening…