Author: eatwritela

I'm a full-time freelance journalist specializing in the Southern California good life: food, wine, travel and year-round recreation.
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RoofTop Chef Michael Voltaggio Heats up the Roosevelt

“Did anyone hear the smoke alarm?” Renowned chef Michael Voltaggio’s asking a cocktail-attired assemblage of food writers, bloggers, phone app picture-snappers, and hangers-on seated for dinner atop the historic Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood because, he tells us, they “just about burned the place down.” The Top Chef winner briefly explains that there was a kitchen fire that got a little out of hand, and laments … Continue reading RoofTop Chef Michael Voltaggio Heats up the Roosevelt

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juicy pop, mmm...tasty

Olivia Munn Establishes L.A.’s Newest Thing: Jerky Tasting

In honor of National Beef Jerky Day, which we annually observe on the twelfth of the June (and quick aside, has still yet to be named a national holiday) Master Jerky Sommelier and movie star Olivia Munn hosted a jerky tasting and pairing for elite members of the social variety of media. The exclusive event presented by Chef’s Cut Jerky was held behind the velvet … Continue reading Olivia Munn Establishes L.A.’s Newest Thing: Jerky Tasting

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Cognac-Tasting Pub Crawl L.A.-Style

To celebrate Cognac Classics Week, Hennessy’s U.S. Head of Mixology & Brand Education (nice work if you can get it!), Jordan Bushell, hosted a select group of adventurous journalists on a mission to explore a trio of the city’s finest Cognac-concocting establishments. The second annual Cognac Classics Week, which kicks off May 22, is a cocktail program launched in partnership with Liquor.com. For Hennessey, it’s … Continue reading Cognac-Tasting Pub Crawl L.A.-Style

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A Taste of Cognac

Two ounces of Hennessy VSOP, three-quarters of an ounce each of Cointreau and fresh-squeezed lemon juice. Shake over ice, strain into a sugar-rimmed martini glass and serve up. Voila! The Sidecar. Is there a cocktail so simple, yet so elegant; so refreshing, yet so intoxicating? There are a variety of other cognacs and orange liqueurs you can substitute (Here’s a good analysis of the latter), … Continue reading A Taste of Cognac

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Fall Lala: A Trio of Seasonal Experiences in L.A.

It’s autumn in L.A. once again, and while the rest of the country shivers, we’re blessed with warm days and cool nights. This is a time of year to celebrate, and with that in mind, here are three ways to let your spirit soar this fall. The Rooftop Above Sixty Nothing says Los Angeles quite like reclining poolside with a view of the Hollywood Hills, … Continue reading Fall Lala: A Trio of Seasonal Experiences in L.A.

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The Nickel Mine is a Touchdown for West L.A.

The Westside just got a major upgrade in the sports bar department. The Nickel Mine, a casual concept from the team behind Cocina Condesa and The Woodsman, fills a much-needed void in a neighborhood that is known as Little Osaka or the Sawtelle District or plain old West Los Angeles. Located on Santa Monica Boulevard, in the former Il Grano space, in an area heavily … Continue reading The Nickel Mine is a Touchdown for West L.A.

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Shiki Beverly Hills wagyu
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Shiki Beverly Hills: Ambassador of Wagyu

Rice has been a staple of the Japanese diet since time immemorial, but in recent years, it is beef that has put Japan on the culinary map. Cattle were used as draft animals in rice farming. In fact, tradition has it that the animal, domesticated on the Asian continent, was first introduced to the island country in 400 BCE. Even so, meat was generally not … Continue reading Shiki Beverly Hills: Ambassador of Wagyu

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The Art of Cognac: Hennessy Teams with Tattoo Artist Scott Campbell

In its continuing support of artists, Hennessy this month launched its latest limited-edition collaboration with American tattooist Scott Campbell. The Brooklyn-based artist created an intricate label for the Hennessy Very Special Limited Edition. The bottle design was inspired by drawings and notes from a journal of James Hennessy, the family’s second-generation visionary, who took the reins of the Cognac-making dynasty from his father in 1788. The … Continue reading The Art of Cognac: Hennessy Teams with Tattoo Artist Scott Campbell

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Check New Zealand off Your Bucket List

Travelers, take heart, your world keeps getting a little smaller. Last year, American Airlines began nonstop service from LAX to Australia, and this year, it is expanding to include daily flights to New Zealand. To celebrate the new bond between L.A. and Auckland, the iPic theater in Westwood recently played host to a celebration of the island nation that stood in for Middle Earth in … Continue reading Check New Zealand off Your Bucket List

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