Briana Valdez recalls the comfort food from her childhood to create the best Tex-Mex restaurant around Story By Lawrence Yee | Photos by Zsuzsi Steiner When self-proclaimed “Tex-pat” Briana Valdez moved from her native Texas to California, she never imagined she’d open a restaurant, let alone three. “I’m a terrible cook but I love food,” the […]
Old World Flavor Goes Fast-Casual
Rodini Park Greek Kitchen lets you build your own wrap, bowl or salad for about ten bucks Story by Jessica Koslow | Photos by Courtnay Robbins Some people, under the tutelage of a parent or grandparent, open a restaurant because cooking is in their DNA. Or, a master chef might’ve inspired them in the kitchen during […]
Cherryvale Farms Makes Baking a Piece of Cake
Lindsey Rosenberg’s plant-based mixes cut out the need for eggs and milk Story by Jessica Koslow | Photos by Zsuzsi Steiner It’s 10:30 a.m. on a Monday, and Cherryvale Farms founder Lindsey Rosenberg is already on her second meeting. That alone is not such a great feat, until you factor in that she’s nine months pregnant, […]
Slow-cooked comfort comes to Hal’s Bar & Grill
Hal’s new chef Lee Garman spices things up with a new dinner menu Story by Jessica Koslow • Photos by Zsuzsi Steiner Some things about Hal’s Bar & Grill never change: Hal’s turkey burger, which has its own following on Instagram; Hal’s Caesar salad; the organic half chicken, a favorite of regulars; live jazz on Sunday […]
Ritrovo brings a simple menu with simple pleasures to Playa Vista
The husband and wife team behind Piccolo Ritrovo find strength in family and food By Jessica Koslow It’s easy to forget, as you bite into a delicious piece of pizza margherita or a tasty bite of gnocchi al pesto, that every restaurant has a story. Many are tales of triumph, starring real people powered by […]
Big Ideas for Small Appetites
5 kids meal hacks to make breakfast, lunch and dinner a breeze at Runway Story by Gabrielle D’Addario | Photo by Maria Martin With restaurants like Hal’s, Hopdoddy and ROC at Runway, there’s always something healthy and delicious to eat. But what about our tiny picky eaters who won’t go near a soup dumpling? We […]
Sweet, Sweet Success
Stacy’s Cookie Lounge is taking edible artwork to a whole new level By Jessica Koslow Imagine walking through the doors of Stacy’s Cookie Lounge at happy hour. There are drinks being poured (lots of tea) and cookies all around: Super Snickerdoodle, El Gringo Picante and gluten-free chocolate chip, just to name a few. You melt […]
¡Hola Mezcal!
The smoky, sexy and sophisticated tequila alternative is finally getting its moment By Andy Vasoyan For those above a certain age, the word “tequila” can provoke a powerful emotional response. Some react with strong negatives born from unpleasant memories, others a manic grin and a willingness to call in sick the next day. Like the […]
Where Happiness is on the Menu
Hash is Playa Vista’s version of a friendly neighborhood diner, and word is spreading fast By Jessica Koslow Hash. It’s a breezy word, with a few different meanings. Merriam-Webster lists it as “chopped meat mixed with potatoes and browned.” Or, “a confused muddle.” Apparently, it’s also Irish slang, used to refer to mixing things up […]
Red Meat Goes Green
Mootral holds a climate-smart beef tasting at the Playa Jefferson campus By Shanee Edwards Who doesn’t love a juicy, tender filet mignon grilled medium-rare? Or a Double-Double animal style from In-N-Out? Well, vegetarians to start. And environmentalists. According to a 2013 report from the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization, animals raised for consumption are […]