Archive for May, 2010

Food Book Review – Makerel at Midnight

By Larry Levine – The full title is Mackerel at Midnight – Growing up Jewish on a Remote Scottish Island. It’s written by Ethel G. Hofman, a syndicated food journalist, cookbook author and past president of the International Association of Culinary Professionals. And it’s a fascinating tale of social history, food and two diverse cultures [...]
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TO VEAL, OR NOT TO VEAL

By Larry Levine - Jennifer won’t eat veal. It’s an ethical issue for her. She’s seen the photos and documentaries about how the animals are raised. I don’t have any such problems. To me veal is part of the food chain. I love veal – a great veal chop served at Panzanella in Sherman Oaks, [...]
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TAVERN OFF THE GREEN
TAVERN OFF THE GREEN

By Larry Levine – If the second highest grossing independently owned and operated restaurant in the nation can’t make it, what does that say about a) the state of the restaurant business, b) the economy, c) the management of the place, d) the City of New York, or e) all of the above? Tavern on [...]
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Climbing the Stairway to Chocolate Chip Heaven

By Larry Sheingold - Atop the food group pyramid, towering over all those nutritionally redeeming proteins, grains and vegetables, is western civilization’s concession to guilty pleasure. The chocolate chip cookie. And at the most advanced end of the evolutionary chain of chocolate chippery is the cookie baked at Sacramento’s Freeport Bakery (2966 Freeport Blvd). You [...]
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ALEXANDER VALLEY COMES TO SANTA MONICA

By Larry Levine – The emailed invitation couldn’t have been more timely. Melisse was having a special wine pairing dinner featuring wines from the Alexander Valley in Northern California. It was one of those “life sends me a message” moments. The event was on my birthday, May 5, and I already had decided I wanted [...]
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PINK’S? Are you kidding?

By Larry Levine I’ve been pondering Larry Sheingold’s “Hoppin’ Down the Wienie Trail” posting for a while and I find I have to respond. I trust Larry’s taste in restaurants. After all, he recognizes Langer’s in L.A. for the best pastrami sandwich anywhere and he recommended Hash House A Go Go in San Diego for [...]
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Hoppin’ Down the Wienie Trail

By Larry Sheingold This isn’t about finding America’s best hot dog. There isn’t one. Any more than we have a best artist or athlete. But like art, hot dog houses can be guideposts to our culture. Our national identity has a lot of parts – from literature and architecture to personalities and politicians. But to [...]
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