Cuisines

  • Our Favorite Valentine Day Restaurants for Two or Twenty

    (Gerry Furth-Sides) Celestino Ristorante in Pasadena on historic Lake Street is one of the rare huge, rambling spaces in which you could happily dine alone (we were there on a holiday eve with about 15 other people and felt so special) or a party of 100.  Perfect for Valentine’s day as a couple or with friends. […]...

  • Save the Date: LAT 2020 FOODBOWL Kicks off with Mexican Tribute

    (Gerry Furth-Sides) Mexico City with its historic, extraordinary cuisine will be honored on the first night of the Los Angeles Times FOOD BOWL that takes place during the entire month of May this year.  Opening night, April 30, kicks off with an ambitious evening of night tacos and talks about the connections between the sister...

  • Make an International “Wow” Cheese Board Garden

    (Gerry Furth-Sides) Right in time for Super Bowl Sunday and Valentine’s Day, Melissa’s hosted Shelia Doloukani in their test kitchen for a cheese board building class.  A lush display works for any holiday or gift occasion right through the year and can be themed with favorite or seasonal foods for such holidays as Moth...

  • Melissa’s “Insider” Produce Trend Preview for 2020

    (Gerry Furth-Sides) “Pee wee potatoes and giant jackfruit in small portion packages run the range of what to look for in 2020.  Several the trends focus on ethnic produce going more and more mainstream, and more convenient ways to eat them or to extend the season. The giant jackfruit is a surprise to anyone eating [&helli...

  • Breaking Bread Indian Style in 2020

    (Gerry Furth-Sides) Indian foods are becoming so popular many of them have gone mainstream this year.  Indian breads are one of the best examples of the reason why because even the most reluctant bread eater will love them. Here are the most popular with their history and the reason why. One of the most irresistible […]...

  • Next Generation Marius Taix and Marius Taix Jr. of Les Freres Taix French Restaurant

    (Gerry Furth-Sides) Second generation Michael Taix is credited with transforming the landmark continental era restaurant back to Le Frere Taix’s original French roots, and has been successful at attracting a wide-range of customers from long-time customers and business executives from 11:30 a.m. into happy hour at 5 p.m., to f...

  • The Joy of the New (Expanded) Joy of Cooking Book

    (Gerry Furth-Sides) From the newest generation of the JOY family, for a new generation of cooks, comes a brand-new edition of America’s most enduring and trusted cookbook, the Joy of Cooking.   is a true celebration of foundational recipes that have stood the test of time, and an introduction to over 600 new recipes chose...

  • Centuries Old Clement French Caribbean Créole Shrubb the New Garden Guy

    Clement’s Caribbean Créole Shrubb is a superb blend of the finest white and aged Agricole Rhums,  interlaced with macerated Créole spices and sun-bleached bitter orange peels.  Its sunny aromas and flavors are themselves reminiscent of Martinique. A staple of Caribbean culture, Créole Shrubb is the “secret ingredien...

  • Restaurant of the Future? – It’s Here in Pasadena Now

    (Gerry Furth-Sides) It’s shocking to think that 60% delivery is not uncommon in todays most successful restaurants (we just wrote about the Mandarette going through this)  in the rapidly changing restaurant world.  On the one hand, less personal contact is already here with delivery options, and now the newest common tre...

  • New Italian-Inspired No Faux “No-Fat Cheese” We Love!

    (Gerry Furth-Sides) Who doesn’t love cheese? The fatty, satiating texture and slightly salty taste of cheese is universally satisfying whether eaten alone as a salad or topping pizza, salads, casseroles or omelettes.  An extraordinary Italian company allows cheese lovers to forget the carbs and high fat these days with Â...