Places

  • Celebrating the Two Major Muslim “Eids”

    Muslims all over the world this week are celebrating Eid al-Adha. Eid al-Fitr, one of the religion’s principal festivals was celebrated in spring. Ken Chitwood, a scholar of global Islam, helped us understand the two Islamic festivals. Eid literally means festival or feast in Arabic. There are two major eids in the Islamic cal...

  • Instant New Favorite! Acclaimed Chef Tony Dim Sum

    (Gerry Furth-Sides) Our meals at the highly acclaimed Sea Harbor Seafood Restaurant are lifetime memorable because of Chef Tony in the kitche. Now you can experience the reason why at Chef Tony Dim Sum in Old Town Pasadena. Here you can go in on your own in the Old Town Pasadena location. Instead of the […]...

  • “Hello Tartness, My Old Friend”

    (Gerry Furth-Sides) In the “everything old is new again,” we discover ancient ingredients that have traveled the world in classic and now new forms. Barberries, pomegranate molasses and for our kitchen, preserved lemons have become favorites as they have been for hundreds of years. And as wonderfully surprising an in...

  • Pecorino: The Wine not the Cheese!

    (Gerry Furth-Sides) Yes! Cheese is what comes to mind when you say “Pecorino”.  But the name of favorite zesty cheese has another new meaning in the wine world for a compelling white wine.  It a single grape, crisp, aromatic that is of the highest calibre and astonishingly inexpensive. Still, Food Pairing...

  • Surprise Culinary Celebrities at AbilityFirst Food & Wine Festival

    (Gerry Furth-Sides) Celebrities This year’s AbilityFirst Food & Wine Festival will bring nearly 400 guests together in the stunning gardens to celebrate and sample wares from 20 top restaurants, cocktail bars, wineries, and breweries and much more.  The Historic Laurabelle A. Robinson House in Pasadena,...

  • Biryani Bowl- The Best in the Bay Area

    (Gerry Furth-Sides) We were lucky enough to join a festive full house at Biryani Bowl in Fremont, California for week-end specials of the best world-famous “dum biryani.” This Hyderabad style means unbroken long grain basmati rice with seasoned, marinated chicken or Halal goat or egg … slow-cooked in a speci...

  • Prohibition History Repeats at Italian San Antonio Winery

    Gerry Furth-Sides) During prohibition serving wine for church sacraments saves San Antonio Winery. These days it has been home delivery and pick=-ups. In fact sales were up 30% during COVID. Completely open now for safe outdoor and indoor dining that makes any day special, owner Santo is on hand to greet us and the staff do...

  • National Chianti Lovers Tour Full of Surprises

    (Gerry Furth-Sides) Italy’s oldest and most cherished wine associations. Consorzio Vino Chianti was thrilled to return to sunny Los Angeles as the last stop on a whirlwind three-day tour. We were thrilled to be treated to a horizontal tasting of 2017 Riserva Chianti from each of the seven subdistricts. Added to that, a mou...

  • El Granjero Cantina: “The Farmer” Refined and Still Fun at Original Farmer’s Market

    (Gerry Furth-Sides) El Granjero translates into “The Farmer.” In Spanish: “Persona que posee una granja o trabaja en una granja cuidando de los animales y de los productos del campo.” So its perfect in its new location at the Original Farmers Market in Los Angeles. It is as welcoming as any country home c...

  • Top Three Asian Fried Chicken in LA: Filipino, Korean and South Indian

     (Gerry Furth-Sides) “Fried Chicken” in any language means an instant favorite. Fried chicken continues to be one of the top five most popular dishes in almost any country that serves it. And what’s not to like in any form of it, from buttermilk coated to extra spicy battered? Start with what Anthony Bourd...