(Gerry Furth-Sides, all images courtesy of Il Piccolo Verde) Il Piccolo Verde, “A Little Green” in Italian, is an inviting and engaging trattoria that adds up so more than the sum of its parts. The insane late hours alone and the live entertainment that blends right into the dining atmosphere, prove the dedication of its ...
(Gerry Furth-Sides) Icy glaciers, serene cloudless skies and a sense of the deep find their way into the wondrous new wines from the ancient regions of Valpolicella and Lugana in northern Italy. A cavernous, shadowy urban hall was the scene of a recent wine tasting in Los Angeles. But the wines carried guests away to...
(Gerry Furth-Sides) The rainy, windy weather couldn’t have been more appropriate to introduce the Cecchi wines at Cecconi Restaurant recently, with the superb new La Mora Vermentino Maremma DOC 2016 at the head of the list. The Cecchi La Mora, Vermentino Maremma, arrived dry, bright and fresh, with glints of minerali...
Special occasion celebrations are key at Maggiano’s Little Italy® especially judging from the arriving groups of guests with gift boxes and special occasion helium balloons. A favorite for special occasions, the restaurant was host to more than 535,000 celebrations in 2016 alone. Inside the tables are set for partie...
(Gerry Furth-Sides) Straightforward Italian-American dishes with a few novel twists weren’t so much of a surprise in the New Brunch Menu at Maggiano’s Little Italy. Apparently, I am not alone. A guest favorite for special occasions, Maggiano’s Little Italy was host to more than 535,000 celebrations in 201...
Thin crust black “carbon” pizza at ‘O Munaciello, is the newest addition to the menu of the restaurant, which recently opened its first U.S. outpost in Miami’s MiMo District, recreating and interpreting traditional Neapolitan dishes. ‘O Munaciello is a full-menu restaurant and pizzeria that is consid...
(Gerry Furth-Sides) Serafina Sunset now offers a new Italian-inspired week-end brunch menu. Brunch from 11:30 AM to 4 PM at the breezy, very social means Friday, Saturday and Sunday. (www.serafinasunset.com). The opening of Serafina Sunset, fall of 2016, was the first California installment of the popular ...
(Darien, Morea, photos by Gerry Furth-Sides) Even after a recent remodel, Domingo’s Italian Deli, San Fernando Valley mainstay for all foods Italian since it opened in 1948, retains its substantial old-world, friendly feel. Domingo’s Italian Deli 17548 Ventura Blvd, Encino, CA 91316 (818.981.4466). When we entered the s...
(Gerry Furth-Sides) Market City Caffe (164 East Palm Ave.), a top local lunch spot for more than 20 years with their delectable fresh pastas and wood-fired pizza, introduces a new, convenient quick serve lunch for those in a pinch for time. Inspired by generation after generation of fine home cooked family recipes, Market City C...
(Roberta Deen) Monograno Pasta is made with 100% organic single-source ancient grains. It comes handsomely, elegantly packaged in richly textured white boxes with clear panels that allow you to view the beautiful pasta within. I admired the packaging and began to read the detailed information on the back of the boxes. //ww...
Gerry Furth-Sides 
Barbara Hansen 
Chef-owner Alain Cohen 
Roberta Deen 
Jose Martinez 
Nivedita Basu 