(Gerry Furth-Sides) It takes a while to get into Chef Leonardo Lucarelli’s Memoir: “Mincemeat” but Lucarelli’s passion for his calling as a chef deserves attention. However, as a reader who marks “memorable” passages with tiny post-it-like paper pieces, of the very few I have in this book, ...
Melissa’s Tea Room café, nestled in Liguria on the northwest Italian Riviera, has earned the reputation of being a travel destination. In one visitor’s words, “an experience that people come from around the world to savor.” It revitalizes the age-old tradition of a relaxing tea with cakes in beau...
(Gerry Furth-Sides) Common knowledge that the new 800 Degrees Pizza in Playa Vista follows in the footsteps of its enormously popular first Los Angeles location. But few know that it’s authentic Neapolitan-style pizzeria” recipe began with work by local chef Peppe Miele. Peppe Miele is the President of VPN Americas, the ...
The new 800-Degrees Neapolitan Pizzeria is the latest restaurant addition to the Playa Vista neighborhood of Los Angeles at 12751 West Millennium Drive at the Runway Development. Known for their authentic (guild approved actually) Neapolitan-style wood-fired pizza and top-quality, gourmet side dishes, 800 Degrees lives up to...
(Gerry Furth-Sides) Pasta is the star of the Drago family restaurants. And there are as many of them as brothers, even more these days, serving classic Sicilian and other Italian regional dishes with a sure hand. The legendary oldest brother Celestino (pictured above at a charity event honoring him), inspired the Pasadena r...
(Gerry Furth-Sides) California-inspired favorite Italian dishes prepared with an abundance of the freshest, most straightforward ingredients with counter-service practical prices – bread products produced from sister Superba Bakery – is the ticket at Pitfire Pizza Company. And how does this work out? I...
“Summer” wines have always typically been white, rosé or sparkling. This year’s new wine trend feature red wines that can also be enjoyed in warmer weather, chilled or as at room temperature. One thing to look for is a low tannin style varietal, such as a Chianti Classico Riserva. It is perfect for a ...
(Gerry Furth-Sides) Ethnic (Pizza) Goes Mainstream Goes Ethnic (Matzah) at Fresh Brothers this season. For “those looking to celebrate one of the traditions of Passover,” Fresh Brothers is bringing back the Matzah Pizza. “It was a huge hit with customers in the past,so we have again decided to make the Matza...
(Gerry Furth-Sides) It was just about four years to the day on a (rare) dark and stormy night in Los Angeles when Smithfield Foods brought in a Chicago-style party to introduce their take on Italian-influenced pork dish options to local chefs at Pistola-LA. “Bicycle Thief” with subti...
Gerry Furth-Sides 
Barbara Hansen 
Chef-owner Alain Cohen 
Roberta Deen 
Jose Martinez 
Nivedita Basu 