In a mini mall outside of the Las Vegas Strip in Spring Valley / Southwest – lies an Italian food excursion that makes you feel like you’ve landed in Rome and not Las Vegas. The food, the hospitality, the entertainment all rolled up into one big terrific experience.
Le Sorelle Restaurant and Bar is a casual Italian restaurant established in 2021 by two sisters Axenia and Marina Cobzac, from Moldova. Their Italian recipes are from North, South and Central of Italy, Chef Helio really implements old and new world recipes. Their product for their amazing dishes is for the most part imported from Italy. Offering the best wine pairing and variety of cocktail selection. From what I could tell they have many repeat diners in and around the Las Vegas area.
Axenia came to the United States as an exchange student in 2012, in a summer program, she didn’t speak English. Axenia learned English pretty quickly so she could have a chance at a brilliant career. She worked a few jobs in retail but found that Las Vegas was affordable and wanted to stay and become part of the business empire in the city. Axenia and her sister started Le Sorelle Restaurant and Bar, which means sister in Italian, at the end of 2021. Covid was still lingering, but they made do with their recipes and this off the strip location. Many of their customers are word of mouth, and from a prominent presence on social media. They were also on Fox 5 TV early on. The sisters live close to the restaurant, so it makes it very convenient for them to be ever present at their establishment. In their community, everyone knows them as the sisters. They are very close and do just about everything together. This sisterhood has brought a huge success story to their lives and to their restaurant.
Le Sorelle Restaurant and Bar has entertainment every night, Tuesday, the night I was there, is violinist Harry Hovakimian. He started studying violin at age 7. He won several city competitions and was accepted into the conservatory in 1986. Harry earned a Master of Arts in Music in 1991 and moved to Erie, Pennsylvania. In 1998, Harry moved to Detroit, performing at the Russian Bear restaurant and teaching at AGBU Alex Manoogian School. He played at The Fiddler from 1999 to 2011 and composed music for films from 2010 to 2013.Harry released a Christmas album in 2011 and formed the jazz band Knights of Onyx in 2016, releasing “The More You Say” in 2018. He relocated to Las Vegas in 2020, where he continues to perform. His music was uplifting and a great backdrop to my amazing meal.
Here’s What I Tried:
Cocktails:
Espresso Martini, with espresso, vodka, Kahlua, and Baileys Irish Whiskey. This martini is super rich and smooth, like a milkshake, but even better.
Cosmopolitan, with vodka, triple sec, lime and cranberry juice. It is served super cold and is very drinkable.
Traditional Vodka Martini, of course I have to order my favorite cocktail, and it did not disappoint.
Antipasta:
Crab Cake, homemade crab cakes served with tartar sauce. It has good subtle crab flavor, a nice way to start my meal.
Sauteed Mussels and Clams, cooked in a garlic white wine sauce, it has so much garlic, it is really lush and delicious.
Insalata:
Spinach Salad, with organic spinach, feta cheese, caramelized walnuts, cherry tomatoes, and pears, in honey lemon dressing. I loved this salad, everything was farm fresh, and the dressing really made it for me.
Primi:
Seafood Pasta, with homemade tagliatelle pasta mixed with shrimps, mussels, clams, and calamari, in red sauce. I would order this every time. The pasta is a bit al dente and the seafood was so fresh, and it all tasted really fantastic.
Mushroom Risotto, with Italian risotto in creamy sauce, with sautéed mushrooms. This is a subtle flavored risotto, and a huge portion at that, it really hit the spot.
Lobster Ravioli in lobster sauce, huge round raviolis with a nice sweet light tomato sauce, a must have menu item.
Secondi:
Seabass, with capers, saffron risotto and broccoli. The seabass melts in your mouth, super fresh and tender, a fish lovers dream.
Wine:
William Hill, Chardonnay, 2023, CA. This wine paired so nicely with the seabass; it is rich and buttery, just the perfect pair.
Cricova, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2024, Moldova. This wine went great with any of the red sauced pastas.
The interior is very tastefully done, with Axenia doing all of the design herself. It is bright and cheery, but very elegant as well.
Axenia wants you to know that her dishes are all made from scratch and made to order, most other establishments in Las Vegas do not have fresh prepared foods. She wants her customers to feel like they are in someone’s home, to be super comfortable, and comeback for more at Le Sorelle Restaurant and Bar.
Next time you’re in Las Vegas and want to experience a traditional Italian restaurant where the locals go that is away from the craziness of the strip try Le Sorelle Restaurant and Bar, like me you will be very glad you did.
Redlands is such a gorgeous place, to visit or to live. The people, the scenery, it’s all so picturesque and pretty. Since I have been coming now for the last 3 years, I have seen many changes, but one thing is for certain there is an ever-growing culinary scene happening here and I feel like it is just taking hold. With Uncorked on State, you have a real hidden gem, for wine aficionados, people who want to educate themselves in all things wine, or folks that just want a lovely meal paired with good wine, it’s all encompassing.
Uncorked on State has been opened for over 2 years and has so many repeat customers, some of the regulars have standing dates at Uncorked on State. Owner’s Suzanne and Jake Doll really make their patrons feel very special. They take their time discussing all of their wonderful food and wine options. When you walk in you get a unique vibe, one that elevates your spirit. They have wonderful world music playing, that also enhances the experience. Whether you’re on your own, or on a date, or a group of co-workers, you too will be super happy you walked in their door.
Here’s What I Tried:
Starters:
6 oz. Baked Brie and Crostini, with house-made mixed berry jam baked into the brie, served with crostini and roasted baby zucchini. This is a very decadent choice for a starter, but you will enjoy every bite.
Black Garlic Caesar Salad, with croutons, parmesan crisps, and house-made black garlic Caesar dressing. This salad is so different from your typical Caeser salad. The croutons are homemade, with this special dressing and the parmesan crisps, it’s just a symphony of delight in your mouth.
Pan Seared Scallops, with corn puree, fried onions, and pomegranate. The corn puree is light and creamy; with the sweet nuances of the pomegranate and onions, all with these out of this world scallops, a must try.
Mains:
Spring Vegetable Tagliatelle with a creamy mornay sauce, served on house-made pasta, seasonal veggies and scallops. I just love homemade pasta, and this one does not disappoint. The sauce is rich, and the scallops just pop in your mouth, what a treat! You can have your choice of other proteins if you desire, but I love scallops.
9oz. Cape Grim Filet Mignon, with garlic infused pommes puree and roasted rainbow carrots. The filet is cooked to perfection, with the mashed potatoes and the sauce, it’s a real winner.
Dessert:
Lemon-Thyme Olive Oil Pound Cake. This is rich, buttery pound cake, infused with thyme, served with lavender honey mascarpone. This is a must try, it’s so complex yet delicate and the cake itself is moist and buttery, just over the top fantastic.
Wines I Tried:
Whites:
Barnett Vineyards, Chardonnay, 2022, Napa Valley, CA. From the Sangiacomo Vineyard, this wine is a Carneros Chardonnay, known for its rich, layered flavors and aging potential. It paired so great with both scallop dishes. It is a bold fruit forward wine, not quite as buttery and creamy as most Chardonnays’, but paired great with most of my dishes.
Jayson by Pahlmeyer, Chardonnay, 2022, Napa Valley, CA. This wine got 92 Points by Wine Advocate: Robert Parker. It boasts seductive scents of ripe apricots, honeydew melon, apple pie and poached pears with hints of cedar, honey toast and crushed cashews. This wine for me was a wonderful accompaniment with the baked brie, it just added to the overall lush flavors of the cheese and the berries.
Rombauer, Chardonnay, Carneros, 2023, Sonoma, CA. One of my go-to Chardonnay’s forever, with its ripe fruit intensity, hints of vanilla oak, a creamy midpalate, and a buttery finish, all supported by bright acidity, tying it all together. The creamy, oak, and vanilla flavors went so well with the Caesar salad, and of course -the scallops.
des Deux Roches, White Burgundy, 2022, Burgundy, FR. Those that read my reviews know that I am a huge fan of California wines, but hey you got to step outside your comfort zone sometimes. This wine has most of the elements of a French White Burgundy, with a bit of herbs and grassy flavors, it enhanced the pasta and scallop dish. It just fills your palate with nice aromas and textures that you don’t get from a California Chardonnay.
Red’s:
Ridge Vineyards Lytton Springs, Red Blend, 2022, Dry Creek Valley, CA. This wine was filled with rich cheery flavors, it was just the perfect pairing with the filet. It captures all the nuances in the steak and the sauce but also blended well with overall taste and flavors, such perfection.
Klinker Brick Old Ghost, Zindandel, 2021, Lodi, CA. What a treat to try a new Zinfandel that I have never tasted before. This wine has some strong characteristics, more so than most Zins. It’s got bold tabacco flavors couple with all of the cherry nuances that most Zinfandels have. It was another great pairing with the filet. I will put this down on my list to visit when I am wine tasting in Lodi.
The décor is so fancy, very elegant, but also very functional. Suzanne did most of the designing, she had some help but really had her own ideas in mind of how she wanted Uncorked on State to look and feel. She accomplished a beautiful, friendly, atmosphere, that really makes you want to come back for more. Suzanne and her husband Jake decided to retire and move away from Brentwood in Los Angeles, to a more peaceful life in Redlands. They saw a for-rent sign of a well-known wine shop and decided to try their hand at the culinary business. Suzanne’s love of wine and her knowledge catapulted her dream into a very successful restaurant. She attended a Sommelier school at WSET, out of the UK, which is an online education process that gets you certified. Now she’s pairing all of the wines with delightful chef inspired dishes. You just can’t go wrong. You can take her suggestions with what to pair or go on your own whims. Whatever you choose you will be overwhelmed with goodness and enjoyment. Suzanne is very philanthropic; she helps with many local charities and loves to give back to her community.
Their very young Head Chef – Samantha Flores, known as Sam, is just so creative, she is one of Redlands’ most exciting new culinary talents. Her combination of ingredients and delightful presentation is reason enough to come in and try Uncorked on State, but if you need more convincing Suzanne’s got it all covered. Suzanne says, “I want my customers, to come to Uncorked on State and relax, reset, be a well-received guest in our establishment. Enjoy a much-deserved glass of perfect wine, with superb ambiance, great service, and of course our very elegant menu, but you will see that you can also come casual, it’s all about comfort here at Uncorked on State.”
What a joyous fun romp through our beloved Beatle Sgt. Pepper and beyond. The costumes, the choreography, the amazing dancers, all a wonderful experience. Mark Moriis has done it again, just genius.
About Pepperland:
Pepperland is a Mark Morris Dance Group production in association with American Dance Festival, Durham, North Carolina; BAM, Brooklyn, New York; Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity with the Sony Centre, Toronto, Canada; Cal Performances, UC Berkeley, California; Celebrity Series of Boston, Massachusetts; The City of Liverpool, England, U.K.; Dance Consortium UK; Hopkins Center for the Arts, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire; International Festival of Arts & Ideas, New Haven, Connecticut; The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, D.C.; Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; La Jolla Music Society, La Jolla, California; Meyer Sound, Berkeley, California; Seattle Theatre Group, Seattle, Washington; Segerstrom Center for The Arts, Costa Mesa, California; UCSB Arts & Lectures, Santa Barbara, California; and White Bird, Portland, Oregon.
Pepperland is supported in part by Friends of MMDG, the Howard Gilman Foundation, PARC Foundation, and New Music USA. Music commissioned by the Charles and Joan Gross Family Foundation. The premiere engagement was supported by funding from the Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation through USArtists International in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and the Howard Gilman Foundation.
“Pepperland” is choreographer Mark Morris’ unique tribute to the 50th anniversary of The Beatles’ “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” a joyous romp through the Beatles’ beloved, groundbreaking concept album – a playful and often poignant production bursting with energy and buoyant creativity, brightly colored costumes, and spectacular ensemble numbers.
Created at the request of the City of Liverpool to kick off its Sgt. Pepper at 50 Festival in May 2017, the evening-length work features an original score by composer Ethan Iverson interspersing arrangements of “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”, “With a Little Help From My Friends”, “A Day in the Life”, “When I’m Sixty-Four”, “Within You Without You”, and “Penny Lane” with six original Pepper-inspired pieces intended especially for Mark Morris’ profound understanding of classical forms: Allegro, Scherzo, Adagio, and the blues.
An unprecedented chamber music ensemble of voice, theremin, soprano sax, trombone, two keyboards, and percussion teases out and elaborates on “Sgt. Pepper’s” non-rock and roll influences. This colorful new piece resounds with the ingenuity, musicality, wit, and humanity for which the company is known.
The work also playfully evokes multiple aspects of the era, with colorful, mod-inspired costumes by Elizabeth Kurtzman, scenic design by Johan Henckens, and lighting design by Nick Kolin.
Mark Morris said, “The music for ‘Pepperland’, arranged and extrapolating from tracks on The Beatles’, ‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’ is important to me because of the enormous impact the album caused in popular culture at large. ‘Beatlemania’ in the UK and particularly in the US was a pivotal event in the turbulent social/political semi-revolution of the late 1960s.”
He continued, “As a very young person, I was dazzled and confused by the music. I loved it and I loved The Beatles. Then, over the years, I lost touch and lost interest partly because of overexposure. When I was approached to participate in the commemorative project in Liverpool, I re-examined the recording and found so much of interest in it that I eagerly took on the big project of turning these very familiar songs into an evening length music and dance show. ‘Pepperland’ is the exciting result.”
Ethan Iverson said, “The ‘Pepperland’ score is a suite of chamber music performed by some of New York City’s finest iconoclasts. Half the piece is arrangements of the songs we all know, half ise brand new danceable pieces responding to the strong undercurrent of classical music present on the original album.”
Renowned choreographer Mark Morris continued to explore the relationship between movement and music with “Pepperland,” which pays homage to The Beatles’ 1967 trailblazing album “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.” Often hailed as the first-ever “art rock” album, the Beatles’ groundbreaking work pushed the recording-studio technology of the late 1960s to the limit and is widely regarded as the best rock n’ roll album in history.
Music: Original songs by The Beatles, arrangement by Ethan Iverson, Original compositions by Ethan Iverson, Choreography: Mark Morris, Set Design: Johan Henckens, Costume Design: Elizabeth Kurtzman, and Lighting Design: Nick Kolin.
Music: Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, Magna Carta, With a Little Help from My Friends, Adagio, When I’m Sixty-Four, Allegro, Within You Without You, Scherzo, Wilbur Scoville, Penny Lane, A Day in the Life, and Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.
Band: Clinton Curtis, vocals; Sam Newsome, soprano saxophone; Jacob Garchik, trombone; Rob Schwimmer, theremin; Ethan Iverson, piano; Chris McCarthy, keyboard; and Vinnie Sperrazza, percussion.
Mica Bernas, Karlie Budge, Zack Gonder, Kyle Halford, Colin Heininger, Sarah Hillmon, Courtney Lopes, Dallas McMurray, Alex Meeth, Sloan Pearson, Brandon Randolph, Robert Rubama, Christina Sahaida, Joslin Vezeau, Noah Vinson
Original music by The Beatles. All Rights Reserved. Used by permission from Sony Music Publishing. “A Day In The Life”, “Penny Lane”, “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”, “When I’m Sixty Four”, “With A Little Help From My Friends” Courtesy of MPL Communications, Inc. (ASCAP)
Mark Swed said in the Los Angeles Times, “… “Pepperland” is “Sgt. Pepper” at 50, looking back with irresistible fondness — what fun it all was — but also with wisdom, knowing that it was real and was something to get hung about. Every single move in the dance is, while being utterly musical, entirely unexpected.”
Sarah L. Kaufman said in the Washington Post, “It is first and foremost, an exuberant celebration of the ‘Sgt. Pepper’ album. It rolls at you with wave upon wave of creative wonders and sheer delight and it is utterly mood-improving. It could possibly change the way you look at the world. The overarching sense is that you’re hearing and viewing this well-known album through a kaleidoscope. Chances are you will hate to see it end.”
Judith Mackrell said in The Guardian, “Visually, the work is on a cusp between Carnaby Street and Woodstock. Its 15 dancers are dressed in neon-bright suits and miniskirts, and its movement is predicated on a neat, strutting language of disco and jive … Pepperland feels like a gorgeously entertaining and witty homage to its source. It also has just the right amount of sentiment. When Morris allows his dancers to stand and sing quietly along with ‘A Day in the Life,’ he shifts the mood to one of pure, tearful nostalgia. Suddenly we’re transported back to that moment, 50 year ago.”
Rachael Goldberg in Broadway World said, “a bright, vivid performance that’s just edging into trippy … the synchronized group dances are only outdone by the staggered dances, which show off the company members’ tremendous skill. The fact that they make complicated choreography look so simple and effortless is a testament to their abilities, as the entire performance is demandingly fast and complex. And yet, it’s impossible to doubt that each member is clearly having the time of their lives on that stage. a crowd-pleasing evening of dance and color.”
About Mark Morris:
Mark Morris, praised as “the most successful and influential choreographer alive, and indisputably the most musical” (The New York Times), was born on August 29, 1956, in Seattle, Washington, where he studied with Verla Flowers and Perry Brunson. In the early years of his career, he performed with the companies of Lar Lubovitch, Hannah Kahn, Laura Dean, Eliot Feld, and the Koleda Balkan Dance Ensemble. He formed the Mark Morris Dance Group (MMDG) in 1980 and has since created over 150 works for the company. From 1988 to 1991, he was Director of Dance at the Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie in Brussels, the national opera house of Belgium. In 1990, he founded the White Oak Dance Project with Mikhail Baryshnikov. Morris is also an acclaimed ballet choreographer, with twenty-two works commissioned by ballet companies worldwide.
Noted for his musicality, Morris has been described as “undeviating in his devotion to music” (The New Yorker). He began conducting performances for MMDG in 2006 and has since conducted at Tanglewood Music Center, Lincoln Center, and BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music). In 2013, he served as Music Director for the Ojai Music Festival. Morris also works extensively in opera, directing and choreographing productions for The Metropolitan Opera, New York City Opera, English National Opera, and The Royal Opera, Covent Garden, among others.
He was named a Fellow of the MacArthur Foundation in 1991 and has received eleven honorary doctorates to date. He has taught at the University of Washington, Princeton University, and Tanglewood Music Center.
He is the subject of a biography, Mark Morris, by Joan Acocella (Farrar, Straus & Giroux), and Marlowe & Company published a volume of photographs and critical essays entitled Mark Morris’ L’Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato: A Celebration. Mark Morris: Musician-Choreographer, by musicologist Stephanie Jordan, was released in 2015. Morris’s memoir, Out Loud, co-written with Wesley Stace, was published in paperback by Penguin Press in October 2021.
A Doris Duke Artist, Morris is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Philosophical Society, and has served as an Advisory Board Member for the Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative.He has received the Samuel H. Scripps/American Dance Festival Award for Lifetime Achievement, the Leonard Bernstein Lifetime Achievement Award for the Elevation of Music in Society, the Benjamin Franklin Laureate Prize for Creativity, the International Society for the Performing Arts’ Distinguished Artist Award, the Cal Performances Award of Distinction in the Performing Arts, the Orchestra of St. Luke’s Gift of Music Award, and the 2016 Doris Duke Artist Award. In 2015, Morris was inducted into the Mr. and Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney Hall of Fame at the National Museum of Dance in Saratoga Springs, New York.
Morris opened the Mark Morris Dance Center in Brooklyn, New York, in 2001 to provide a home for his company, subsidized rental space for local artists, community education programs for children and seniors, and a school offering dance classes to students of all ages and levels of experience with and without disabilities.
About Ethan Iverson:
Pianist, composer, and writer Ethan Iverson (arranger, piano) first came to international prominence as a founding member of The Bad Plus, a game-changing collective with Reid Anderson and David King. The New York Times called TBP “Better than anyone at melding the sensibilities of post-60’s jazz and indie rock.” During his 17-year tenure, TBP performed in venues as diverse as the Village Vanguard, Carnegie Hall, and Bonnaroo; collaborated with Joshua Redman, Bill Frisell, and the Mark Morris Dance Group; and created a faithful arrangement of Igor Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring and a radical reinvention of Ornette Coleman’s Science Fiction.
Since leaving TBP, Iverson has kept busy. In 2017, he co-curated a major centennial celebration of Thelonious Monk at Duke University and premiered the evening-length Pepperland with the Mark Morris Dance Group. In 2018, he premiered an original piano concerto with the American Composers Orchestra and released a duo album of new compositions with Mark Turner on ECM. In 2019, he released Common Practice with Tom Harrell on ECM, standards tracked live at the Village Vanguard. In 2021, he released the big band work Bud Powell in the 21st Century and was featured on the March cover of DownBeat.
In 2022, he released Every Note is True on Blue Note records, an album of original music with Larry Grenadier and Jack DeJohnette. Iverson has also been in the critically-acclaimed Billy Hart quartet for well over a decade and occasionally performs with elder statesmen like Albert “Tootie” Heath or Ron Carter or collaborates with noted classical musicians like Miranda Cuckson and Mark Padmore.
For almost 20 years, Iverson’s website Do the Math has been a repository of musician-to-musician interviews and analysis. Time Out New York selected Iverson as one of 25 essential New York jazz icons: “Perhaps NYC’s most thoughtful and passionate student of jazz tradition—the most admirable sort of artist-scholar.” Iverson has also published articles about music in The New Yorker, NPR, The Nation, and JazzTimes.
About the Mark Morris Dance Group and MMDG Music Ensemble:
The Mark Morris Dance Group was formed in 1980 and gave its first performance that year in New York City. The company’s touring schedule steadily expanded to include cities in the United States and around the world, and in 1986 it made its first national television program for the PBS series Dance in America. In 1988, MMDG was invited to become the national dance company of Belgium and spent three years in residence at the Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie in Brussels.
The Dance Group returned to the United States in 1991 as one of the world’s leading dance companies. Based in Brooklyn, New York, MMDG maintains strong ties to presenters in several cities around the world, most notably to its West Coast home, Cal Performances in Berkeley, California, and its Midwest home, the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. MMDG also appears regularly in New York, Boston, Seattle, and Fairfax. In New York, the company has performed at New York City Center’s Fall for Dance Festival, regularly performs at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts’s Mostly Mozart and White Light Festivals, and collabo- rates yearly with BAM on performances and master classes.
From the company’s many London seasons, it has received two Laurence Olivier Awards and a Critics’ Circle Dance Award for Best Foreign Dance Company. Reflecting Morris’s commitment to live music, the Dance Group has featured live musicians in every performance since the formation of the MMDG Music Ensemble in 1996.
MMDG regularly collaborates with renowned musicians, including cellist Yo-Yo Ma, pianist Emanuel Ax, mezzo-soprano Stephanie Blythe, and jazz trio The Bad Plus, as well as leading orchestras and opera companies, including the Metropolitan Opera, English National Opera, and the London Symphony Orchestra. MMDG frequently works with distinguished artists and designers, including painters Robert Bordo and the late Howard Hodgkin, set designers Adrianne Lobel and Allen Moyer, costume designers Martin Pakledinaz and Isaac Mizrahi, and many others. MMDG’s film and television projects include Dido and Aeneas, The Hard Nut, Falling Down Stairs, two documentaries for the U.K.’s South Bank Show, and PBS’s Live from Lincoln Center.
In 2015, Morris’s signature work L’Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato had its national television premiere on PBS’s Great Performances. While on tour the Dance Group partners with local cultural institutions and community organizations to present arts and humanities-based activities for people of all ages and abilities.
The MMDG Music Ensemble, formed in 1996, is integral to the Dance Group. “With the dancers come the musicians…and what a difference it makes” (Classical Voice of North Carolina). The Ensemble’s repertory ranges from 17th and 18th century works by John Wilson and Henry Purcell to more recent scores by Ethan Iverson, Lou Harrison, and Henry Cowell. The musicians also participate in the Dance Group’s educational and community programming at home and on tour. The Music Ensemble is led by Colin Fowler, who began to collaborate with MMDG in 2005 during the creation of Mozart Dances.
About Wallis Center for the Performing Arts:
Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts (The Wallis) was lauded by Culture Vulture: “If you love expecting the unexpected in the performing arts, you have to love The Wallis.” Broadway legend Patti LuPone, who was The Wallis’ 2015/2016 Season Artistic Advisor, described the venue as “one of the best in the country, allowing for an unparalleled intimacy between [the artist] and the audience.”
Since its doors opened in 2013, The Wallis, located in the heart of Beverly Hills, CA, is a dynamic cultural hub and community resource where local, national, and international performers share their artistry with ever-expanding audiences. Distinguished by eclectic programming that mirrors the diverse landscape of Los Angeles and its location in the entertainment capital of the world, The Wallis has produced and presented nearly 500 theater, dance, music, film, cabaret, comedy, performance arts, and family entertainment programs, boasting nominations for 79 Ovation Awards and nine L.A. Drama Critics Circle Awards, as well as six architectural awards.
The breathtaking 70,000-square-foot facility, celebrating the classic and the modern, was named after philanthropist Wallis Annenberg, who’s original $25-million-dollar donation was instrumental in transforming the beloved former 1934 Beverly Hills Post Office (on the National Register of Historic Places) into an arts complex. Designed by acclaimed architect Zoltan E. Pali (SPF: architects), the restored building features one of two sets of eight towering original WPA frescos, these by Charles Kassler, remaining in the entire California Federal Building system. The Wallis’ lobby, now known as Jim and Eleanor Randall Grand Hall, serves as the theater’s dramatic yet welcoming entryway to the contemporary 500-seat, state-of-the-art Bram Goldsmith Theater; the 150-seat Lovelace Studio Theater; an inviting open-air plaza for family, community and other performances; and GRoW @ The Wallis: A Space for Arts Education, where learning opportunities for all ages and backgrounds abound. Together, these elements embrace both the region’s history and its future, creating a performing arts destination for Los Angeles area visitors and residents alike.
Daphna Nazarian is Chair of The Wallis’ Board of Directors and Robert van Leer is its Executive Director and CEO.
This show is so iconic, to witness this New North American Tour of the Iconic Tony Award-winning musical at The Dolby Theatre ∙ May 7 – May 18, 2025 – is astounding.Holding onto hope when times are tough can take an awful lot of determination, and sometimes, an awful lot of determination comes in a surprisingly small package. Little Orphan Annie has reminded generations of theatergoers that sunshine is always right around the corner, and now the best-loved musical of all time is set to return in this new production – just as you remember it and just when we need it most. This celebration of family, optimism and the American spirit remains the ultimate cure for all the hard
knocks life throws your way.Some highlighted cast members for me were Annie-Hazel Vogel, Miss Hannigan – Stefanie Londino, Oliver Warbucks – Christopher Swan. Sandy – Kevin. All of the cast members are fantastic, but these 4 had my undivided attention. Hailed by the Chicago Tribune as, “one of the best family
musicals ever penned!”, ANNIE features a book by Thomas Meehan, music by
Charles Strouse and lyrics by Martin Charnin. All three authors received 1977
Tony Awards® for their work. The original production of ANNIE had its world
premiere on Aug 10, 1976, at the Goodspeed Opera House (Michael J. Price,
Executive Director) and opened on Broadway on April 21, 1977, at the Alvin
Theatre (Neil Simon theatre). It went on to win the New York Drama Critics
Circle Award for Best Musical, seven Drama Desk Awards including Best Musical,
the Grammy for Best Cast Show Album and seven Tony Awards including Best
Musical, Best Book (Thomas Meehan) and Best Score (Charles Strouse, Martin
Charnin). It closed on Broadway after playing 2,377 performances.ANNIE was revived on Broadway in 1997 and again in 2014.
It has been made into a film three times (1982, 1999, 2014) and was most
recently featured as a live television production on NBC. The show remains one
of the biggest Broadway musical hits ever; it has been performed in 28
languages, and running around the world for about 45 years. THOMAS MEEHAN (Book) is a three-time Tony Award winning
librettist for the Broadway musicals Annie, 1977; The Producers, 2001
(co-written with Mel Brooks); and Hairspray, 2003 (co-written with Mark
O’Donnell). He collaborated on many Broadway musicalsincluding I Remember Mama;
Ain’t Broadway Grand; Bombay Dreams (with Meera Syal); Cry Baby (with Mark
O’Donnell); Young Frankenstein (with Mel Brooks); Elf, The Musical (with Bob
Martin); Chaplin (with Christopher Curtis); Rocky; the upcoming Dave, The Musical
(with Nell Benjamin); and the off-Broadway musicals, Annie Warbucks; Death
Takes a Holiday (with Peter Stone) and the upcoming The Lady Eve (with Maury
Yeston). He was a long-time contributor of humor pieces to The New Yorker,
which were published in a collection entitled Yma, Ava, Yma, Abba, Yma, Oona,
Yma, Ida, Yma Aga… and Others, by Simon and Schuster. Mr. Meehan, in
collaboration with the poet J.D. McClatchy, co-authored the libretto of the
opera 1984, composed by Lorin Maazel, first performed at London’s Royal Opera
House at Covent Garden in 2005. He was an Emmy Award winning writer of
television comedy, and a collaborator on screenplays, including Mel Brooks’
Spaceballs, To Be or Not To Be, The Producers and One Magic Christmas. He was a
member of the Council of the Dramatists Guild.MARTIN CHARNIN (Lyrics). Martin’s career in the
entertainment industry began in 1957 when he created the role of Big Deal (one
of Jerome Robbins’ authentic juvenile delinquents) in the original company of
West Side Story. He played the role for exactly 1,000 performances. Since then,
he was involved in over 140 theatrical, television, film, and night club
productions as a director, producer, composer, or lyricist. He is one of the
dozen people who have won Emmys, Tonys, and Grammys, and the Peabody Award for
Broadcasting. Annie, which came to Broadway in 1977, originally ran for 2,377
performances, and has been revived there three times. He directed Annie 19
times (after directing the original production in New York), in London,
Montreal, Amsterdam, and Melbourne as well as Annie’s 14 national U.S.
companies. He collaborated with Charles Strouse, Vernon Duke, Marvin Hamlisch,
Mary Rodgers, and twice with Richard Rodgers on I Remember Mama and Two by Two.
He wrote for, or directed, Fred Astaire, Ethel Merman, Jack Lemmon,
Ann-Margaret, Jack Benny, Anne Bancroft, Betty Hutton, Sutton Foster, Sarah
Jessica Parker, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Bebe Neuwirth, Barbra Streisand, Johnny
Mathis, Larry Kert, Chita Rivera, Jane Lynch, Tony Bennett, Jason Alexander,
and Jay-Z, among countless others, and for his wife, Shelly Burch (who
originated a leading role in the original company of Nine). Most recently,
“Tomorrow” from Annie became one of the 100 most performed musical numbers in
the last century. CHARLES STROUSE (Music). A graduate of New York’s P.S. 87,
Townsend Harris H.S., and the Eastman School of Music, Charles has studied
composition with Aaron Copland, Arthur Berger, and David Diamond in the US and
Nadia Boulanger in Paris. Charles has composed copious chamber music, two piano
concertos, a string quartet and two operas. After which, being broke like most
composers, he was a rehearsal pianist and dance arranger for many shows, played
in bar rooms, ballet classes, at weddings and strip joints (a particular boon
for one who was to write the music for the film The Night They Raided
Minsky’s). One morning in 1960 he awoke to find he had written (with Lee Adams
and Mike Stewart) Bye Bye Birdie (Tony Award), which is still among the most
performed musicals in America, followed by Golden Boy with Sammy Davis, Jr.
(Tony Nomination). Then came, Applause (Tony Award), It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane,
It’s Superman, Rags (Tony Nomination) and Annie (Tony Award). In-between, there
have been scores for movies including Bonnie and Clyde and All Dogs Go to
Heaven. Throughout his career, Charles has received the Richard Rodgers, Oscar
Hammerstein, Frederick Lowe and the Leonard Bernstein Awards for musical
achievement. He is married to director/choreographer Barbara Siman and is the
father of Benjamin (attorney, author, composer), Nicholas (psychotherapist),
Victoria (screen writer) and William (also a screen writer).JENN THOMPSON (Director) is thrilled to be helming the
National Tour of Annie after having appeared as Pepper in the original Broadway
run. Recent credits include a World-Premiere musical about another indomitable
red-headed orphan; Anne of Green Gables – A New Musical at Goodspeed Opera
House, the very same theatre that premiered Annie more than 45 years ago. Other
shows at Goodspeed include: Bye Bye Birdie, Oklahoma! And The Music Man. Other
recent credits include Diary of a Wimpy Kid – The Musical at Children’s Theatre
Company in association with Kevin McCollum and Buena Vista Theatrical as well
as Chains for Off-Broadway’s Mint Theatre, where Jenn’s 2016 production of
Women Without Men garnered both Lortel and Off-Broadway Alliance Award
nominations for Outstanding Revival as well as 5 Drama Desk Award nominations
including Outstanding Director and Revival. In addition to extensive
productions in NYC, Jenn’s work has been seen at theaters across the country
including; Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Denver Center, Hartford Stage,
Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Portland Stage, City Theatre, Theaterworks
Hartford, Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival and many more. Jenn is married to
actor Stephen Kunken, they live in Brooklyn NY with their daughter Naomi. This
is for Martin, Charles, Tom and Peter. jennthompsondirector.comPATRICIA WILCOX (Choreographer). Broadway: Motown the
Musical (Astaire Award and the NAACP Award for Best Choreography), and A Night
with Janis Joplin. Off-Broadway/National: Little Shop of Horrors, An Officer
and a Gentleman, Children’s Letters to God, Bowfire, Blues in the Night (NAACP
Nomination), Seussical. Regional: A Swell Party (The Kennedy Center), The
Secret Garden (DCPA), The Music Man and Bye Bye Birdie (Goodspeed Opera
House-Connecticut Critics Circle Award), Diary of a Wimpy Kid (CTC), Peter and
the Starcatcher (Pioneer), Camelot (NSMT), Jesus Christ Superstar (Sacramento
Music), Hair (ATC), Guys and Dolls (Paper Mill). Winter Olympics: Choreography
for Ice Dancing. PattiWilcox.com WILSON CHIN (Scenic Design). Broadway and
Off-Broadway: Pass Over (Broadway, Lortel Award nomination), Next Fall
(Broadway), Cost of Living (Manhattan Theatre Club), A Commercial Jingle for
Regina Comet (DR2), Space Dogs (MCC), The Thanksgiving Play (Playwrights
Horizons). With director Jenn Thompson: The Secret Garden (Denver Center
Theatre), Oklahoma! and Anne of Green Gables (Goodspeed Musicals). Opera: Lucia
di Lammermoor (Lyric Opera of Chicago), Eine Florentinische Tragödie/Gianni
Schicchi (Canadian Opera, Dora Award). Film/television: Pass Over (dir. Spike
Lee), “Game Theory with Bomani Jones” (HBO), “Blindspot” (NBC). Eastern Region
Board member.What a great show, filled with funny bits, great songs, wonderful talent, everything you would want from a Broadway Musical, run don’t walk to see ANNIE.
*Note some content was taken off of their website.
I have done reviews now at many of the new eateries at Redlands Public Market. But what I love about Redlands Natural Market is how I was treated. Owner Jim treated me like a queen, he made sure I knew about all the products and was able to enjoy some nice menu items. I really appreciate all his knowledge about the natural food business and how products affect your well-being and health. Jim is a wealth of knowledge; he takes pride in his products and letting people know why you should try them. But besides all that, the food was remarkable and vegan. Deli meats were perfect. Most of the time you couldn’t tell that they were plant based. When I was done with my tasting, I didn’t feel full and bloated, I felt light and healthy. This is what everyone should want to feel like after they’ve eaten a big lunch. Jim takes pride in helping others attain their health goals. This type of market should be in every food court across America, because fast food has become such a big part of American life, but as we know, fast food is unhealthy. There are lots of food stalls at Redlands Public Market that have upscale food choices as well as fried foods. It really depends on what you are hankering for, but for me the obvious choice would be to come here and get one of their delicious deli sandwiches with plant-based meat products – how could you go wrong?
Here’s what I tried
Drinks:
Pop & Bottle Golden Chai Tea Almond Tea, very delicious, not to sweet, just incredibly salifying, a great beverage.
Wildwonder’s Pineapple Paradise, effervescent fruit forward flavors, very refreshing.
Just Iced Tea, I would order this every time, its just that good.
Snack:
Pan’s Mushroom Jerky – Teriyaki, a good alternative to a meat jerky, sweet and salty – it hits the spot.
Sofia’s Corn Chip totopos, the best corn chips ever. Go there just to buy these to take them home!
Salads:
Chicken Caesar Salad, with fresh romaine, Kelly’s Croutons, in-house made Caesar dressing, and Scratch House shaved Parmesan. Its all plant based, vegan, peanut free, tree nut free, and gluten free. Sandwich:
BBQ Brisket Sandwich, with plant-based beef by chunk foods, Redlands hot sauce’s cherry chipotle BBQ sauce, smoked plant-based gouda and banana peppers. This would be my favorite sandwich, its sweet and tender, with fall off the bone plant-based brisket, it’s just fantastic.
Wrap:
Chicken Wrap, with blackened chicken by Beleaf, plant-based mozzarella, tomato, plant -based romaine shreds, and a Ceasar dressing. A very hearty wrap, with nice texture and flavor, and it keeps you full but not uncomfortable.
Flatbread:
Wild Mushroom flatbread, a blend of lion’s mane, blue oyster and pink mushrooms with plant-based mozzarella, and Italian herbs. Served on Redlands Natural Market unique pinsarella pinsa crust. I just loved this menu item; it is a must try.
Dessert:
Gelatys, Gelato P, op, Coconut Breeze. At only at 170 Calories, it’s a great, ending to my marvelous meal.
Nats Rawline, Raw Cakes Lime & Mango GF DF Vegan. This is a wonderful cake, with nice fruit flavors, what a treat.
Their location is right when you walk in the front door, and they do a lot of products tastings right there when you enter the market. The foot traffic is just amazing, and anyone who passes by is curious and wants to check Redlands Natural Market out. So, getting the word out about alternative healthy eating is easy. The combination of plant-based products and creative menu items would make any non-believer very happy. Once I was done with my tasting I felt rejuvenated and content. Sometimes from a meat menu you feel too full and not as healthy. This food guarantees you to have a happy, gratified stomach. Really, it’s so worth a try. There are many new places to try, but at Redlands Natural Market, you can get a perfect satisfying meal, and or products to take home, and feel like you have done a good thing for yourself and your overall health.
The vibe here is a bit New York, and a smidge of the Los Angeles night club scene. It is elegant and sassy, either casual or hipster sheik, you will just love the experience. Sushi Palace hails from Germany, and opened its doors at this location – in April of 2024. The group behind Sushi Palace has expanded quickly across Germany thanks to a hybrid model that prioritizes takeout and delivery as well as in-restaurant dining. This restaurant leans into a more modern dining environment with a mix of elegance and style. There is a push to open more locations in SoCal as well as in the East Coast.
The main star of the show here is their food. They do not have a sushi bar. This is not a typical sushi restaurant in Los Angeles. From the moment you walk in you feel it is upscale; with its beautiful textures and lighting, but no matter what the ambience is the food at Sushi Palace will really knock your socks off.
Here’s What I Tried:
Signature Cocktails:
Strawberry Martini with Vodka Soju, strawberry syrup lime juice, soda water, and fresh strawberry. If you’re someone that likes their cocktails on the sweet side, then this would be for you.
Sake -Tini, with Sake, lychee, and club soda, this by far was my favorite cocktail. I would order this every time. It’s sweet, but very thirst quenching, and goes down easily.
Yuzu Margarita, with tequila, Soju, lime juice, Yuzu, agave syrup and salt. Even though this is made with Soju and not real tequila, you get the essence of the margarita flavor, and it is a very special cocktail.
Happy Hour:
Yuzu Avocado Crispy Rice, with avocado, yuzu, and micro cilantro. If you are a vegetarian, then this would be the menu item for you. It’s just that good. Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice, sesame chili oil, cilantro, and nori. Spicy Salmon Crispy Rice, chives, and spicy mayo. I just love the flavor of this one, with the chives that hit the spot. This is part of the Happy Hour menu, called a Crispy Rice Trio. All three are super flavorful and filling, a great menu item.
For The Table:
Dumpling “German Dumpfnudel”, German specialty served with nut butter. This is kind of like their bread, but it is delicious and very specific to their take on German food, which they marry into some of their menu items.
Small Plates and Salads:
Truffle Edamame, with truffle oil, truffle foam, and truffle salt. This edamame is very unusual, it has a foam on top that has the essence of black truffle oil. They give you a very big portion, it is truly amazing.
Signature Menu:
Scallop Kiwi Sashimi, with scallops, ume paste, kiwi, umi ponzu, and micro greens. I am a true scallop lover and always order scallop sushi. This menu item is super light and flavorful, and the kiwi brings out a nice texture and a tangy flavor.
Hamachi Mango, with hamachi, mango, toqorashi ponzu, micro greens, and sashimi. The Hamachi paired with the mango is otherworldly. You too will feel the same.
Salmon Sushi Spoon, with spicy tuna, salmon ponzu, crispy onions, micro cilantro, ikura, and 3 spoons. I loved this dish. The sauce in each spoon is in incredible. Another must have menu item.
Surf & Turf with shrimp tempura, cucumber, steak, truffle aioli, salt, and eel. If you’re one of those people that just love surf and turf at any restaurant, this sushi roll is for you. It is very yummy with all of its great ingredients, including the truffle aioli – makes for one stupendous sushi roll.
Lobster Roll, California Roll, with lobster, spicy mayo, eel sauce, crispy onion, and green onion. The lobster is very plump and placed on top of each roll. It’s a magnificent presentation, and a fanciful menu item.
Entrees:
Miso Black Cod, with a miso lime sauce. This cod is super tender and flavorful. I would order this every time.
Shrimp Fried Rice with egg, mixed veggies, green onions, and shrimp. The flavor of this rice is outstanding with big, huge pieces of shrimp that has been cooked to perfection. The vegetables, the egg, the onions, all make for one great fried rice dish.
Dessert:
Matcha Crème Brulee, with matcha, raspberry sorbet, and fresh berries. It’s a unique crème brulee with its matcha flavor, so save room.
The interior was created by the owner’s – Anatolij Dejneko – business partner – Veton Thaqi. Veton did an amazing job! It’s got pink lighting accents, beautiful super plush bar stools. It’s more like being in someone’s living room then a sushi bar dining room. The music is trance, with a bit of jazz thrown in. The vibe is super friendly and exciting.
Chef Alex Quintama made me feel very welcomed. He told me about his history as a chef and how he got his start, and then his amazing feat of taking over the kitchen at Sushi Palace. But he really believes that it is a group effort, and he relies on his team every day to make this place a success. He says the menu will be seasonal, and some things will change every 4 months. Alex says, “Being a chef is part being crazy and the other part being creative, kind of like a mad scientist in the kitchen”. Alex is very ambitious; he is very young and has lots of new culinary ideas for making Sushi Palace a go-to spot for many Angelenos and beyond. He hopes to get rewarded with a 3-star Michelin rating in the very near future. Veton Thaqi has left all of the major menu decisions up too Alex. He is in very good hands. Each dish has Alex’s signature flavors written all over them. The only thing that you might find that is similar in some of the dishes are the micro greens. Other than that, every menu item had its own unique spin, and profile. You too will be surprises by all of this great cuisine. Their humble mixologist Seana Balderrama likes to create unique fun cocktails, using only Soju and Sake. He has is work cut out for him, but this limitation does not affect his innovative choice of ingredients, and how they will delight your tastebuds.
I really just scratched the surface with my tasting. There is so much variety within their menu, you could come back 10 times and still try things new. I was very satisfied with all of my delicious menu items. They serve nice size portions, so you will not be left hungry.
Their happy hour is wonderful and very affordable as well. Daily Happy Hour Specials from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM, with 50 % off on sushi, and cocktails being extremely discounted. They also have a super fun event, called, Roll the Dice – Every Tuesday – Thursday, 8 PM until closing. You roll the dice for a discounted cocktail price.
I would tell my readers that if you’re wanting to try a new inventive sushi spot then come here first for happy hour to be introduced to their astounding cuisine, then come back and try the whole menu, you will be glad you listened to me.
The freshest food made with love and care. Their burgers are made with Premium American Cattle Beef, a blend of three prime cuts of beef ground fresh in-house daily and hand-molded into juicy patties.
All of their food is made with fresh, never frozen ingredients and, when in season, sourced from local farms in California. Their chefs are trained in traditional, from-scratch cooking techniques and are passionate about creating delicious meals for their guests.
I loved all my menu items ordered, they were extremely generous with my tastings, letting me try so many delightful treats.
Here’s What I Tried:
Lil Kim Fries, “North Korean dictator-inspired Korean BBQ fries are made with fresh-sliced chuck eye Korean BBQ meat (bulgogi), onions, sweet and spicy house-made hoisin mayo, all topped off with a fried egg.” This dish was truly incredible, my favorite. It got a over-easy egg on top with super flavorful Korean Bulgogi under it, under that is their fries with a creamy mayo sauce, what could be better. You have got to try this.
The Blues Burger, with fresh ground premium patty, thick cut Applewood smoked bacon; accompanied by crumbled blue cheese, lettuce, tomato, and pickles, and their house made ranch dressing all of it held together by soft brioche buns. It’s really the cheese that makes this huge burger really great.
Famous Pastrami – 10 oz., with fresh sliced and simmered brisket pastrami, mustard and pickles on a toasted French roll. Pastrami is one of my favorite deli meats, and this sandwich did not disappointment.
Chicken Ranch Pita with bacon and avocado extra, with hand filleted, house marinated young hand filleted chicken breast, lettuce, tomato, and house grated cheddar cheese, topped with their homemade ranch dressing, all wrapped up in a soft and pillowy Pita.
The Narcissist with two fresh-ground premium burger patties, four slices of cheese, and four strips of thick-cut bacon are accompanied by lettuce, tomato, pickles, fresh or caramelized onions, and homemade sauce. This burger is so big, it is difficult to get a big bite in your mouth. With all of it’s ingredients, it hits the spot.
Onion Rings, hand cut sweet onions, dipped in buttermilk and tossed in Midwestern cracker meal, and Japanese breadcrumbs. I just love my rings, these were heaven sent!
Marinated Chicken Salad, with marinated chicken with carrots, cabbage, zucchini, iceberg lettuce, hard-boiled egg, and pita bread. A nice well-rounded salad with all of the necessary fixings.
Carne Asada Salad, with carne asada with carrots, cabbage, zucchini, iceberg lettuce, hard-boiled egg, and pita bread. For the salad lover with a special twist, its really delicious.
Save room for some chocolate and vanilla soft serve, supper yummy!
All of their portions are huge, and delicious – so share a couple menu items with a friend, you will be very happy you did.
So now I’ve tried quite a few of the restaurants, and there’s even more to come at the Redlands Public Market in previous articles. I told you about the history of the building and everything that goes into this market. It’s really a great place to meet up with friends, eat delicious food, everything under one roof. I highly recommend it.
Here’s what I tried:
BBQ Meats:
Brisket, by far my favorite meat that they BBQ. It is smoky, super moist and flaky. If you’re a barbecue brisket aficionado, then this is the meat for you.
Pork Ribs, they have 3 types of ribs, and I tried all three, my favorite was their dry rub. The meat falls off the bone, and these are big meaty ribs, so spectacular.
Chicken cooked super tender, the flavor will knock your socks off, just delicious.
Sausage, it’s a zesty sausage, with a nice aroma.
Burger:
Smash Burger, with onion and cheese, a super tender moist burger with great meaty flavor. Truly, simplicity at its best.
Mashed potatoes, this is comfort food, with nice subtle flavors.
Mac n Cheese, with its creamy, cheesy texture, just perfection.
Coleslaw, it’s crispy and tangy, a great accompaniment.
I saw many families, couples’, friends, trying out their barbecue. If you do one of their meat platters, it’s all served on a silver tray and gives you lots of options. Whatever it is that you try I think you’ll be very happy.
Another new establishment at Redlands Public Market, but JoJo Taiwanese Eats has other locations. Owner Leon is very ambitious; he plans to open more as his business progresses. After tasting his wonderful food, I can understand why he would want to spread the word about his great cuisine. This is fast food at its best.
Here’s What I Tried:
Drink:
JoJo’s Taiwanese Refresher, Strawberry Lychee, Strawberry Mango, Peach Mango. This is just so great, and might I add where it gets its name from, super refreshing.
Small Eats:
Dumplings, 6 fabulous fried dumplings and loved every minute, with its wonderful bold flavors.
Egg rolls, I got 2 and was happy with this little taste treat.
Big Eats:
Beef Noodle Soup, with Beef shank, spinach, and mustard greens in our house beef broth.This broth is out of this word, it is cooked from beef bones for 6-8 hours, it is rich in flavor and protein, a true winner.
Braised Pork Belly, with pork belly, mustard greens, soy sauce egg, and rice. I have never been the biggest fan of pork belly because of the fat strip that comes along with the meat, but I am here to tell you that I am now in love with pork belly. This dish is packed with delicate nuanced soft pure pork flavor, the rice soaks up all of the goodness, a must try.
Dan Dan Pork, with ground pork cooked in a mildly spicy sauce, garlic, mustard greens, soy sauce egg, with rice Noodle. The sauce is sweet and sour with hints of garlic and soy sauce, but whatever it is, it’s luscious and terrific.
Jojo’s House Fried Rice, with Taiwanese sausage, scrambled egg, peas, carrots, cabbage, and onions. Just fill me up with the sausage and I will be forever happy, the rice will make me super happy as well.
Popcorn Chicken, fried chicken morsels. These little gems have a great mild flavor, dipped in their sweet and sour sauce will make this a great bite every time.
I am super excited to see this place take off. Its real Taiwanese food with good key ingredients, it promises to be super successful, in this brand-new experience, – Redlands Public Market.
The day I was there the Market was super packed; I saw that word already got out and that locals were waiting for the opening. The good news is you can make this a train destination on a day trip from anywhere Metrolink travels to. So, what the heck are you waiting for?
