Jodi Jackson’s Hollywood

This is a very ambitious project, one that will truly shine a light into a time that was holds very sad memories for those who remember where they were when JFK was shot. I was in kindergarten and home sick from school when my Mom came in the room and announced that John F. Kennedy had been assassinated. This film for me brings back all of those raw emotions. Unlike many other films that have documented this horrific time in our countries history, I felt all of those raw emotions came back, and cried my eyes out.

About the Film, the cast, directors, producers, and some of the back story:

As LBJ reveals, Lyndon Johnson was a masterful behind-the-scenes negotiator who lacked the leading- man looks and charisma of his presidential predecessor. “Hopefully, this movie will enable people to see LBJ in a more human light,” Reiner says. As co-founder of numerous political action groups including American Foundation for Equal Rights, which sponsored the successful constitutional challenge to California’s gay-marriage ban, Reiner envisions LBJ as an opportunity to re-assess Johnson’s pragmatism while in office. “Now that I’m older, having spent a lot of time in politics, I’ve come to understand more about what it takes to get things done,” he says. “I now admire LBJ a lot more than I used to.”

Filming on LBJ began in September 2015 in New Orleans and moved quickly under Reiner’s famously fast-paced directing style. “Rob’s incredible,” says Harrelson. “You come in thinking you’ve got a full day of work ahead of you, and you’re out by lunch.” Harrelson praises director of photography Barry Markowitz for keeping up with the no-nonsense director. “Barry is the fastest lighter I’ve ever worked with,” says the actor. “He uses mostly natural light and he’s brilliant.”

On the eve of the 1960 presidential primaries, Senate Majority Leader Lyndon Johnson (Woody Harrelson), the most powerful Democrat in Washington, underestimates the political skill of Massachusetts Senator John F. Kennedy (Jeffrey Donovan) and his shrewd campaign manager Bobby Kennedy (Michael Stahl- David). After losing the nomination to the telegenic junior senator, Johnson agrees to be Kennedy’s running mate, optimistic he can transform the vice presidency into a vital office. But when JFK wins the election, he and Bobby, the newly appointed attorney general, dismiss Johnson’s efforts to broker a compromise between Southern Democrat segregationists and the Administration over a groundbreaking Civil Rights Bill. Effectively sidelined and frustrated by his figurehead status, Johnson tells his closest advisors “My future is behind me.”

But everything changes on November 22, 1963, when Kennedy’s assassination in Dallas thrusts Johnson into the most powerful office in the world. While the nation mourns, President Johnson, with his devoted wife Lady Bird (Jennifer Jason Leigh) by his side, moves into the White House, re-igniting tensions with a grieving Bobby.

As Johnson tries to win over his predecessor’s formidable team of advisors, the first Southern President in a century faces a deeply divided country, torn between North and South, Democrat and Republican, black and white. With a lifetime of legislative experience and the future of his political life hanging in the balance, Johnson defies his longtime mentor, Georgia Senator Richard Russell (Richard Jenkins), and teams with Texas Senator Ralph Yarborough (Bill Pullman) to honor JFK’s legacy by championing passage of the historic Civil Rights Act of 1964.

LBJ is directed by Oscar® nominee Rob Reiner (A Few Good Men, When Harry Met Sally) and written by Joey Hartstone (Shock and Awe). The movie stars Emmy® winner and Oscar nominee Woody Harrelson (The People vs. Larry Flynt, “True Detective”), Michael Stahl-David (Cloverfield), Emmy winner and Oscar nominee Richard Jenkins (The Visitor), Oscar nominee Jennifer Jason Leigh (The Hateful Eight), Jeffrey Donovan (“Fargo,” “Burn Notice”), Bill Pullman (The Killer Inside Me, Independence Day) and Kim Allen (“Army Wives”).

In Theaters Nationwide – November 3, 2017

* Note some content was taken off of website.

The venue for this event was the Hotel Indigo in Downtown LA. I had never been to this hotel before but it’s very conveniently located. It’s only 2 blocks away from the Staples Center. The inside décor of the hotel was absolutely stunning with a modern chic and hip vibe. The event was held on the 18th floor. Once you stepped out of the elevator, after checking your ID with the security guard, you are welcomed by a stunning 360-degree-view of Downtown LA and the multiple freeways. The timing was perfect to witness the beautiful sunset.

The whole room was beautifully decked out with paintings of renowned music artists and athletes. There was a beautiful fireplace with super comfy couches and seats overlooking the spectacular views of the city. On top of that, a very nice bartender checked in with the attendees to make sure they were properly served.

At the other end of the room, there was the purple carpet area where interviews and photo ops were being held as the attendees arrived and checked in with the host. By the end of the night, the room was full of people dancing to the music of the DJ.

Overall, the venue location was a smart pick. By the time I left everyone seemed to be enjoying their Friday night out.

http://www.maxwelldickson.com
Contributing Columnist – Mariana Muela

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This year Charmaine Blake’s gift suite was another fabulous success. There were many celebrity sighting’s, and wonderful fashion, food, and libations. The location was another thing to be marveled at, up in the very ritzy part of Beverly Hills in a mansion, poolside.

Seemi Fashion brought with them their stylish line; guests were excited to view their line as it always brings wearable fabric, in such unique styles. No one left hungry with Pizza Crek featured its very yummy pizza creations. Ron gave me a gorgeous pair of sunglasses from Eye Dope that I simply adore. They are so big that they will black all of the sun out, and if I am in the mood for not putting make-up on they can hide my tired eyes with style. Some of our featured vendors were cosmetics Laser works, Tall Order Socks, Doms Distributions, Sexy Kitchen and Rockoco Films.

The Charmaine Blake event is never short to introduce a new product line to the guests. I am certainly looking forward to another Charmaine Blake’s Annual Ultra Gold Celebrity and Media Gifting Suites, event. They are always held two days prior to all Hollywood awards show. Everyone is so friendly and accommodating including the ever fun and glamorous Charmaine Blake, what an amazing event. Thanks Charmaine!!!

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Housed in a fairly simple building in the trendy neighborhood of Melrose, is perhaps the best Ramen you will ever happen to stumble on. There are so many Ramen restaurants now in Los Angeles; it has become a real foodie phenomenon. What E.A.K. has that no other Ramen restaurant has, is truly delightful food, with many menu items and very friendly staff.

Info about Ramen and E.A.K. Style Ramen:

What is IEKEI?

IKEI is a style of Ramen that is marriage between Tonkotsu style from the West (Kyushu) and Shoyu style from the East (Tokyo). It is a very distinct thick broth, which is a mixture of chicken and pork, topping of spinach instead of green onions; with chashu, a large piece of nori, aji-tama egg, and the noodles are thick, bold and straight.

The Story

E.A.K. Ramen was born from their philosophy of wanting to spread IEKEI style of ramen to the world. In Japan, they are known as Machida Shoten as well as many other names within the IEKEI style of ramen world. They have direct outlets as well as franchises that cover a large part of Japan that add up to roughly 400 stores. Internationally, they have presences in Singapore, Taiwan, Philippines, Italy, China and Thailand.

However, after capturing a major portion of the Japanese IEKEI market, they decided that it was about time to cross the ocean and make their mark in the US market. Up until now, the US has been introduced to a limited amount of Ramen styles and some stores did try to make an IEKEI style but fell short. They saw an opportunity to spread the wonderful IEKEI style of Ramen and branded their style as E-A-K for the phonetic pronunciation of IEKEI style.

In their broth they use only natural chicken and pork bones and they take 18 hours of love and care to prep, boil, cook, stir, and perfect the broth. Their noodles are custom made for E.A.K., using their distinct formula that no one else uses. It is thick, bold and straight. Their tare recipe is known only by the owner himself; and is a close kept secret to keep their flavor from changing.

Here is what I tried:

Appetizers:

Garlic Edamame, with garlic aioli sauce and anchovies. These are perfect, they melt in your mouth, with a nice fragrance of garlic aioli sauce.

Takoyaki, savory round octopus pancake with a sweet and spicy sauce. These are something you just can’t describe, they are crispy on the outside and soft melty on the inside, just remarkable.

Karaage fried chicken, with lightly salted crispy fried chicken thighs served with sauce of your choice: ponzu sauce, sweet chili, curry, honey mustard, spicy garlic, and homemade tartar. You can try these with their dipping sauces but the seasoning is so great, I loved these little nuggets just on their own with no sauce.

Homemade Cucumber Kimchi, spicy pickled cucumber kimchi. Truly delicious but get ready for the kick, because these are very spicy.

DIY spicy salmon & avocado hand rolls, wrap your own, great for sharing with side of nori and lettuce. This is quite the creative idea and it really works. You get to do all of the work yourself and the payoff is fantastic.

Homemade ginger gyoza, with homemade grilled dumplings filled with seasoned pork, chives and ginger. They flip over these pot stickers in the pan, so you’re left with a yummy film that is the pan sauce, sweet and delectable!

Salads:

Superfood salad, with baby kale, spinach, seaweed, hijiki, cucumber, and shoyu based onion dressing. This is my kind of salad, it’s super fresh and healthy, the dressing is just fantastic. The little bits of seaweed on top are my highlight. This is the kind of salad you can order and eat every day and feel great about this healthy choice.

Rice:

E.A.K. fried rice, with pork-fried rice served table side in a piping hot iron skillet. This is such an interesting presentation. They use an iron pan which they serve the rice in the middle, done table side, then they pour an egg on the outskirts and scramble it right on front of you. It makes for one wonderful fried rice dish.

Oyako Mini Bowl, with chicken and egg marinated in soy sauce, mirin and dashi with radish sprouts on rice. This bowl is very tasty and the price is incredible.

Ramen:

The Original The E.A.K. shoyu, with Pork and chicken broth, pork chashu, seasoned egg, spinach, nori. You can see why E.A.K. is so special, this Ramen is super rich with great meaty flavors, and it really hits the spot.

Seasonal Specials:

Tan Tan Men, spicy yet refreshing. This Ramen is served cold and is vegetarian. Once again, this is a dish that you could eat every day and not have one ounce of guilt from the simple pleasure of good smart eating.

Drinks:

Beer:

Kirin – pale – Japan, super refreshing and very light, perfect with the Ramen.

Sapporo – pale – Japan, wonderful and very drinkable, it works perfectly with anything that has a little kick.

Cocktails:

Very Berry Soju with strawberry ice and strawberry puree, soda, and soju. This drink is more like a smoothie but with a nice Soju kick, it is super fun and delicious.

Green Apple Pen with green apple, soda, soju, and lime. It is very reminiscent of an apple martini, but done with Soju. I would highly recommend this over-the-top cocktail.

Sake:

Makiri sake (Premium), Takenotsuyu, Kurosawa nigori, Un-filtered, Semi-Dry, Mio Sparkling Sake.

Each Sake was recommended to me by the lovely Meadow, she selected each and every one of them, she did a great job. They were all different, each with a complete great characteristic. My favorite was the Makiri, it went down super easy and has some nice floral nuances.

This is Ramen at its best and all of the other menu items will make you never go anywhere else for your weekly Ramen fix. There are other Ramen places that have great accolades but E.A.K. is just the best of the best. Their prices are extremely affordable, and there are so many menu options. From big huge Ramen bowls to tapas style smaller dishes that will leave you completely satisfied. My vote, next time you’re in the mood for Ramen try E.A.K.

E.A.K. Ramen
7455 Melrose Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90046
http://eakramen.com/

* Note some content was taken from their website.

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When you walk in the door you are taken back to a speakeasy type of environment. There is the lounge and then the showroom; where they have shows nightly. I did not see a show so I can’t comment on that event, but what I can talk about is the food. This is truly great Thai food at its beat.

The building itself was a very hot spot in the 50’s and 60’s, with, lots of young actors and Hollywood types. In the 1994 earthquake the building sustained a lot of damage an it was retrofitted a few years after that.

My lovely bartender Sandra is very talented, she handles the cocktail shakers like she is doing a juggling act. She is also a yoga instructor, so no acting for her, which is what you would think everyone here is doing as well as working at this very hipster establishment. She said that everyone has seen signs of ghosts here, Sandra saw glasses flying off of their shelves in the bar area once or twice. She said she had also heard of a couple of murders that happened in the building and that Marilyn Monroe once lived there. In any event Black Rabbit Rose is a very colorful place.

Here’s What I Tried:

Cocktails:

The Freddy Naf Rye Whiskey, with tamarino, Angsitura bitters, and flamed lemon peel.

Dove Tail Irish whiskey, with scotch, cassis, lemon, and egg white.

Dark Arts, with lemongrass vodka, lime, aloe, and activated charcoal.

Zig Zag Lady, with house-blended rum, black currant juice, lime, ginger and mango candy.

Each drink that I tried was hand crafted and made to perfection. The bar is truly a fun scene and the bartender Sandra made all of her magic creations look so easy.

Food:

Wok Tasted Nuts, with cashews, peanuts, sea salt, green onion, Serrano peppers, and bell pepper. A great way to munch your way to the appetizers that will be coming out.

Pola’s Egg Rolls, with ground pork, bean sprouts, shitake, cilantro, carrots, bamboo shots, and glass noodles. These are wonderful eggrolls, crispy and perfect.

Papaya Salad, carrots, tomatoes, green beans, garlic, tamarind, lime, peanut, shrimp. This is a big refreshing version of this Thai staple.

Lettuce Cups, with grilled shitake, fried tofu, water chestnuts, eggplant, onion, edamame, carrot, topped with crispy noodles. I just loved these cups, they have everything you would expect and want.

Shui Mai Dumplings, ground chicken, water chestnuts, onion, shitake, garlic, white pepper, cilantro, egg, served with house made soy sauce. The outside is soft and silky and the inside is packed with flavor.

Salt & Pepper Popcorn Shrimp, with fresh black pepper, white pepper, Serrano peppers, chopped cilantro, served with spicy seafood aioli. This dish is one of their many showstoppers, just fantastic.

Tamarind Orange Chicken, with karake chicken glazed with spicy tangy tamarino, cilantro and dried chili. You must order this amazing dish when you come to Black Rabbit Rose.

Drunken Noodles, Flat noodle, red bell peppers, onions, garlic, Thai chili, tomato, sweet basil, mushroom, with beef. This is a great version of this always-delicious dish.

Tiger Fried Rice, with crabmeat, Chinese sausage, egg, edamame, onion, green onion, and cilantro. The crabmeat and sausage is what makes this rice so special.

Pad Thai, with thin rice noodles, chicken, tofu, bean sprouts, green onion, tamarind sauce, lime, crushed peanuts, with chicken. This Pad Thai has just the right amount of flavors to make it spectacular.

The interior is very Victorian, with original brick walls exposed, old time double fans that are attached together by one cord. There are old scratched mirrors with very authentic banquets, a bar that seats 7, with lots of regulars and show goers. You will marvel at the interior, and they will tell you about the haunted myths, but really come here for the food, you will not be disappointed.

I met Nathan sitting next to me at the bar; he was the manager at Butchers and Barbers, so he knows a lot about the past history of Black Rabbit Rose.

My lovely host Fern Kaewtathip Chef and owner, was so gracious to invite me for this amazing foodies dream, everything I tried was just spectacular, and the vibe is just so fun, a true find in this hipster neighborhood.

Black Rabbit Rose/Crying Tiger
1721 N. Hudson Ave.
Los Angeles, CA. 90028
www.blackrabbitrose.com

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Sunday Oct. 15, 2017 be ready for one of the most fun days of your life.

Brunch at The Races has ever thing you would ever want from a Sunday afternoon in Southern California.

Enjoy samples of over 30 of the best brunch spots in Los Angeles.

You can buy tickets the day of or go to their website and buy online.

11:00 AM – 2:00 PM – Santa Anita Park

https://brunchattheraces.laweekly.com/

I will see you there!

On a balmy Sunday summers night I made it to this lovely part of Pasadena, Lake Street which has many great eating establishments. Del Frisco Grille offers an elegant but casual dining experience.

There are 3 Del Frisco Grille locations in Southern California, Santa Monica, Irvine and Pasadena. They have many other locations in these areas: Atlanta, GA , Brentwood, TN, Brookfield Place, NY, Burlington, MA , Cherry Creek, CO Chestnut Hill, MA , Dallas, TX , Fort Worth, TX , Hoboken, NJ , Houston, TX , Huntington, NY, Little Rock, AR , Nashville, TN – Now Open , New York, NY , North Bethesda, MD Pasadena, CA, Plano, TX , Southlake, TX Stamford, CT , and Tampa, FL. Company Del Frisco also owns Sullivan’s and Double Eagle, two great steak houses as well.

Here’s What I Tried:

Cocktails:

Martini, a very proper martini, just what I love to drink to start my meal.

The VIP Sweet Hawaiian Pineapple-infused Svedka Clementine vodka. This drink is so refreshing, very light and tropical.

Cosmopolitan, vodka, cranberry juice. A very light cocktail with a nice amount of ingredients.

Food to Fight Over:

Cheesesteak Eggrolls, sweet & spicy chili sauce, and honey mustard. This is an interesting take on an egg roll, with Philly cheese steaks inside, go figure.

Ahi Tacos, tuna tartare, avocado, spicy citrus mayo. These are super fresh Ahi Tuna tacos with a nice spicy citrus mayo.

Deviled Eggs, truffle-chive vinaigrette. I have never tasted anything like this, really great flavors in these little devils.

Fire Roasted Artichoke Meyer lemon vinaigrette, parmesan-black pepper aioli. The artichoke is smoky and warm while the sauce is cheesy and spicy, all together a great appetizer.

Wild Mushroom Flatbread with fontina cheese, caramelized onions, baby arugula, and white truffle oil. This flatbread is outstanding. There is so much great mushroom flavor and the caramelized onions really are sweet and delectable.

Soup & Greens:

Sweet Corn Bisque with tortilla, and crema. This is a very sweet creamy soup with a nice soothing texture.

Iceberg Lettuce Wedge with bacon, tomato, and blue cheese dressing. A nice healthy helping, with a huge quartered iceberg lettuce. The dressing is very subtle, but the bacon makes all of the difference.

Mains:

Oscar – Prime Rib Eye 16 oz. with jumbo lump crab cake, cajun lobster sauce, roasted asparagus, and jalapeño bacon mashed potatoes. What a great astounding dish, so many great flavors and the combinations are just off the charts.

Sides:

Truffled Mac & Cheese, another amazing menu item, wow! The truffle comes out in every bite.

Desserts:

Salted Caramel Pudding Jar and whipped cream. This pudding is just so luscious with its great salted caramel flavors; it is a wonderful dessert item.

Coconut Cream Pie and white chocolate shavings. This pie is so decadent. It is their signature dessert and after trying it you will know why.

Wine:

Chardonnay, The Seeker, 2013, Central Coast, CA. A nice fragrant wine that went great with the wedge salad.

Chardonnay, Au Contraire, 2013, Russian River, CA. This is my kind of wine with its great buttery, caramel flavors; it worked great with the crab cake.

Red Blend, Black Ink, 2014, CA, Zinfandel, Syrah, Merlot, and Malbec. This is a very cherry type wine with so many complicated flavors, but it was so perfect with the rib eye.

Red Blend, Del Frisco’s Grille 2013, CA, Cabernet, Petite Sirah, and Zinfandel, by Robert Foley. A nice well rounded blend with more spicy nuances. It went great with the wild mushroom flatbread.

Del Frisco’s planted its roots in Dallas more than 20 years ago. They embody the rich tradition of fine American steakhouses, amazing guests through their impeccable chef-driven cuisine, extensive award-winning wine list and unparalleled hospitality. They offer their guests an unforgettable experience in a stunning, energetic atmosphere, perfect for special occasions, business affairs or a grand night on the town. Del Frisco is modern, stylish and fun, taking the classic bar and grill to new heights. Del Frisco’s Grille draws inspiration from bold flavors and market-fresh ingredients. Their menu is a tempting mix of prime steaks, fresh seafood and twists on American comfort cuisine. The energetic bar, a destination in itself, creates a buzz throughout the restaurant and sets the stage and tone for an amazing dining experience.

Del Frisco’s Grille Awards; Wine Spectator – 2014, Wine Spectator Award of Excellence, Jezebel – 2014, Top Restaurants in Atlanta. Buckhead Business Association – 2013, Best New Business, New York, Wine Spectator – 2012-2013, Award of Excellence, Concierge Choice Award – 2012, Best Casual Restaurant NYC, Wine Spectator – 2013, Award of Excellence, Little Rock, Wine Spectator – 2016, Award of Excellence, Dallas, Open Table – 06-2013, Top 100 Hottest Bars in the US, Open Table – 06-2012, Top 100 Hottest Bars in the US, Wine Spectator – 2012-2013, Award of Excellence, Washington, Wine Spectator – 2013, Award of Excellence, Nation’s Restaurant News – 2012, Hot Concepts Award, Houston, Open Table – 2013, Diners’ Choice Award, Open Table – 2013, Top 100 Hottest Bars in the US, Stamford, Open Table – 2015, Diners’ Choice Winner, Hoboken, Open Table – 2015.

The interior is very inviting with 3 distinct dining areas and huge oblong bar with leather comfortable seats. There are large glass partitions that separate the 3 dining areas making it earthy, warm and inviting. They have wood tables, hanging lantern type lamps, and an open kitchen for viewing. There is also a draped private dining room and an outside patio with streaming white lights.

My server Danielle Aguado came from McCormick and Schmicks. She was posed and knowledgeable, and made my experience happen flawlessly.

They have a wine flight event, as well as happy hour and brunch. Check out their website for more details.

Del Frisco Grill
55 Lake Street
Pasadena, CA.
delfriscosgrille.com
* Note some content was taken off of their website.

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What a great event with food, fun people and being able to watch the Mayweather vs McGregor fight at the same time.

About Buffalo Wild Wings:

Minority Business Owners, Karim Webb and Edward Barnett, Bring Buffalo Wild Wings to Koreatown. Karim Webb (L), Co-Founder, PCF Restaurant Management, Trevor Ariza (C), Houston Rockets, Edward Barnett (R), Co-Founder, PCF Restaurant Management | Photo Credit: Earl Gibson III. Karim Webb (Co-Founder, PCF Restaurant Management), Edward Barnett (Co-Founder, PCF Restaurant Management), Trevor Ariza (Houston Rockets), Nadine Velazquez (Six), Sebastian Ridley Thomas (Councilman), and over 200 community members, friends and family.

As minority business owners, Webb and Barnett are excited to be expanding their footprint into a new and ethnically diverse area. They pride themselves on being responsive to unique needs of each community their units serve and their ability to engage stakeholders therein.

Over the past 6 weeks, PCF has worked closely with Korean Churches for Community Development (KCCD), in partnership with Community Career Development, Inc. (CCD) to fill over 130 job opportunities. Through the API JOBS (Job Opportunities & Business Success) Initiative, PCF was able to do the majority of hiring locally. Currently, there are no other national brands owned by African American’s in Koreatown and PCF is excited to change that.

“It’s about service. Serving our Team Members and our Guests. That’s where success in our business comes from. We’re excited to be a part of the burgeoning Koreatown community.” – Karim Webb, PCF Restaurant Management.

“It was a great turnout, we appreciate everybody from the community coming out to support. Part of our mission is to be a good community partner providing job training and employment opportunities to the young people and we are excited to put to our new BWW in Koreatown.” – Ed Barnett, PCF Restaurant Management.

“Tonight was a special night, a lot of people came out and we had a good time. I think the things going on here are helping people. It made me see that everything is attainable and there are a lot more things we can reach. There is a lot of potential here.” – Trevor Ariza, Houston Rockets.

“We are so pleased to have Buffalo Wild Wings open in Koreatown. Thank you for your commitment to Koreatown.” – Hyepin Im, President, Korean Churches for Community Development.

The fight night event was hosted by Big Pee Wee, 102.3 KJLH and music was provided by DJ Ron C. Roughly 200 friends, family and prominent community leaders were in attendance to support, eat wings and watch the Mayweather vs. McGregor fight. Event sponsors included Effen Vodka & Courvoisier. Proceeds from the evening’s event went to Korean Churches for Community Development and the Brotherhood Crusade. BWW Koreatown opens to the public on Thursday August 31st at 11 am.

They served many of their delicious wings: hot, sweet, and crispy; all amazing. Also, I got to taste some other bites on the menu; ultimate nachos, potato wedges, mac & cheese balls, cheese quesadilla and mini corn dogs. They had some nice cocktails to choose from for the night. The perfect delicious food to go with this wonderful high profile group of people, all watching this very entertainment fight. There were so many flat screen TV’s, big and small, but truly they were everywhere so you couldn’t miss any of the fight.

All in all, I was so happy to have been invited and I had a marvelous time at Buffalo Wild Wings, I can’t wait to come back and taste the rest of their menu.

Buffalo Wild Wings – Koreatown

3150 Wilshire Blvd. Ste. 100

Los Angeles, CA 90010

www.lawildwings.com

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I just love the Drago brothers, each one of them are kind and add so much to our culinary world here in Los Angeles. Their newest collective incarnation is just the best thing I’ve experienced in a very long time. It’s a fresh, fun and modern cuisine at its finest.

Inside the Petersen Automotive Museum is the perfect foodies’ oasis. Drago Ristorante is located inside the newly renovated Petersen Automotive Museum on Wilshire Boulevard, along Museum Row in the Miracle Mile neighborhood of Los Angeles. The Petersen Automotive Museum is one of the world’s largest automotive museums, housing more than 300 vehicles and specializing in automobile history and education.

When you’re hungry and tired from looking at all of the classic cars there’s a wonderful restaurant right there. This location was completely overhauled very recently and when they renovated it they brought in Drago which used to be Johnny Rockets.

Then there’s my old friend Oscar who I know from the great Nonna’s restaurant on Sunset that I reviewed twice a few years back. Seeing Oscar made me feel right at home. The food and ambiance is just so remarkable. Simple and modern, elegant and subtle, it’s everything you would want from dining in a great establishment.

Here’s What I tried:

Cocktail:

Pomegranate Martini, served in a proper martini glass, not too sweet, more on the sour side, but a great starter.

Antipasti:

Calamari Fritti Con Verdure, fried calamari and vegetable, lemon caper tartare. It’s light and fluffy, the tartare sauce is so delicious.

Delizie Vegetariane, caponata, marinated roasted bell peppers, seasonal roasted vegetables, pea puree, toasted ciabatta bread. The best part of this dish for me was the pea puree, you would mistake it for guacamole, but once you taste it you too will fall in love with its rich pea flavor.

Salads:

Mozzarella Caprese, mozzarella cheese, heirloom tomato, roasted bell peppers. A nice well rounded salad with the perfect heirloom tomatoes.

Cosa Buone chopped salad, tomato, romaine, beans, avocado, cheese, salami. I have tasted many chopped salads but never like this one, really fantastic.

Cesare – Caesar Salad, romaine lettuce, Parmesan cheese, croutons. This is the perfect Caesar salad, nice light anchovy dressing, truly great.

Mele e Indivia, pink lady apple, smoked bacon, candied walnuts, frisee, mixed lettuce, champagne vinaigrette. The bacon and the candied walnuts really make for one elegant salad.

Carne e pesci:

Burger, Beef Burger, caramelized onions, Portobello mushrooms, Fontina cheese, truffle fries. What a burger, is all I can say.

Salmon, pan roasted Atlantic salmon, season sauté vegetables. This salmon is very fresh and light and the vegetable are cooked to perfection.

Filetto di Brazino alla Livornese European sea bass, tomato olives caper broth. Its got a crispy skin and the flavors will make you come back for more.

Pasta:

Bucatini Carbonara con Piselli bacon, peas, egg yolk, cream, and Parmesan cheese. Just the right amount of creaminess and the smoky bacon adds to the over all precision is in the dish.

Spaghetti Frutti di Mare, shrimp, calamari, bay scallops, salt spring mussels, Manilla clams. This one has a bit of a kick to it, probably from the pepperoncini that they don’t tell you about, but the seafood is wonderful and the tomato sauce is rich with goodness.

Linguine Vongole, linguine, Manilla clams, garlic, fresh parsley. The clams are tender and pop in your mouth, with a very delicate simple sauce.

Lasagna Bolognese, baked meat lasagna. It is served in a mini casserole dish, with a nice meaty sauce, one of my favorite lasagnas.

Risotto Porcini e Mascapone risotto with porcini mushrooms and mascarpone cheese. This is a creamy, rich, mushroom packed risotto, very wonderful.

Fusilli Vodka fusilli with prosciutto and vodka. Springy type noodles lap up the sauce. It is a simple and direct sauce that has nice vodka nuances.

Culurgiones Sardi, black and white shrimp filled pasta, lobster bell pepper sauce. This was by far my favorite dish of the day. It is rich with shrimp goodness and the black and white kidney shaped raviolis are just amazing. The black part is a squid ink pasta; this complicated dish is so worth tasting.

Pizza:

Funghi e Peperoni mushroom, salami, mozzarella. They have a wood burning pizza oven so of course the pizza would be fantastic.

Salmone Affumicato, smoked salmon, srugula, dill, pickled onions, capers, and salmon caviar. This is kind of a Spago’s type salmon pizza but with more elegance, I just loved it.

Desert:

Crostata de Cioccolato e Caramello chocolate and caramel tart. A nice chocolate caramel ending to my incredible lunch.

Cream Brulee Limone e Lavanda lemon lavender cream brulee, the lemon adds a nice nuance to this special brulee.

Wines:

Sauvignon Blanc, Cakebread cellars, Napa Valley, 2015, I would drink this with the salmon or branzino, and both work perfectly with the fruit forward grapes in this wine.

Chardonnay, Ronco del Gelso, Sietvignis, Friuli Italy, 2014, anything that has shrimp in it will be a great pair with this wine.

The history of the Drago kitchen: Born and raised in the Messina area of Sicily, are the four Drago brothers, Celestino, Tanino, Calogero and Giacomino. They have owned and operated some of the Los Angeles area’s most prolific Italian restaurants. Celestino Drago immigrated to Los Angeles from Sicily in the mid-1970s, and held his first job with Osteria Romana Orsini on Pico Boulevard as a chef before leaving to launch Celestino, “his seminal Italian restaurant in Beverly Hills (now defunct but re-created in Pasadena under the same name)”. He brought over three of his brothers from the family restaurant in Messina. Celestino parted ways with investor Art Vella in 1999. The restaurants feature hand-cranked pastas, pizza, fresh-baked bread. Drago Ristorante offers elevated, yet authentic Italian fare and a heavy dose of classic Italian hospitality that the Drago brothers have been providing Angeleno’s and visitors alike for over three decades.

The Drago family has owned and operated some of the most famous high-end Italian restaurants in Los Angeles, California since the 1980s. They are known for their homemade pasta dishes. Past and present Drago restaurants include: Celestino (in Beverly Hills until 1991; now operating in Pasadena), L’Arancino (closed), Celestino Steak House (West Hollywood, closed 2009), Drago, Santa Monica (closed), Il Pastaio, Enoteca Drago Beverly Hills wine bar, Drago Centro (a Stanley Felderman designed restaurant in Downtown Los Angeles, opened 2009), Osteria Drago (West Hollywood, opened 2012), Tanino Ristorante Bar, and Panzanella Ristorante Sherman Oaks.

Drago has a catering and special events division. They offer full catering and production services for any event, from wedding receptions, elegant dinners, corporate cocktail parties and charity galas. With award-winning menus that change seasonally, Drago Catering Special Events has an ongoing commitment to bring innovative, high quality food and impeccable service to all catered occasions.

I am awestruck with this new addition to the Drago’s fleet of restaurants, each one has its own specialties, but this new Drago really has my attention. The design is very modern with a view to the first floor cars at The Petersen. But what sets this new one apart is how they were able to do everything in such a small compact space. They will be opening up their patio soon, which will add some more tables, but the intimate small setting for me makes all the difference in the world. Once they have completed their renovations for the patio they will have dinner service as well. Being able to have a luxurious lunch and then tour the cars is just the right amount of fun for my Sunday.

Bon appetito, enjoy Drago at The Petersen it will put a big smile on your face like it did mine!

Drago Ristorante
Open Daily: 11:00am – 6:00pm
6060 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
Inside the Petersen Automotive Museum
323.800.2244
http://dragoristorante.com/
* Note some content was taken off of their website

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Located right on Santa Monica Blvd. in a primarily Hispanic neighborhood, this is best Oaxacan food you will ever eat. Truly this is the little engine that could and can!!

Here’s what I tried:

Starters:

Guacamole and Chips, the guacamole has a great flavor and the chips are large blue corn, which makes for some pretty good dipping.

Tlayudas:

Classic Supreme Tlayuda, extra large toasted tortilla, a spread bean puree, lettuce, tomato, onion, avocado, cheese, meats tasajo beef, cesina pork and chorizo. Kind of pizza kind of tostada, whatever it is, it’s unique and very delicious.

Plato Mixto, with Grilled pork loin (cesina), chicken, rice, beans, salad, pico de gallo, cheese and tortillas. This was my favorite dish, the flavors of the grilled pork and chicken are just so perfect, the right amount of seasonings and the right amount of grilling time, just superb.

Enchiladas Verdes, 3 chicken enchiladas served with a side of rice. There is no sauce on the enchiladas, so you can really taste the full flavors of the meat and combination ingredients.

Burrito, with a flour tortilla, your choice of meat, black beans, cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion and avocado. A huge king size burrito, for me I can take this home and have 3 other meals off of it so be warned.

Tacos, served on a handmade tortilla with black bean puree, Oaxaca cheese and avocado, two beef tacos, two chicken tacos, two mole sauce tacos. These are not any run of the mill tacos, each one individually great, and each made with the perfect tender meats and accompaniments. My favorite was the mole sauce taco, with lots of rich chocolate type sauce, amazing.

Dessert:

Cheesecake, served with a chocolate caramel sauce, so amazing.

They don’t serve alcohol, but their own made Aguas Frescas are more than satisfying! I also had a hot pour over coffee which was so great, it hit the spot with the cheesecake.

Everything about Tlayuda L.A. has an artsy, colorful style from the walls to the food! You’re greeted with delicious aromas and friendly faces from the moment you walk in. Masterpieces from local artists, a trendy mural and whimsical Oaxacan creatures are painted around the restaurant. Once you have a bite of the rich guacamole or savory meat, you’re hooked. All of that has been carefully designed by Laura Guerrero, whose passion is creating the best customer experience. Laura opened her first business in 2010 and why stop at one? Laura’s successful local and online businesses were flourishing and her desire had always been to own a restaurant. I knew I wanted something that was “pretty, that tastes good” and the Tlayuda definitely exceeds that requirement! “It’s such a great plate and it’s not a main dish in most Oaxacan restaurants; most people don’t even know about it. I wanted to give life to it!” As a lifelong foodie, Oaxacan cuisine has always been a favorite. It’s different and something most people have never tasted before.

Tlayuda L.A. brings together the Oaxacan flavors with a contemporary twist – it’s not your traditional Mexican restaurant! “It’s even better than I expected!” is a frequent exclamation from customers enjoying our Oaxacan cuisine for the first time. Our Oaxacan-trained chefs keep the essence of the flavor while creating new tasty dishes. Our signature dish is the Tlayuda, a Mexican pizza served with succulent meats and cheeses. The fresh, savory food is certainly “Instagram-able!” and has gained a loyal following already. Within two months of opening, we already had regulars coming in multiple days a week!

Whether we’re your usual Taco Tuesday or a date-night destination, Tlayuda L.A. is one experience you will enjoy every time!

About Oaxacan Cuisine:

Oaxacan Cuisine:

Oaxacan food is based on the Mexican staples such as corn, beans and Chile peppers. The appeal of Oaxacan cuisine comes from the variety of ingredients and unique preparation. Oaxaca cheese is one of the most notable items. They make this mozzarella-like string cheese through a complicated process involving stretching the cheese into long ribbons and rolling it up like a ball of yarn. Another popular snack and topping are chapulines which are toasted grasshoppers with a sour-spicy-salty taste of garlic, limejuice and salt. Tlayudas, Oaxacan style tamales and mole sauce are some other favorites.

Oaxaca, Mexico:

Oaxaca is known for its unique cuisine and traditional cultural experience. Oaxaca is a beautiful state in southwestern Mexico with a long coastline and mountainous, tropical terrain. The communities have been preserved because they are so isolated throughout the valleys in the area. The large indigenous population have maintained their individual languages, customs and traditions – in fact about one in six people don’t speak Spanish! The Oaxacan culture has been passed down for hundreds of years.

I am telling you, this was quite a surprise, I would tell you to go out right now and grab some of this very authentic Oaxacan cuisine.

Tlayuda L.A. Mexican Restaurant
(213) 261-4667
5450 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90029
* Some content was taken off of their website.

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