Category Archives: RESTAURANTS

SPARTINA, STEPHEN KALT, BREAD PUDDING

I’m crazy about Stephen Kalt. At least I love his L.A. restaurant, Spartina, especially at happy hour when the prices are discounted. Apparently, I’m not the one and only. Critics rave. Influencers gush. Stephen and his restaurants have been called the best by such prestigious publications as Esquire, Food & Wine, Travel + Leisure. He […]

IOWA BUFFET AND BOURBON GLAZED MEATLOAF

Talk about time travel. Carolyn McKinney’s Iowa Buffet, is a thoroughly authentic, well-worn neighborhood tavern–that serves a terrific sweet bourbon-glazed meatloaf.

CITY WINERY, BURRATA, CHRIS GRAZIOSE

City Winery St. Louis (in the exciting City Foundry STL) serves the most extraordinary burrata. Here are the recipes needed to duplicate the masterpiece at home.

GOOEY BUTTER CAKE FROM ROBIE’S ON 8TH

Chef Quincy Johnson, of Robie’s On 8th, makes an incredible rich and utterly diving Nutella Gooey Butter Cake. His recipe is printed here…

D’Arcy’s Pint, Springfield, IL, Horseshoe

The Horseshoe, an extravagant speciality sandwich, is found in many Springfield, IL, restaurants, but best of the best is served at D’Arcy’s Pint, a casual congenial Irish pub.

Ta-eem Grill, Hummus Fava Beans

Ta-eem Grill in Los Angeles draws a crowd for It’s kosher Mediterranean dishes. Owner Sylvie Kraizberger shares the recipe for authentic Hummus Fava Beans (Ful).

Third Wheel Brewing and Brewmaster Abbey Spencer

Abbey Spencer produces a wide-range of stunning beers as brewmaster at Third Wheel Brewing. Among them is a Goomah Stout used to make a deep, rich, chocolate and stout brownie–recipe included.

DOSA AND MAYURA INDIAN RESTAURANT

Dr. Aniyan, or Padmini as her friends call her, greets guests at the door of her south Indian restaurant with a smile as brilliant as the gold trimmed sari that she explains is her “work” uniform. The Ph.D professor of business management and accounting and her restauranteur husband, Aniyan Puthanpurayil, immigrated to the United States […]

EDOBOX MODERN JAPANESE RESTAURANT, SANTA MONICA, CA

Disclaimer: Scott Manlin is my nephew. As far as I can remember, he has always appreciated fine food and good restaurants. When he was barely an adult and living in Chicago, and I was a James Beard Foundation restaurant judge and couldn’t get to all of the nominated Chicago restaurants, I asked Scott for advice. […]

MOLLY WELLMANN, JAPP’S, HEMINGWAY DAIQUIRI

What a spark! What a charmer! What pizzazz!  Molly Wellmann is bar none the most spirited woman I know. And it’s not just because this Cincinnati local won the Nightclub and Bar Media award for Best Bartender/Owner in the Nation and that Bon Appetit magazine says her bar is the best in Cincinnati or that […]