Subject:

Barbara Hansen

  • Blogs

    May 20, 2013

    A Really Tough Job: Judging L.A.'s International Wine Competition

    Would you call this heaven or hell for a wine lover? Getting forty-three Cabernets to taste but not drink, 27 Viogniers to sample and spit out -- and so on, through some 3,200 entries in this year's Los Angeles International Wine Competition. More than 70 judges willing to take on the challenge ga ... More >>

  • Blogs

    March 21, 2013

    The Korean Restaurant Guide: Los Angeles 40 Restaurants and Bilingual Text

    If you love Korean food but aren't as conversant in the intricasies of either L.A.'s Koreatown neighborhood or, well, Korean, the folks at The Korean Food Foundation have engineered a terrific guidebook for you. Just published in a handy square cornflower blue paperback, the Korean Restaurant Guide: ... More >>

  • Blogs

    October 26, 2012

    Celebrate Día de los Muertos at Mercado La Paloma: Tamales, Atole Sugar Skulls

    If you're a Día de los Muertos -- or Day of the Dead -- fanatic, head to Mercado La Paloma this Sunday to celebrate with non-stop music, dance, theatrical performances and food from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. The program has been arranged in collaboration with Xamanism. (Admission is free.) The theme is ... More >>

  • Blogs

    October 1, 2012

    Monja: Like Eating at a Night Market in Taipei

    Small plates Taiwanese style is what you get at the new restaurant Monja in City of Industry. Eating there is like browsing in a night market in Taipei, picking up noodles at one stall, fried squid balls at another, a soup with rice dumplings, wonton and vegetables somewhere else. These aren't trend ... More >>

  • Blogs

    August 16, 2012

    5 Cold Drinks That Aren't Lemonade: Milk Teas Affogatos

    Make cooling off an exercise in geography by investigating the cold drinks you'll find from East Los Angeles to Koreatown. Here are five that should keep you happy when there's a heat wave. Like right now. Turn the page.

  • Blogs

    August 9, 2012

    Yucatán's Longaniza: Where to Get It in Los Angeles

    You may never have heard of it, but one of the world's great sausages is right here, under your very nose. It's the famous longaniza of the city of Valladolid in Yucatán. The L.A. version doesn't just pretend to be authentic. It's the real thing, vibrant with Yucatecan seasonings such as seasone ... More >>

  • Blogs

    July 24, 2012

    Boiling Point's Thai-Taiwanese Combo Soup

    Is it Thai, or is it Taiwanese? It's both. We're talking about the Thai Flavor Hot Soup at Boiling Point, a Taiwanese soup chain with several Southern California locations, including a new one in San Gabriel.

  • Blogs

    July 16, 2012

    Cafe Livre Morphs into Spanish Fly Gastropub in Koreatown

    Café Livre, the popular bistro in Culver City, closed its doors July 1. Two days later, executive chef Farid Zadi and his wife, director of operations Susan Park, reappeared at the Spanish Fly, a new gastropub in Koreatown. Partnering with owners Gene and David Park, they're revamping the menu of ... More >>

  • Blogs

    July 10, 2012

    23rd Street Cafe: Indian-Mexican Tacos!

    School's out for summer, which means you have a better chance of getting into the 23rd Street Café without a long wait. This USC hangout is a student magnet for two reasons: Low prices and food that's much more interesting than the same old burgers and fries. Yes, there are burgers on the menu, but ... More >>

  • Blogs

    June 28, 2012

    Uggie's Fire Hydrant Cake: Charm City Cakes West Goes to the Dogs

    Uggie, the dog star of The Artist, got a nifty reward when he put his paws in concrete at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood on Monday. It was a cake, the kind a guy dog could really appreciate -- a 2 ½-foot-tall red fire hydrant covered in fondant and filled with dog-style goodies such as ap ... More >>

  • Blogs

    June 25, 2012

    You Can Have Your Cake and Decorate it Too at Duff's Cakemix

    It's the day after the opening of Duff's Cakemix in West Hollywood, the place where you decorate cakes instead of ceramics. And business is good. TV celebrity, baker and pastry chef Duff Goldman is there himself. He's living in Santa Monica while the new place gets established -- actually two new p ... More >>

  • Blogs

    May 15, 2012

    Lotería Opens (Again) on the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica

    Lotería pulled a sneaky stunt, opening in Santa Monica without telling a soul. But how could the fifth location of this Mexican chain not open on the fifth day of the fifth month of the year, which, as you of course know, was Cinco de Mayo? The official first day was to be May 14, but Jimmy Shaw, ... More >>

  • Blogs

    April 23, 2012

    La Casita Mexicana Introduces Its Bottled Mole Paste

    If you make mole from scratch, it takes hours, right? Or maybe days, considering all the ingredients you have to assemble, toast, grind, combine and simmer. Well, what about two years? That's how long it took Jaime Martin del Campo and Ramiro Arvizu of La Casita Mexicana to perfect a bottled versio ... More >>

  • Blogs

    March 20, 2012

    Amelia Ceja of Ceja Vineyards on Wine With Mexican Food

    You've picked out a good Cabernet. What should you serve with it? Beans -- Mexican beans. That's what Amelia Morán Ceja would do. Ceja is the first Mexican-American woman to head a wine production company, Ceja Vineyards. "People never thought to pair wine with Mexican food until we came along," s ... More >>

  • Blogs

    March 20, 2012

    New Bhimas' Spring Dosa: What to Eat When Celebrating Spring in Artesia

    What should you eat to celebrate today's arrival of spring? A spring dosa, of course. It's the dish of the season at New Bhimas, a South Indian vegetarian restaurant in Artesia's Little India. Dosas are big, crisp pancakes that come with all sorts of fillings, most typically spiced potatoes, as in m ... More >>

  • Blogs

    March 14, 2012

    E.K. Valley Brings Home-style Oaxacan Food to Culver City

    E.K. Valley is more like a home than a restaurant. This new Oaxacan place in Culver City has only seven tables in a small room simply decorated with Oaxacan fabrics, painted gourds and other artesanías. Epy García, the owner, greets you, brings the menu and serves the food. E.K. stands for Epy's ... More >>

  • Blogs

    March 12, 2012

    Planet Dailies and Mixology101 Opens Today A Recipe for the Spicy Fifty

    You've shopped the Grove till your brain can't tell boots from a bra. You've pushed your way through the Original Farmers Market too. Let's face it. You need a drink. Starting today, you can get it at Planet Dailies and Mixology101. You'll climb a long flight of stairs (let's hope you don't have ... More >>

  • Blogs

    January 9, 2012

    Eat, and Learn to Make, Couscous and Tagines at Cafe Livre

    Barbara HansenA combo tagine with lamb and vegetables​Now you taste it, now you don't. That's what happens to the tagines that come with couscous at Café Livre in Culver City. The seasonings change as often as executive chef Farid Zadi gets a new idea, usually every week. The other day the b ... More >>

  • Blogs

    November 14, 2011

    Osaka: You May Have to Swim to Get In

    B. HansenOsaka entrance​Osaka, the new Japanese-Peruvian place in Hollywood, has the scariest entrance. It's very dark, and you have to cross over stepping stones in a pool of rippling black water. I subconsciously felt drawn to fall, and all the time I was in there, I worried about how I woul ... More >>

  • Blogs

    November 4, 2011

    Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup: Food Fight

    Barbara HansenBeef noodle soup from Won Won Kitchen in Temple City.​The San Gabriel Valley is really souped up, that is, if you're thinking of Taiwanese beef noodle soup, which is everywhere. How do you know which version is the best, or at least really good? You check with people who come her ... More >>

  • Blogs

    October 26, 2011

    John Sedlar Worries About the Future of Mexican Food

    Barbara HansenChef John Sedlar (left), his corn flan with fish in curry sauce (right).​John Sedlar, chef/owner of Rivera and Playa, once thought that Mexican food would take over the world. Now, the world is taking over Mexican food, he says. And this is not a good thing. Today's hot young Me ... More >>

  • Blogs

    October 18, 2011

    Day of the Dead: What to Cook for Hungry Spirits

    Barbara Hansena table in Tijuana​Souls of the departed are wandering the earth now as they head home for a good meal. They'll eat their fill on the Day of the Dead -- Día de Muertos -- when families all over Mexico, and here too, greet them with their favorite foods. The holiday lasts two day ... More >>

  • Blogs

    October 12, 2011

    Maximiliano: Andre Guerrero's New Highland Park Restaurant Opens

    There'B. HansenAndre Guerrero in front of Maximiliano's wall​s spaghetti on the wall at Andre Guerrero's (The Oinkster) latest restaurant, Maximiliano, which opens Friday (yes, Friday) in Highland Park. Nobody threw it there, and the staff didn't forget to clean it up. It's a design feature, a ... More >>

  • Blogs

    September 27, 2011

    San Antonio Winery Gets a New Look: Skylights! Giraffes!

    Barbara HansenSan Antonio Winery tasting room​ "This is literally an adult candy store," said a customer walking through San Antonio Winery's brand new tasting room and store. That sounds a bit pornographic, and it is, if you lust for seductive wines, olive oils, candies and other gastronomic ... More >>

  • Blogs

    September 6, 2011

    American Farmhouse: A New Location, an Old Look

    Barbara Hansenthe dining room at American Farmhouse​ There couldn't be a happier place than American Farmhouse Tavern & Dining Hall in Manhattan Beach. Happy hour ($4 wines, beers, well drinks and appetizers) is whenever you want to go, lunch, late afternoon or from 9 p.m. until midnight. N ... More >>

  • Blogs

    June 21, 2011

    Escamoles, Maguey Worms & Ant Larvae: John Sedlar on the Joy of Eating Bugs

    Barbara Hansenescamoles​One of these days, you may be eating maguey worms and ant larvae at Rivera and/or Playa. But no caterpillars. Before you gag and go for a hamburger, listen to chef John Sedlar, chef-owner of both restaurants. "Nutritionists are recommending reducing beef consumption be ... More >>

  • Blogs

    March 10, 2011

    Jet Tila Pops Up at Breadbar with Alex Ageneau: Minus Anything Asian

    Barbara HansenJet Tila and Alex Ageneau at Breadbar​ When Jet Tila did a pop-up dinner at Breadbar on West Third Street this week, something was missing, and that was anything Thai. Tila was L.A.'s man-about-Thai-Town before he left for Las Vegas to become executive chef of Wazuzu, The Wynn ... More >>

  • Blogs

    January 5, 2011

    Champurrado and Champurradas: Have Them Both on Three Kings Day

    Barbara Hansencup of champurrado with a champurrada​ The drink of the day tomorrow, this Thursday, January 6th, will be champurrado, the Mexican corn masa beverage flavored with chocolate. It's what traditionally goes with the rosca de reyes, a ring-shaped sweet bread baked for El Día de lo ... More >>

  • Blogs

    October 25, 2010

    It's Party Time as Pal Cabron Opens on 8th Street

    Barbara HansenBricia Lopez​ Bricia Lopez just turned 26, and her restaurant, Pal Cabron, just moved to its new digs on West 8th Street. Two such epochal events happening simultaneously called for a celebration to shake the galaxy. And that was last Friday's grand opening party at Pal Cabro ... More >>

  • Blogs

    September 27, 2010

    Rama: Upscale Thai on West 3rd Street

    Barbara HansenRama dining room​The latest addition to West 3rd Street's restaurant row is what has been missing there, a Thai restaurant. Rama, which opened September 1st, isn't just another bare bones neighborhood place with quick, cheap lunch specials. It's so handsome you would go there no ... More >>

  • Blogs

    September 20, 2010

    La Petite Crêperie Opens for Dinner

    Barbara Hansenthe crepe maker at work​ La Petite Crêperie in Mar Vista has just started serving dinner. The new dinner menu has crêpes that aren't on the daytime menu and appetizers such as seared foie gras and salmon tartare. This tiny place, which opened June 2nd, is as French as you can ... More >>

  • Blogs

    September 14, 2010

    Cowboys and Turbans, Where You'll Lasso Some Unusual Food

    Barbara HansenCowboys and Turbans' taco​ What kind of chicken taco is this? The two stacked tortillas at the base look familiar. So do the chopped tomatoes and lettuce. But those fine yellow shreds over the top aren't cheese. They're skinny chickpea noodles. And there's no salsa. It's been re ... More >>

  • Blogs

    September 7, 2010

    Guess What's In These Lattes? Hint: It's Not Coffee

    Barbara HansenYellow Cafe and Restaurant's potato latte​ The answer is, sweet potato. If you know anything about Korean cuisine, this won't seem strange. Sweet potatoes pop up in lots of Korean dishes including sweet potato porridge, sweet potato noodles and the sweet potato breads and pastrie ... More >>

  • Blogs

    August 30, 2010

    A New Look for Los Balcones del Peru

    Barbara Hanseninterior of Balcones del Peru​ Los Balcones del Peru reopened last Thursday after a makeover that kept it closed for five weeks. Walk in now and you could just as well be in Lima. A giant photo of the city's historic downtown square covers the back wall. The cathedral is in the c ... More >>

  • Blogs

    August 16, 2010

    It's Thai--in the Middle of Koreatown

    Barbara HansenFried som tam from It's Thai​ What's new in Koreatown? A Thai restaurant, of course. A place called It's Thai, Noodle 'n More has opened in the same block as Ice Kiss and Ham Ji Park barbecue. That's Sixth Street between Kenmore and Catalina, a food hub where you can find anyth ... More >>

  • Blogs

    June 30, 2010

    Momed Explores the Eastern Mediterranean

    Momed, the new Mediterranean restaurant in Beverly Hills, was lucky. It inherited a wood burning oven from the previous occupant, the Italian restaurant Rosti. And so you can have Turkish flatbreads straight from that oven with such toppings as oven-roasted wild mushrooms, akawi cheese and broccoli ... More >>

  • Blogs

    June 28, 2010

    Tiato Opens in Santa Monica: New Restaurant, Old Vietnamese Herb

    Barbara Hansenpots of tiato at Tiato ​ Tiato, which opens today, June 28th, in Santa Monica, is the latest addition to the House of An group's restaurants, the flagship of which is Crustacean in Beverly Hills. Crustacean's famous garlic noodles aren't on the menu, but they'll turn up a couple ... More >>

  • Blogs

    June 28, 2010

    East L.A. Meets Napa at Union Station a Gazpacho Recipe

    Barbara HansenMary Carmen Salas of La Parrilla at East L.A. Meets Napa​All the Mexican food you could ever dream of eating will be yours for the taking at AltaMed's 5th annual East L.A. Meets Napa benefit July 9. That evening, Union Station's huge courtyard will be jammed with tables where lo ... More >>

  • Blogs

    May 24, 2010

    La Casita's Latino Goodie Baskets

    Barbara HansenLa Casita Mexicana chef-owners Jaime Martin del Campo and Ramiro Arvizu​ A tisket, a tasket, what's in that basket? Obleas, glorias, chiclosos, alegrias, pepitorias, ates, cajeta, piloncillo, tamarindo, canela and much, much more. Even if you don't know what these are, you can e ... More >>

  • Blogs

    April 27, 2010

    The 10 Top Wines to Pair with Oysters

    Barbara Hansen​ Having sleepless nights, anxiety attacks, inability to make a decision? If the problem is choosing the right wine to serve with oysters, your angst is over. Panels of judges in three cities--Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle--have made the decision for you. They've chose ... More >>

  • Blogs

    April 9, 2010

    The LAT Food Section of the 70s & 80s: Four Women, A Food Section, A Retrospective

    ​If a bright marketing executive invented something like the L.A. Times food section of the 1970s and 1980s, he or she would be heralded as a genius - a fat bundle of supermarket ads leavened with recipes, interactive features and detailed instructions showing readers how to use the new produc ... More >>

  • Blogs

    April 2, 2010

    Tiger's Condom "Outfit" Stirs up a Media Storm Thai Condom Salad

    Barbara HansenCondom Tiger​Anything related to Tiger Woods generates a media storm, especially if it's titillating. Witness my recent post, on my food blog Table Conversation, about a Tiger Woods statue clothed in condoms. Like a virus, this post circulated around the world. Some news sources ... More >>

  • Blogs

    April 1, 2010

    Better than Botox? Agura's Collagen Terrine

    Here's a skin treatment that's cheaper than Botox. It's painless. Better yet, you can eat it. It's the collagen terrine at Agura Dining in West Hollywood. Owner Yasumasa Kawabata swears that one taste is enough to make your skin more beautiful. The idea came from Kyushu, Japan's southernmost islan ... More >>

  • Blogs

    April 1, 2010

    New Year's Is Coming; This Time It's Thai

    Barbara HansenThe Thai Town Songkran festival draws a crowd​New Year's Day is coming for the third time this year. January 1 revelry in the West had no sooner died down than decorations began to go up for Chinese New Year February 14. Next on the calendar is the Thai new year, Songkran, April ... More >>

  • Blogs

    January 15, 2010

    Eating With the Stars at the SAG Awards

    Barbara HansenSuzanne Goin has boxed up a star-studded meal. ​You can eat with the stars who will be attending the Screen Actors Guild Awards at the Los Angeles Shrine Exposition Center this Saturday. No need to wrangle a ticket, which would probably be impossible anyway. All you have to do i ... More >>

  • Blogs

    January 12, 2010

    A Tiger That's Stylish and Japanese

    Barbara HansenTiger's dining room and sushi bar ​From conveyor belt sushi to duck confit with kabocha ravioli is a big step. And that is what has happened at 340 N. Canon Drive in Beverly Hills, where Tiger, a contemporary Japanese restaurant, has replaced Luckyfish. The clean, woodsy, almo ... More >>

  • Blogs

    January 6, 2010

    The $2 Taco Returns, and It's Korean

    Barbara HansenDakgoki, a Korean style chicken taco at the Grand Central Market​The $2 taco is back at the Grand Central Market in downtown Los Angeles. In 2008, the price went up to $2.50 at the three main taco purveyors there, Tacos Tumbras a Tomas, Ana Maria and Roast to Go. But in Decemb ... More >>

  • Blogs

    October 12, 2009

    Get Back on Track with Brats and Beer at Rush Street

    Barbara HansenBrats and Fries at Rush Street​Paying the price of too much partying? Then head to Rush Street in Culver City for a "morning after" restorative brunch. And if it's just too hard to drag out of bed, don't worry. You have plenty of time. Brunch on Saturday and Sunday starts at 9 a. ... More >>

  • Blogs

    July 31, 2009

    Tinto Tapas España Flamenco Show: Now You Can Leave Your Castanets At Home

    Barbara HansenTinto Tapas​Leave your castanets at home tonight, and head to Tinto Tapas España for its first flamenco show. Previously the West Hollywood Spanish tapas restaurant has had recorded flamenco music, but starting tonight a professional will do the clicking during the two dinner sh ... More >>

  • Eat+Drink

    September 25, 2008

    Chai Thung: Isaan Also Rises

    The unexpected Thai restaurant

  • More >>
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