Central Coast

American Craft Beer Week is Here: A List of Important Beer Events

American Craft Beer Week is underway and picking up speed. The Brewers Association-- a non-profit group recognized as the central foundation for craft beer in America -- designates a week in May to the celebration of small and independent craft breweries. This year, May 13-19 serves as opportunity t ... More >>

Full of Life Flatbread, Um, PIZZA: Worth The Drive

With plenty of serviceable options for wood-fired pizza right here in the city, why would anyone hop into their car for an hours-long ride just to try a pie? And a FLATBREAD pizza at that?! Well, because Full of Life Flatbread in Los Alamos, CA, is fantastic. Sure, it's tucked away at the end of a o ... More >>

L.A.'s Wine Bars Are Better Than Ever. Here Are Our Seven Favorites

Megastorm Could Be California's Worst Disaster Yet

We're masters of disaster in California. From the new prospect of a "megaquake" that could rip us a new one from San Diego to San Francisco to our apocalyptic wildfires, we do expensive acts of God (not to mention riots) like no other state. But considering the one thing that the rest of the nation ... More >>

Maggie Harrison of Antica Terra: Manfred Krankl's Wayward Disciple

Oregon's Willamette Valley has been luring California winemakers for the better part of two decades -- Andrew Rich, Tony Soter, Robert Brittan, and Cheryl Frances all come to mind as not so recent transplants -- but Maggie Harrison, of Antica Terra, represents a kind of special case. In 2005 Harriso ... More >>

Happy Anniversary: Il Grano Celebrates 15 Years Free Oysters and Caviar

In a town where attention is often galvanized by temporary things -- pop-up restaurants, the small explosions of sudden food trends, your dinner as Instagram -- it's far too easy to forget that there are some restaurants that have been going, and going strong, for years. Then they have anniversaries ... More >>

The Jolly Oyster: Baja Oysters and Clams at the Beach in Ventura

Here's a delicious field trip that combines all the elements of an ideal Southern California picnic. Fresh-from-the sea proteins ready-to-eat. Bring-your-own wine and beer. And dogs are welcome. The Jolly Oyster is a fresh oyster and clam shackette just an hour north of L.A. on the 101. Inspired ... More >>

Marijuana Law Would Give California Dispensaries a Chance Against Federal Prosecution

When feds bust down the doors of medical marijuana dispensaries in California and -- lo and behold -- find cannabis, operators can be liable for some serious time behind bars. Medical pot is legal in California, you say. True, but the federal government doesn't recognize it. To them pot shop owners ... More >>

A Summer Cheese Chat With Andrew Steiner Of Andrew's Cheese Shop

Last we checked in with Andrew Steiner of Andrew's Cheese Shop, he was telling us that like farmers' market produce, soft cheeses in particular are "seasonal" -- and that we were in the middle of the wrong season (it was January). Now that we're in the middle of the right season, we circled back ... More >>

The Wednesday Edition: A Roundup of Newspaper Food Stories

You can't replace the feeling of lounging on the couch with a scrunched-up newspaper. But with the web, at least you don't need to worry about getting ink on your hands and bagel. Here's a roundup of some food-related stories from our country's newspapers this week. Lucky for us, it's mostly free. F ... More >>

Rhone Rangers Wine Tasting at Vibiana This Sunday

Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir are the beloved trinity of most wine drinkers. There are many more varietals out there and this Sunday's (June 3) fifth annual Rhone Rangers Tasting at Vibiana in downtown Los Angeles showcases wines grown from 22 American Rhone grape varietals. Chief a ... More >>

5 Dog-Friendly Winery Tasting Rooms

A love for wine and dogs can co-exist. People take their pets everywhere these days--dining and drinking out, no exception. Although Los Angeles has approved pets on restaurant patios (per the recent Squid Ink post), rules prohibit them inside. Nor are they welcome at bars or in the tasting rooms at ... More >>

10 Last Minute Mother's Day Gift Ideas: A Mom Beverage Pairing

Mother's Day is on Sunday. Yes, this Sunday. No need to get into a Google-ing gift search frenzy, as we have already compiled a handy last-minute Mother's Day gift list. Only here, you won't find the typical clichés like roses or chocolate, but gifts mom can drink. Heaven knows she deserves a stron ... More >>

Everson Royce: Silverlake Wine's Pasadena Spinoff Now Open

Opened last Saturday, Old Town Pasadena's Everson Royce is not quite a sequel to Silverlake Wine. Think character spinoff. Two out of three Silverlake Wine owners are involved; approximately 25% of the same small-production wine brands are stocked. Potential customers are greeted immediately at the ... More >>

In Memory Of A Fundraiser: Wally's Central Coast Wine & Food Event Ends Its 8 Year Run

Wally's Central Coast Wine & Food Celebration, a nonprofit wine and food tasting event that began eight years ago to support the Michael Bonaccorsi Scholarship Fund, has unexpectedly been cancelled this year. "We just don't have a place to do the event," says the event's volunteer publicist, Janni ... More >>

L.A. City Redistricting Land Grab: Appointed Commissioners Try to Gerrymander Westside, Downtown

Updated at the bottom with a map of the land grab. This just got ugly. Every 10 years, Los Angeles is required to readjust its 15 City Council districts to accomodate for population shifts. But as with most decisions made at City Hall, the 2012 redistricting effort has turned from what should be a ... More >>

Dave Matthews Introduces Line of Wines: The Dreaming Tree

It's a different kind of crush for Dave Matthews. He may not want you to drink the water, but the musician has collaborated with award-winning winemaker Steve Reeder to create a line of vino they're calling Dreaming Tree Wines, after the Dave Matthews Band track "The Dreaming Tree" from the 1998 alb ... More >>

Jonathan Gold's 99 Essential L.A. Restaurants 2011

Art from the streets: L.A.'s most exciting chefs are reimagining street food, from the ramen bowl to the cheeseburger

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 >>

Hearst Ranch Winery: What Wines to Pair with A Castle Visit Free-range Zebras and Grass-fed Beef Burgers

Jeff KirshbaumBranding takes on its original meaning at the Hearst Ranch Winery ​ Free-range zebras, undeveloped California coastline as far as the eye can see and an epic house museum: Welcome to the Hearst Ranch Winery's neighborhood. Few California wineries can compete with the tasting room ... More >>

Support Your State: Drink California Wine During CA Wine Month

Kathy A. McDonaldLearn more about wine this month at a wine tasting seminar​These days, every foodstuff or drink gets a day in its honor. Did you know there's a National Pecan Cookie day (September 21)? One guess on how to observe either National Guacamole Day (September 16) or National Beer D ... More >>

Good Food Jobs A Few Local Opportunities

abrowncoat/flickrOjai Olive Oil: Your food job?​ Thanks to Michael Pollan, the mainstreaming of farm-to-table activism, and co-ops, many college students graduate with the hope of working with food -- in the ever-expanding field if not a field itself. While ten years ago, they'd have been a ... More >>

Top 5 Weekend Food Events: Dueling Pig Roasts, Crawfish, Wine, LQ @ SK

18th Annual Long Beach Crawfish Festival Long Beach hosts a crawfish festival that features two days of the tasty crustacean battered, boiled, fried and more. There's also the usual array of Cajun music, booths, games and -- bonus! -- beignets. Where: Rainbow Lagoon When: July 30 - 31 Cost: $13 - ... More >>

Lompoc Wine Ghetto: Get Your Wine On Alternative

Jeff KirshbaumWinemaker Sashi Moorman of Piedrasassi New Vineland at work in the Lompoc Wine Ghetto.​ Substance outshines style at Santa Barbara County's low-key Lompoc Wine Ghetto. A semi-industrial office park that's in the heart of land-that-time-forgot Lompoc, California, Lompoc Wine Ghett ... More >>

Indulge Wines Debuts The AstraPouch In California

JGarbeeJust Add Pie​Wine in a bottle, wine in a box, wine inside a bag inside a box. Just when you think the bagged wine market is over saturated, the AstraPouch makes its U.S. debut. New York's Glenora Wine Cellars was the first American wine producer to pouch its Riesling and Chardonnay last ... More >>

DJs, Sips and Apps: Second Glass Brings Wine Riot to L.A.

​ Who said wine tasting had to be full of stuffed shirts? Add a few DJs, a photo booth, and snacks from L.A.'s cool food trucks, and you've got Second Glass's Wine Riot, wine tasting for the iPhone generation. And, yes, there's an app for it, too. "The average wine event was in a stale borin ... More >>

Music Picks: Breakestra, Slang Chickens, the Muffs, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson

Also Meth Leppard, Tennis With Lord Huron, Kid Infinity and others