Ben Mesirow

The world is sorely lacking in mad scientists. If there were more brilliant but twisted lunatics in white lab coats, we'd all be flying around on jet packs chatting on our brain-implanted iPhones by now. They may not quite be on that level, but the creators of a new food......

We have heard many times that you should never get high on your own supply, but what if that high comes from fresh jalapeños in your burrito, or a caprese salad with just-plucked tomatoes and basil? Jimmy Williams & Susan Heeger, authors of the home-gardening manual and cookbook From Seed......

Forget meals taken as pills, in The Future whole meals will be eaten in courses of cupcakes. Taking the first steps down that horrifying dystopian road, Cynthia Kallile has created The Meatloaf Bakery in Chicago. At least the road to hell is paved with whimsy and preciousness though; we cannot......

The place: The Yard, 119 Broadway, Santa Monica; (310) 395-6037. The hours: Daily, 5-7 p.m. The deals: $6 bar bites, $3 beers, and $5 wine and drinks. What did we think? Turn the page to find out........

Update: We told you you'd have to keep monitoring the tap list yourselves, but we caved and decided to give you a hand. Here's the list of confirmed Pliny the Younger appearances as it stands right now: Verdugo Bar, Wednesday, February 16 at 6 p.m.; Hops and Barley (in Temecula),......

Forget G.W. Bush, pizza is the real uniter. It is an almost universally beloved food, favorite of everyone from kids and their parents to drunk college students to mischievous teenagers and their Mutant Ninja Turtle counterparts. Now watch us turn this noble nosh into the greatest divider: here is our......

Yes, friends, dreams do come true. Whatever your job is now, forget it; it's time to become a sommelier. The International Sommelier Guild will begin their Spring 2011 wine education classes in Los Angeles on February 2nd at Le Petite Vendome, and they offer three different levels (Wine Fundamentals I,......

No such thing as a free lunch? That's just what we tell the suckers to keep 'em off our turf. You stick with us, kid, and you'll soon be eating 1,000 calories a day out of tiny white cups. The free sample phenomenon is a beautiful thing, and we have......

The recent theft and indefinite closure of the Boyle Heights stand Tacos Guanajuato is an unqualified tragedy. While we wish owner Ulises Gutierrez and everyone involved the best of luck and hope to be announcing their triumphant return at some point in the near future, the vampiro show must go......

Like a six deuce Impala with an electric engine, the 30+ year-old Santa Monica restaurant Michael's is getting a serious infusion of the hot new thing. This Thursday, January 20th, Michael's will kick off a series of monthly guest bartender events featuring some of L.A.'s most talented drinksmiths. The first......