Strip Steak at the Strip Club
 
Novelist Amelia Gray pays several bizarre food-centric visits to weathered Arts District strip club Sam's Hofbrau for Lucky Peach with a feature titled “Four Meals at the Toughest Strip Club in Los Angeles.” As you'd expect, the menu is described as “red-light-district Applebee’s,” but apparently the barbecue chicken quesadilla isn't bad.

Welcome to the New Chinatown

Documentary filmmaker Clara Ritger released a terrific inaugural episode of her upcoming video series The Great American Cooking Story, available via YouTube. The 15-minute film explores the shifting restaurant scene in L.A.'s Chinatown, featuring interviews with the owner-chefs of Little Jewel of New Orleans and Chimney Coffee House.

Trader Joe Goes to Cookie Court

Baked goods producer Pepperidge Farm filed a lawsuit against Trader Joe’s earlier this week, alleging that the millennial-favorite supermarket chain’s private label Crispy Cookies are infringing on the trademark of its popular Milano brand cookies. The real question: How will this effect Santa's milk-and-cookie haul?  

Another Girlie Drink, Please

NYC bartender Al Sotack dives into gender politics on both sides of the bar in a recent Munchies story, “Drinks Don’t Have a Gender.” The op-ed examines the coded language often used in reference to so-called “girlie drinks” and the female bartenders making them. L.A.'s own Yael Vengroff, bar director of the Spare Room in Hollywood, makes a cameo to weigh in with her thoughts.

In Local News:

  • Chef Chris Oh of Seoul Sausage Co. and Hanjip will be the star judge of an upcoming Bravo cooking competition alongside California cuisine icon Jonathan Waxman. The show will premiere in January.
  • BBQ grill master Adam Perry Lang is back at the Jimmy Kimmel Backlot in Hollywood next Tuesday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. (or until he runs out). Pick up a plate of his killer short ribs for $30, and you'll also be helping out local nonprofit L.A. Kitchen. 
  • Beverly Hills' long-running Benihana finally closed its doors this week after 44 years in business on La Cienega Boulevard. Fans of flashy teppanyaki might do well to head for the recently opened Roku on the Sunset Strip, which just added a live-cooking menu of its own.

Tweet o' the Week

Events:

Sunday, Dec. 13: SoCal Plant Tea-Blending Workshop | $23
Master tea blender Steve Schwartz, from the L.A.-based, hand-crafted tea purveyor Art of Tea, will be leading a tea-blending workshop showcasing how to forage native SoCal, drought-resistant plants to create tea blends. The interactive workshop will take place in the Natural History Museum's edible garden, and attendees will have the opportunity to customize their own blend to take home.

Wednesday, Dec 16: Heirloom Grain and Beer Dinner | $65
Go deep with California agriculture during this delectably innovative exploration of heirloom grain and its many culinary uses. Supremely conscientious and talented producers including chef Andre Guerrero, baker Mark Stambler, farmer Mai Nguyen and brewers Mark Jilg and Bob Kunz are uniting to orchestrate a meal designed to let eco-symbiotic crops shine. Enjoy five courses as well as commissioned beers that play upon the unique history of old grain.

Saturday, Dec. 19: The Art of Charcuterie at Café Pinot | $85
Learn the art of charcuterie with executive chef Viet Pham from Cafe Pinot's sister property, Ray’s and Stark Bar. Pham takes the reins with an in-depth look at his favorite charcuterie items through demonstrations and hands-on class participation. At the conclusion of the program, held in the intimate downstairs kitchen, a celebratory reception is presented with a sampling of the featured charcuterie, domestic cheese and wine carefully selected by Café Pinot’s general manager, Steve Meyer.

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