cookiesinheaven

Labels: Hotels, Los Angeles, openings, Restaurant, Santa Barbara

Vedanta Temple - La Crescenta, CA, a photo by santa barbarian on Flickr.

at the Vedanta Temple in La Crescenta.
Spent some wonderful mornings enveloped in musical spirit. It was so wonderful...except when hiking as meditation and running across the left over hind leg of a deer. (There are Mountain Lions living around there.)

Labels: Flickr, La Crescenta, Los Angeles, Sundays, Vedanta

Gelson's Market, a photo by jericl cat on Flickr.

Designed by Stiles Clements, the shiny new Gelson’s Market was modernistic in design and had the air of a building set in a tropic land. Inside, from roof to floor, the market’s front had a glassed instead of a cement front, an industry first. It was completely air-conditioned and heated. Huge circulating fans and giant heaters guaranteed a complete circulation of clean, fresh air of proper temperature every five minutes. Specially designed fixtures in all departments afforded ample display of the peerless selection of items which Gelson’s handled. 

Spacious aisles — which would become a Gelson’s hallmark — and large shopping carts were available to make shoppers’ selection of merchandise a pleasure. The first Gelson’s also set the stage for what would become Gelson’s tradition of exemplary meat and seafood. The store had an ultra-modern, self-service Meat Department, with stainless steel and enamel cases running the building’s full length. Behind these cases, in full view of the customers — when you’ve got it, flaunt it! — was the meat cutting and wrapping room. - Gelson's

Labels: Anniversary, Gelson's, grocery stores, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Supermarkets

Mike Langner, manager of business interests for Fabio Viviani and Jacopo Falleni, announced this week that Barsac Brasserie, a fixture in south San Fernando Valley for the past 21 years, will be under new ownership and new management. With the collaboration of three restaurant and bar experts: Chef Fabio Viviani, Top Chef Season 5 breakout star and Fan Favorite, Jacopo Falleni, award-winning mixologist, and Lisa Long, long-standing owner/manager of Barsac for 21 years. Grand Opening for Firenze Osteria is Saturday October 24th with complimentary wine and hors d'oeuvres from 4:30 PM to 7:30 PM. The public is invited to attend. - PR Newswire

Labels: Fabio, Fabio Viviani, Los Angeles, NoHo, Restaurant

Labels: Los Angeles, Restaurant, Richard Blais, Top Chef, twitter, YouTube

...Here are some not-so-fun facts: California's agricultural sector grows approximately one-third of the nation's food supply and is nourished by diverted rivers and streams filled yearly by runoff from its prodigious sierra nevada snowpack, as well as groundwater pumping and other less-reliable methods. that snowpack -- which once sparked the first, but not the last, water war that helped transform a semi-arid Los Angeles into an unsustainable oasis less populous than only new york city -- is disappearing fast....

To make matters worse, a crushing drought, now well into its third year, has made simply everything problematic. In California's Central Valley, home to a majority of the State's agricultural output, farmers are leaving hundreds of thousands of acres fallow, and the resultant economic depression is having a domino effect that could cost California $1 billion to start and is causing residents of a one-time food powerhouse to go hungry. - Alternet

Labels: California, California Agriculture, Climate Change, drought, Global Warming, Los Angeles

at the Los Angeles Festival of Books.....CHEF CURTIS STONE! (the everyone wants to Take Home Chef!)

I've also noticed some of his kitchenware is at Williams-Sonoma. I'm still waiting for him to appear at our local Gelson's or one of our fabulous Farmer's Markets.

Labels: Curtis Stone, Los Angeles

Labels: Financial, Los Angeles, Restaurant

Montrose
Originally uploaded by santa barbarian

Labels: Birthdays, California, Los Angeles, montrose

Labels: Benefit, Los Angeles

Aguas frescas (Spanish for "fresh waters") are a fresh juice drink whose popularity in Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean has finally reached the U.S. Their irresistibly refreshing and simple combination of fruits, sugar and water make them the perfect antidote to the heat of summer or to complement a spicy meal. Jimmy Shaw, owner of the Loteria Grill (at the Farmer's Market) recently brought a sampling of aguas frescas to the Good Food studios, where he discussed his favorite flavors for this thirst-quenching drink.

Labels: Beverages, Los Angeles, Mexican, NPR

Labels: blogs, Bourdain, Los Angeles, Noodle

oh, my....Griffith Park is on fire.

A fire was set in Griffith Park today above the Greek Theatre and spread quickly to the northeastern section of the park, threatening the Los Angeles Zoo and other nearby recreation facilities, officials said. - Latte Times

Labels: Greek Theatre, Griffith Park, Los Angeles, Zoo

Labels: celebrity chefs, Los Angeles, Restaurant

Labels: Los Angeles, Magic Castle, Restaurant, Yamashiro

Conversations are meant to be shared. Through TableConversation.com I will share with you what I've learned during many years of writing about food, traveling to far places and exploring my own city. And I invite you to share with me your own favorite places to eat and perhaps a recipe or two.

Labels: blogroll, Los Angeles

Labels: blogroll, Los Angeles