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Southern California Must Eat & Drink: We curate a list of the best food, restaurants, chefs, farmers markets, and where to find them in Southern California. If you are a foodie, this section will keep you in the loop on the best of the best in food news, restaurants reviews, upcoming food events and so much more. The latest news on spirits, bubbles and brews, lounges, cocktails, beers, wines, wineries, juices, smoothies, coffees, teas, and more will also be featured here. We highlight everything from old staples to new additions in the juice, alcohol, and coffee fields. We talk with mixologists about new inventions and twists on old staples.
ONION OR NO ONION? WELL DONE OR MEDIUM? CHEESE, PICKLES, KETCHUP, MAYO — OR NOT? BURGER AFICIONADOS GENERALLY HAVE VERY DEFINITE IDEAS OF WHAT THEIR TASTE BUDS CRAVE. IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, WE HAVE A GREAT RANGE OF BURGER FARE EVERYWHERE. SOME OF OUR TOP FAVES INCLUDE:
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Fried, flavored, layered, powdered, glazed, filled with fruit, topped with chocolate chips, bits of bacon and maple syrup — well, let’s just say the traditional doughnut has definitely been reimagined into some of the most amazing temptations to gratify the most demanding donut devotee.
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By Jessi Soporito Despite what you may believe, good cheesecake does extend the Cheesecake Factory in your local mall. Don’t play it safe and instead hit up one of your local bakeries for some of the best slices of heaven you can find. Here are some of the best cheesecake spots to settle your sweet tooth in SoCal. Hidden in Inglewood, Harriet’s Cheesecakes Unlimited offers over 60 different flavors of cheesecake, like Kahlua, Citrus Cooler and Pumpkin Praline. The handcrafted, gourmet cakes is a family business, so you know you’re not only getting freshly baked cheesecakes, but state-of-the-art service along with it. Stop by, before a long line keeps you in the heat, and enjoy the wide variety of flavors Harriet’s has to offer. Rocco’s Cheesecake, in Santa Monica, has more of a messy, home-like vibe to it. The pink walls, matched with plaid black and white table cloths, pair well with a 50’s theme of home cooking. Mr. Rocco may even be there to greet you himself, and offer some gluten free and vegan options as well as gourmet, exotic and black label cakes. Based in San Diego, Extraordinary Desserts also offers vegan and gluten…
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It’s hard to believe that we are already in the middle of November. I love this time of year for many reasons, not the least of which are the smells that surround us and the flavors that consume our palate. So, naturally I’m thinking about all my favorite holiday dishes. This holiday creation is a family favorite and it’s too easy and healthy not to share. Caramelized Butternut Squash with Red Onions Ingredients: 1 large butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cubed or cut in moons 2 large red onions, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced Sprigs of fresh rosemary 2 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper (bruschetta seasoning is a great compliment) Directions: Position a rack in upper third of oven and preheat to 450°F. Combine squash and onion on a parchment-lined baking sheet or piece of foil. Drizzle with olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and toss evenly to coat. Spread in an even layer and scatter rosemary on top. Put baking sheet on top rack and reduce heat to 375°F. Roast, flipping vegetables once, until browned in spots, about 45 minutes. Serve warm or chilled – either way is delicious. This makes a beautiful…
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When you got to have it, you must have the best. Those who love coffee know exactly what that means. A cup from the thermal carafe at the gas station just won’t cut it. Lucky for us, Southern California has a solid group of coffee aficionados and an impressive collection of independent coffee houses to meet their strict standards of caffeinated excellence. There are so many from which to choose, but we thought we’d share a few of our favorites: Urth Caffè A popular choice for many Santa Monica locals, Urth Caffe carries its own brand of premium, fresh roasted whole bean organic coffee. Besides delicious coffees and unique coffee drinks, Urth Café serves salads, sandwiches, and pizzas. Everything here is locally sourced and farm fresh. 2327 Main St Santa Monica, CA 90405 www.urthcaffe.com (310) 314-7040 Stumptown Coffee Roasters Stumptown sources the best coffees in the world and they strive for transparent, quality-based relationships with both coffee growers and customers. They maintain quality control in their cupping labs, meticulous roasting profiles and extensive barista education. And their coffee’s pretty darn yummy too! 806 S Santa Fe Los Angeles wwww.stumptowncoffee.com 213-337-0936 Café Virtuoso Cafe Virtuoso entered…
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When I think of Thanksgiving, I think of Apple Pie!!! What I found I like about the pie is the apples – so one year, an idea popped in my head. What if I made extra apples for me and ate them separately? I could still have some whip cream on top and by eliminating the crust, I would save the calories. That was nine years ago, and it’s still the way I prefer to eat my apple pie – without the crust! So, if you want a healthy yet sweet way to use apples and if you don’t want to make an apple pie or applesauce… how about this Healthy Cinnamon Apple recipe! I found this recipe years ago but have changed it over the years because I like more nutmeg and clove flavoring and I reduce the allspice. Ingredients 4-5 pounds apples cored and sliced (not too thin, or they will break up. I like to cut each apple into 8 wedges) 2 tablespoons butter 1/4 cup unsweetened apple juice 1/4 cup sugar-free sweetener or honey 2 teaspoons cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon allspice 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg 1/8 teaspoon clove (optional) 2-3 teaspoons arrowroot or organic cornstarch or…
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