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Food & Drinks

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.

in Food & Drinks

SoCal’s Celebrated Burgers

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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in Food & Drinks, Things To Do

Best Cheesecake Spots in SoCal

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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in Food & Drinks, Things To Do

Health Conscious Winter Recipe

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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So Cal’s Fab Coffee Bars

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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in Destinations & Landmarks, Food & Drinks, Things To Do

48 Hours of Attractions, Fun, Food and Wine in Lompoc

Fall is prime time to slate a 48-hour get-away to Lompoc. Located on the California Central Coast, it’s a visitor destination that satisfies all of the senses for stunning vistas, outdoor adventure, comfortable lodgings, easy access to attractions and activities, a taste for fine wines, and distinctive art. Wine tasting is a centerpiece of a Lompoc getaway – a journey through the winemaking processes, small tasting rooms, and superior products that spark a natural desire to spend an afternoon with friends discussing the finer points of wine. History, here, is a journey back in time to California mission life of the 1800s at La Purisima Mission; a small path leading from the Mission is especially evocative as an early segment of the El Camino Real, a 600-mile road connecting the 21 Spanish missions in California. The Mission’s recreated living and working spaces place visitors at the epicenter of daily life and commerce. Forty-eight hours in Lompoc is barely enough time to savor and partake of the area’s most entertaining attractions, but there’s always next time. Day One: Morning Mural Tour Begin with a self-guided tour of the Murals of Lompoc, many of which are located in Old Town Lompoc, on street…

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in Food & Drinks, Things To Do

Momentous Chef Collaboration Dinner Experience

In honor of National Seafood Month, Chef Masa Shimakawa of ONYX, the Japanese sushi bar located inside Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village, California, teamed up with Bay Area-based Ken Tominaga for a 3-night chef collaboration dinner. Chef Ken Tominaga, owner of Hana Japanese Restaurant in Sonoma County, California is a renowned authority on Japanese cuisine. A Tokyo native, his dishes feature the highest quality, freshest fish and the finest local produce. The 3-day collaboration took place Thursday, October 3 – Saturday, October 5, 2019, as the chefs created a three course omakase. The menu consisted of the following: Hassun – Appetisers Happy Spoon  – kumamoto oyster, ikura, uni, ponzu crème fraiche Kobujime hirame temarisushi  – kelp-infused fluke, sushi rice Shira ae spinach carrot  – tofu dressing King crab sunomono – cucumber and seaweed salad Second Course Wagyu short rib miso ni – miso braised short rib, red wine reduction Or Crispy ankou with kinoko an – tempura battered monkfish, simmered mushrooms Third Course Zuke maguro and onsen tamago donburi with Half Moon Bay wasabi – marinated bigeye tuna, soft boiled egg, sushi rice Dessert Roasted pear with mascarpone and shiso – mirin balsamic reduction About Chef Masa Shimakawa – ONYX Hakodate, Japan may be an ocean from Los Angeles, but it’s just a dinner seating away at ONYX at Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village, California,…

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