Recent Episodes

Dwight Furrow, the author of American Foodie: Taste, Art, and the Cultural Revolution, talks about the philosophy of food. We discuss everything the impact of everything from automobile to Alice Waters to the Slow Food movement have shaped the way Americans think about food.
 
 
 
 

Inbal Baum

Inbal Baum, the Founder of Delicious Israel, joins us to talk about where foodies should eat when they travel to her country.

• Shakshouka is a popular dish in Israel
• Israeli Breakfast is a distinct and important meal
• The modern cherry tomato has roots in Israel
• Tel Aviv and Jerusalem top the list of cities you should visit
• Beach season runs from April to October
• Rosh Hashana is a great time to visit Israel
• When you visit Tel Aviv, go to the Carmel Market, the Levinsky Market
• Try the date syrup, Silan

Food for Thought

• Q: After pita bread, what is the most common food used to “wipe” humus?
• A: Raw onion.

Out of the Frying Pan

• Favorite Spot for Outdoor Dining: Milgo & Milbar
• Favorite Place to Buy Spices: Cafe Arma in Levinsky Market
• Herbs to Try: Za’atar and Hawaij (in Yemenite Coffee)
• Favorite Winery: Sphera
• Favorite Place for Dessert: The Malabia
• Favorite Food Experience for Kids: Max Brenner
• Chef to Watch: Eyal Shani
• Dish to Try at Different Places: Shakshouka and sabich

Bennett Jacobstein

Bennet Jacobstein, author of The Joy of Ballpark Food: From Hot Dogs to Haute Cuisine, talks to us about what foodies can find at different baseball stadiums around the country.

• Hot dogs and sausages are not the same thing.
• The quality of ballpark food was elevated in the 90s as new stadiums were built and food television shows took off.
• Stadiums have highlighted regional foods.
• Gordon Biersch‘s founder Dan Gordon introduced garlic fries at Candlestick Park in 1994.
• The song “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” was written in 1908.
• The Yankees replaced Cracker Jacks at one point, but brought it back after a public outcry.
• 

  San Francisco Giant Gordon Biersch Garlic Fries

  Veggie Happy spearheaded the movement to get veggie dogs sold at ballpark stadiums.

• Andrew Zimmern has a stand in the Minnesota ballpark.
• Rocky Mountain Oysters are bull testicles.
• “The Big Six” are the food companies that service the major ballparks.
• As you go from ballpark to ballpark, try the hot dogs at each to see how they’re done differently.
• Proceeds from Bennett’s book go to Second Harvest Food Bank.

Food for Thought

• Q: In what year were Cracker Jacks first served at a baseball game?
• A: 1896 in Atlantic City.

Out of the Frying Pan

Here’s what Bennet recommends you try at each ballpark:

• Yankees Stadium in New York City: Chicken and Waffles.
• Fenway Park in Boston: Lobster Roll and a cuban sandwich.
• Wrigley Field in Chicago: Chicago-style hot dog with Vienna beef.
• Turner Field in Atlanta: Boiled peanuts.
• Marlins Park in Miami: Cuban dishes.
• Safeco Field in Seattle: The Ivar’s hot dog (with fish) and cream cheese hot dog.
• Nationals Park in Washington D.C.: A cauliflower hot dog and presidential cupcakes.
• 

  Chicago White Sox Chicago-Style Hot Dog

  Busch Stadium in St. Louis: The BBQ.

• Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles: Tommy Lasorda Spumoni ice cream.
• AT&T Park in San Francisco: Crab salad, lamb sausages, and Gordon Biersch garlic fries.

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Top 5 Lists

To me, coffee is more than just a ritual to wake in the morning, it is an experience. Every coffee shop has a unique personality, sense of style and craft to making the perfect cup of coffee. As a Los Angeles native and passionate lover of gourmet coffee I am very jubilant to share with you my most adored coffee shops in the area.
 
 

1. Go Get Em Tiger

Located on the quaint picturesque street of Larchmont is my absolute favorite coffee spot Go Get Em Tiger! Apart from is delightfully playful name, it is the perfect place to escape to have a sumptuous cup of joe. The decor is clean and modern with a large bar. Instead of waiting in line you walk up to the bar and order your coffee. You can stand European style and have your coffee at the bar or sit at their small geometric shaped tables. My favorite is their Iced Almond Macadamia Latte that are served in glass mason jars. They make their almond milk in house and its absolutely rapturous! They also have a great happy hour from 4-8pm everyday with a delectable assortment of pies like their Black Plum Pie ,Salted Caramel Appel Pecan or Kabocha Squash.
 

2. Sqirl

A tiny gem tucked among the eclectic streets of Silver Lake is my absolute favorite coffee and brunch spot Squirl. The shop is always bustling with stylish hipsters and innovative dishes to tantalize the pallet. Don’t be deterred by the line, this coffee shop and restaurant is worth the wait. While very small the menu is quiet large. My coffee favorites are “The 1 & 1 4” which is a single shot espresso and a single shot of macchiato served side by side, their “Lait ‘N’ Egg” which is a Vietnamese stye iced Cortado shaken with egg whites or the “Al Puccino,”a sweetened iced cappuccino. If your stopping in for coffee you should definitely take a look at the menu as well. Their Brown Rice Porridge with traditional Kokuho Rose Brown Rice , Straus milk, toasted hazelnuts and choice of home made Jam is positively sinful.
 

RELATED: Top 5 Places to Eat for Less Than $5 in Los Angeles

3. Coffee + Food

If you love Chi Tea Latte’s then Coffee+ Food has one of the best. Their Chi Tea Latte is the perfect blend of sweetness and tea. I also love their black coffee. Coffee + Food uses a medium roast from Central America, South America and Indo Pacific. The taste is smokey caramel and molasses.
 

4. Bullet Proof Coffee

Health nuts will be the first to sing the praises of Bullet Proof Coffee. Known for its ability to enhance performance and focus coffee drinking is taken to the next level. Bullet Proof Coffee is thoughtfully crafted with organic hand picked coffee beans in Central America, the strict Bulletproof Process™ minimizes performance-robbing mold, bacteria and toxins and XCT and Brain Octane which is high quality fat. If you have to get your game face on this is the coffee you want to drink. They also have a small food menu there that serves Non Gmo, No gluten, No sugar, Grass-fed, Local! Its such a treat to find a place that features quality products, without even having to study the menu!
 

5. Sycamore Kitchen

On the trendy LA Brea Avenue, home to many of LA’s trendiest and most unique restaurants , take a trip to Tuscany with Sycamore Kitchen’s Tuscany Latte. Their Tuscan latte is simply delectable. It is made with fresh rosemary, maple syrup and creamy milk. I also love their Iced Cubano with espresso, creamy milk and cinnamon! Sip these sweet savory coffees while listening to hollywood most elite directors, writers pitch movies and tv shows an ear shot away. Its scrumptious and entertaining!
 

About Alexandra Catalano

Alexandra is an author, blogger and lifestyle expert in the field of health and wellness. She has been a guest on Good Day LA, WGN Chicago News, CW San Diego, Women’s Forum television Lifetime Network’s Supermarket Superstar with her blog Eat Cute!

http://www.eat-cute.com

As travelers will discover when they first get in the city, Montrealers are real breakfast lovers. Starting with institution as Beauty’s Luncheonette, opened since 1942 on Mont-Royal Avenue, brunch has become a real source of inspiration for chefs and cooks: national meals are being reinvented, cultures are mixed and seasonal products are valued. Need a bite of Montreal’s morning taste? You will find here five excellent addresses to start your day in front of flavorful dishes, surrounded by a great atmosphere. Bon appétit!
 
 

1. Chez Régine

Located in Montreal’s beautiful area Rosemont Petite-Patrie, Chez Régine’s restaurant will charm you at first sight while you will admire its elegant retro-chic style. Even the chairs are pieces of art! What we love most though is the original and creative menu. Everything is more than delicious and also, homemade, from the pastries to its bacon. Cooks don’t hesitate to mix salty and sweet flavors from local Quebec’s products. They use for their recipes one of best cheeses from Quebec’s producers, as “Cheddar Île-aux-Grues” and “Le Mamirolle”. For mushroom’s lovers, you must order the dish named “Champi”, amazingly good and healthy. Perfect culinary presentation in a sophisticated and eclectic atmosphere… Result: definitely a must for real breakfast lovers! Not surprisingly, Chez Régine’s won an “Excellence Certificate” from Trip Advisor team.
 

2. The Sparrow

The Sparrow is the cutest place on Saint-Laurent’s street to start your day, with the million little sparrows that will surround you on the wallpaper while you will sit at your table. The atmosphere is vintage and more than welcoming; the meals, full of flavors and affordable. The menu is short and precise. You won’t get lost in pages of food options while you are still half asleep. The “House-smoked trout”’ dish is definitely a must if you like a bit of sea taste when you’re sipping a latte. You also need to try the freshness of their Turkish breakfast, with feta, tomatoes, olives and soft boiled eggs. A delight! If you get the chance, also get those Scottish eggs, perfectly cooked and not so heavy. Best place if you want to pimp your breakfast with a tasty Mimosa or a Bloody Caesar, just spicy enough!
 

RELATED: Check Out These Top 5 Asian Restaurants in Monreal

3. Vieux Vélo

Vieux Vélo’s restaurant, two steps away from the Petite-Italie’s dynamic neighborhood, is a small, cozy and hipster place that could be called, for the cheap price and tasty dishes, “benedict’s king”. This lovely address won the first place in best breakfast’s categories, according to “Best of Mtl 2013: Food and Drinks” of CultMontreal. Veggie-pesto, smoked Atlantic’s salmon, brie-bacon-avocado… The variety of eggs benedict are simple but, oh so tasty! Just got there and no room for you? No problem! The cute and comfy coffee next door Odessa, from the same owner, will offer you to taste a comforting latte or cappuccino while you wait. When your table is ready, you cross next door to Vieux Vélo and get ready for an amazing (and low price) dish of benedicts!
 

4. Le Fabergé

Have you ever taste a classic Montreal’s poutine? Here’s an opportunity to rediscover this special dish in a morning way, cup of coffee in hand. Le Fabergé, located in the heart beat of Mile-End’s lovely neighborhood, is offering, surrounded by a relaxing and trendy atmosphere, a perfect occasion to taste brand new culinary tendencies. Forget the eternal toast with peanut butter and jam; time for you to explore something new. Breakfast poutine with eggs, caramelized peppers and onions, Quebec’s cheese curds and hollandaise sauce, or chicken wings on waffles bathed with maple syrup? Who says yes? For eggs lover, you will feel at home while you will explore the million ways on the menu to taste your favorite ingredient. Not a coincidence this address is named “Le Fabergé”, in honor of “Faberge eggs” treasuries of tsarist Russian empire. Here your chance to provoke your taste buds in a total Montreal morning’s way, with flavorful food and friendly staff.
 

RELATED: Round Table Food Tours in Montreal

5. Prohibition

Located in the beautiful and not too touristic Notre-Dame de Grace’s neighborhood, on Monkland Avenue, Prohibition is definitely an excellent brunch spot! The space is well decorated, with a beautiful piano in a corner, and the atmosphere is cozy. The menu presents unique ingredients combinations and the result tastes amazing. Prices are very affordable, around 15$ coffee included. Prohibition is specially known for their delicious Bulgarian benedict’s (poached eggs with garlic yogurt, sheep’s feta and paprika oil… you can call that a must!), fried chicken with challah french toast and their lemon ricotta pancakes served with blueberry compote and sugar bacon. The portions are generous and the staff, very attentive. Lovely recommended experience!
 

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About Valérie Trudel

Valerie Trudel is a writer from Montreal that combines two passions: by day she explores different levels of Montreal’s restaurant scene and by night, she writes about it. She is the creator and editor of Montreal’s culinary blog “La Poule ou l’Oeuf”

When people head to Vegas, all they have is The Strip on their mind. When it comes to restaurants, all they can think of are the celebrity chef restaurants and the plethora of buffets to choose from. However, if you venture off the beaten path, you can find gems are that even tastier and easier to get a seat in without having to battle casino crowds and parking.
 
 

1. Aburiya Raku

Aburiya Raku is just west of the Strip located in a very unassuming strip mall. You wouldn’t think that such a high quality dining establishment serving top notch Izakaya style Japanese food, a.k.a. Japanese tapas, would exist in this location. Chef Mitsuo Endo’s restaurants attracts everyone from foodies to chefs from the Strip’s top restaurants, so you know that Raku has to be good. Their fresh made tofu has turned tofu haters into tofu lovers. From its fresh fish selections to famous items from the robata grill of tender Kobe beef to delicacies of foie gras to even seemingly normal items of chicken wings with flavor to another level, this is the place to be for anyone who appreciates QUALITY food. Round out your meal with delicately crafted desserts such as green tea crème brulée and a very light and delightful fluffy cheesecake.
 

2. Ichiza

If Raku is your mature and refined sibling, then Ichiza can be the younger sibling that is hip and fun. Just like Raku, it is an Izakaya style establishment, but it is in a fun environment that encourages beers by the pitcher and encourages sampling of many dishes as illustrated all over the walls written in Japanese and English. Looking around, you’ll notice that everyone has their favorites, and you can’t really go wrong closing your eyes and saying “Eeny, meeny, miny, moe”. However, some must try food includes yellowtail tartare, jalapeno fried rice, agedashi tofu, butter corn, variety of kushiage (deep fried tempura items), robata grill items and last but not least, HONEY TOAST, which combines a crispy and buttery hunk of white toast with honey drizzled all over creamy vanilla ice cream.
 

3. Lotus of Siam

Lotus of Siam is located on the east side of town in the Commercial Center. This area is known to be seedy day and night, but Lotus of Siam is worth the trek known for some of the best Thai food in the country! Some dishes that you don’t see often at “regular” Thai joints are chilean seabass (buttery and savory), nam koi tod (crispy rice with tangy, salty and sweet flavors) and crispy duck penang (all the wonderful flavors of penang curry with uber crispy duck). I suggest going with at least several friends, so that the meal can be enjoyed family style to allow for optimal tasting of as many dishes as you can stomach.
 

4. Parma by Chef Marc

Eating at Parma by Chef Marc is like eating at your favorite Italian mama’s home kitchen. Though it is a bit of drive to the Northwest part of Las Vegas, you will not regret it once you step into the restaurant and your nose gets a whiff of the food. The ambiance is cute, romantic, homely (in a good way) with a touch of hole in the wall feel. Everyone on staff is super warm and friendly and make you feel like family. Also, if you have any dietary restrictions, Chef Marc will always take care of you. All of the pastas and sauces are always fresh. The complimentary bread is always perfectly crusty. Once you get a taste of these dishes, you won’t be able to stop thinking about the bolognese sauce, amazingly tender chicken marsala, and highly sought after portobello mushroom appetizer made of creamy sauce, chunks of portobello over baby spinach greens that is sold out every night.
 

5. Hot & Juicy Crawfish

Bring your Pepcid AC, Pepto Bismo and Tums because Hot & Juicy Crawfish is a place where you throw down and eat seafood until you drop. This is no place to dig in and eat with your hands. Have no fear though because the staff provides you with rolls of paper towels, plastic bibs, and plenty of drink refills. Here you can order seafood like shrimp, alaskan king crab legs, crawfish by the pound with choices of different sauces, Lousiana Style, Juicy Cajun, Garlic Butter, Lemon Pepper, and the Hot & Juicy Special. If you want to up the ante, you can also order spicy levels from mild, medium, spicy to EXTRA spicy. You can also “enhance” the your cholesterol profile by ordering deep fried delicious sides like sausage, deep fried catfish, chicken wings, crispy cajun fries, and don’t forget your side of fluffy white rice. Word of advice, be ready of strange stares because you might be reeking of garlic for a few days, but it’ll all be worth it.
 

 
Have you stumbled upon other amazing “Off the Beaten Path” restaurants while in Vegas?

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When Michelle Wong is not writing on her food blog at Cravings of a Fat Girl, she is often found pinning new recipes, fantasizing about her next meal, or reading about the next food find on other food blogs.