Issue 69 — An OC Weekend + My Favorite Canned Bevy
Plus a Q about your drinking habits...
Good morning! I hope your egg was perfectly poached and you enjoyed the rain as much as Drew Barrymore did.
Here’s what’s been going on:
Bites
GGET has finally added a vanilla syrup to their menu, made with 12 whole beans per liter (that's a lot!). Add it to your latte for $1.25.
I’ve been hearing amazing things from friends about this new powdered bone broth, Pikora.
ICYMI, Kismet Steakhouse is a thing, and it’s happening thru February.
Vegan Frogtown bakery, Just What I Kneaded, got a facelift.
The James Beard Semifinalists have been announced. A few LA standouts:
Best Chef: Melissa López, Barra Santos + Charles Namba, Camélia
Emerging Chef: Jesus “Chuy” Cervantes, Damian
Outstanding Hospitality: République
Outstanding Bar: Thunderbolt (I’m going to have to revisit, because this bar seems to get a decent amount of press)
In San Francisco Four Kings is a semifinalist for Best New Restaurant — I mentioned it in my Best Bites of 2024 (from my travels)
Check out the entire list here.
Mini Kabab is looking for a bigger location.
If you drink matcha you’ll be happy to know Kettl Tea is coming to Los Feliz. PS they’re hiring.
Molly Baz was one of thousands who lost their home in the devastating Eaton fire. It's heartbreaking to see so many affected by such loss. This week, I’m honored to be helping her team set up a free pop up grocery store for LA Wildfire victims — she’s calling it Stock That Pantry! 💙
Usal has a new shiny website…gorg. They have a bunch of cool workshops + events coming up: From Kitchen Aid for Nervous System Support to Volunteering at Pasadena Humane, even Intro to Flyfishing.
Drink VYBES pivoted from CBD beverages to energy drinks powered by Magnesium.
I missed this cake-off at Cafe Tropical 🍰
Bub’s has a new breakfast sandwich featuring house made sausage — a patty on the bottom, more crumbled and mixed in with the egg. Cheese.
What in the vegan sorcery is going on here?
A Couple Openings:
Yama Sushi Marketplace opened it’s third location in K-Town. 2/01
Baadmash is opening a second location on Abbot Kinney Summer 2025
More Winter openings listed in Issue 67 ;)
Cheers?
My whole family started drinking NA beers seemingly all at once. (Not me)
Every article I read says either 'drinking is down' or the complete opposite, 'drinking isn't going anywhere.' Either way, alcohol consumption (or lack thereof) continues to be a hot topic. Are mocktails game-changing or just a waste of money?
The New Consumer 2025 Trend report notes that 'American liquor sales continue to grow, even after the COVID boom,' but also finds that 'Americans think their peers drink a lot more frequently than they personally do.'
Maybe we, as a society, are drinking about the same amount (in terms of dollars spent)...
We just like to think we’re drinking less…
…and we’re talking about it a lot.
Out of curiosity, would YOU say…