Issue 75 — Wait… What Do I Even Do for Work Again?
Some context for all the events, campaign photos, and occasional ghosting.
If you follow me on IG and still have no idea what I actually do for work… you’re not the only one lol.
I’ve been in digital and email marketing for nearly a decade, working with brands like MATE the Label, Amber Interiors, Whimsy + Row, and Rocky’s Matcha. That’s actually what inspired me to launch a newsletter of my own.
Post-pandemic, as the world opened back up and interest in IRL experiences came rushing back… markets, dinner parties, all of it, I started channeling that energy into the small businesses I worked with, getting people back into stores through events. Around the same time, I made some amazing friends and connections (looking at you, Chloe, Danielle, and Maddy) who inspired me and opened doors I hadn’t even considered.
Dinner parties and pop-ups became a regular thing, and from there, I started landing opportunities to take on bigger events. That side of my work has really taken off this past year, and for the first time, it feels like all my skill sets are all coming together through creative producing and leaning deeper into hospitality. I’m currently managing full buyouts and weddings at Loreto!
I hope this gives a little more context around the kind of work I do and what’s been keeping me busy lately (and why I occasionally disappear for a week here and there). Just in March, I helped with Snaxpo West, Chloe’s Fire Relief Dinners, Bistro Telegrama, W+R’s SS25 Ecomm and Lookbook campaigns, and an Evite event with Maddy’s OJ. Feeling so, so lucky.
Ok, enough about me... Let’s get back into why you’re really here — bite sized food news and tidbits.
Also hi to all the new friends from
(And Welcome to Substack!) Love you Mady!Bites
If you thought Fishwife’s x Veso’s Anchovy Vermouth was an April fools joke, it wasn’t. Also, you can find their tinned fish at Costo now.
I know you’ve been following along Giovanni’s NYC linecook dinner hauls…
Coachella’s food lineup is here.
According to the Kitchn, food trends of 2025 are Themed Anti-Dinner Parties, 1 ingredient upgrades, baking, using scraps…. yeahhh it’s giving recession.
Dodger’s Season has started again. Here is Eater’s guide to eating in the stadium.
I shared my thoughts in detail back in Issue 22. ‘I grew up going to Giant’s games, so forgive me for thinking crazy crab sandwiches and Ghiradelli hot fudge sundaes were normal ballpark bites.’
Chef’s Table is celebrating their 10 year anniversary with ‘Chef’s Table: Legends’ ft: Jamie Oliver, José Andrés, Alice Waters, and Thomas Keller — April 28th
I had never heard of Firehook, so it was smart of them to collab with Fly By Jing + Graza…
Barista Brian made latte art with Tilda’s face on it and her reaction is just the cutest.
Ghengis Cohen is closing May 31 with plans to reopen / relocate due to lease issues and redevelopment plans. “The future of Genghis as a whole is going to remain bright, because we’re going to make sure it does,” said co-owner Marc Rose. “Our sleeves are getting rolled up.” — LA Times
Papa Cristo’s also announced it’s closing, May 4th. “It’s time for me to hang up my apron and for us to say goodbye (for now).”
Villa’s Tacos opened their 3rd location specializing in LA Baja style fish tacos — on Fig by the train tracks.
In case you were wondering what’s taking the place of the shuttered Caipirinha Bar in Los Feliz… it’s Peet’s Coffee. OOPS I actually fell for this April Fools joke… It’s going to be a cocktail bar by the Donna’s / Low Boy / Bar Flores team and Republique alums.
Kismet opened in Pasadena, and celebrated with a Molly’s Baz collab — Chicken Caesar Pita with Ayoh Mayo. The space looks stunning.
Face Plant, a vegan fast-food spot, opened earlier this year in a former McDonald’s in Portland with the help of Molly Baz. Not typically a plant-based eater herself, she set out to make something so good, even the skeptics (like her) would enjoy it.
Openings
Kettl Matcha + Tea in Los Feliz
Heavy Handed 🍔 took over the All Day Baby space in Silver Lake (RIP)
Damn, I Miss Paris, new cocktail bar in Mid City
Santa Canela — a contemporary take on traditional Mexican pastries in Highland Park
Din Tai Fung, you already know… in Santa Monica
Alisa Wine + Friends Greek on Abbot Kinney
Doto: formerly of Edgemar, Chef Jared Joe Dowling is weaving Japanese, Californian, Mexican + British influences in his dishes in the shuttered Jewel Space in Virgil Village
🥯 → LA
H&H Bagels, a NY legend hit Montana Ave in Santa Monica
PopUp Bagels is bringing rip + dip to SoCal with not 1, but 35 locations…
C&H Bagels (not to be confused with H&H) now in Highland Park
Bay Area’s Boichik Bagels landed on Sunset in Los Feliz.
On the flip, Tacos 1986 is making their way to New York
Specials
Wife & the Somm: Spring Pea Salad with a pea root and pistachio 'butter', pea tendrills, blanched pea pods, pea flowers, fresh peas, crunchy peas & spring garlic dressing! ^
Etrá: Tuna Tartare with gordal olive, tangerine oil, dried shiitake
Grá’s Primavera Pie: stinging nettle puree, shaved baby squash and asparagus, squash blossoms with gouda, taleggio cheese and makrut lime leaf oil.
Evie’s Matcha Latte White Negroni
or What about a Fluffy Negroni?
Baker’s Bench New for Spring: Fennel Snap Pea Danish, Citrus Danish, White Lotus Cookie & more!
Mazal: Candied Orange Malabi vanilla almond based pudding with candied orange marmalade, dark chocolate flakes and pistachios. (plus it’s vegan!)
🗓 Coming Up…
April + May: Nyletta’s French crullers at Bucatini every Sunday, 11am ‘til sell out.
4/02 - 4/09: Chef Paco’s Spring Omakase at Loreto
4/08: Enjoy the 2025 Barista Winner, Kay Cheon’s lineup at Eye’s Peeled: including a Finca Deborah Geisha on espresso, and a milk course of El Diviso Ombligon with Kay’s Super Milk
4/09: Barra Santos’ Chef Melissa at A Tí in Echo Park
4/12 Salad (Bar) Forever with Emily
, Chef Balo + Biite Club at Little City Farm — An ode to the iconic salads and salad bars that came before us. Tickets here.4/12 Vinyl & Vino for Daniel Caesar’s Freudian (Album Listening Session) at Slow Jamz Gallery
4/22-4/30 Chef Enrique Olvera of CDMX’s Pujol is popping up at Damian and Ditroit. Book your spot on Resy.
4/24 Tattoo a Yogurt Bowl (for FREE) with Harmless Harvest + Steve Stringer
4/25 + 4/26 Teriyaki Bros at Bar Bandini
5/02 - 5/05 Trois Familia at Petite Trois for Cinco De Mayo ft. double decker potato tacos.
5/08 Madhappy + Friends Fest / Fundraiser on the Santa Monica Pier ft: Courage Bagels, Apple Pan, Jon & Vinny’s, Nekohama + more. Tickets here for $36
5/15-5/18 Printed Matter’s LA Art Bookfair
Recent Bites
Ricotta Bear’s pop-up at Doto: What a sweet little backyard hang at the new Doto space. I had the citrus fennel salad which was extra satisfying served in that little white round container… and a Honey Bear pizza, hold the calabrese. Garett, now a new dad (!), ran the pop-up mostly solo and crushed it, with backup and Jumbo wine pours from Andrew. ;)
Pour Sport: So proud of my bestie Monica for her coffee / matcha pop-up debut at our friend’s yard sale! I swung by early that morning before heading to a work wedding. She’s diving in big time — watch this space 👀
Zinque: Who knew their happy hour would be this good? ( V Rare westside appearance for me… I was over there for work!) Chocolate mousse with olive oil, sea salt, and something crunchy is my new favorite dessert. Chloe has made something similar too. Obsessed.
Colombo’s is the perfect spot for when you’re craving old Hollywood charm without actually dealing with Hollywood. An ex and I once made a point to eat exclusively at red-booth restaurants — wish I’d known about this gem then. Is it the best pasta in the world? No. Are the martinis ice cold? Also no. But they’re generous and strong as af. The mozzarella sticks, the vibe, the service, all absolute hits. Get the rolled lasagna. The linguini with clams surprised me too. Big thanks to Danielle for taking me.
Guys. Sometimes you just need a mall food court date with your girlfriends on a Friday night before a movie. This Panda Express had the Beyond Orange Chicken I’ve been wanting to try (it’s not at every location.) I felt 14 again. Meal? 10/10. The movie Opus? Ehh… solid 6.
A few weeks ago, while I was visiting Marin, I posted this wrap from World Wrapps to my IG story. 525 people tapped their tag. LOL. I told them they need to come to LA! Apparently, they used to have locations here in the '90s.
A bunch of people messaged me about their favorite LA wraps. There are so many chicken caesar wraps out there… Ggiata (love them!) won’t do it without chicken though. Still on the hunt for my perfect vegetarian LA wrap…
I don’t want a dense, overstuffed wrap with a tortilla folded over thick at the bottom. World Wrapps nails it. The tortillas are paper thin, the whole thing feels light and fluffy... It’s more like a salad than a sandwich. Which, in my opinion, is what a wrap should be…
🔗 Last Week’s Most Clicked Link
Sandy does it again… crystal shrimp and chive dumplings. Absolutely STUNNING.
THEN she made a chic scallop corndog. Obsessed.
proud of you my best friend (and secret weapon) ❤️
So special ♥️