If there’s a bullpen for Haute 100 candidates, Seth Podell (above right) is warming up in it right now. Just over six months ago, the Angeleno and his business partner Brad Paddock (above left) introduced Rock Saké—the first English-branded American-made sake (in Junmai Ginjo and unfiltered Nigori varieties). In that short time, Rock Sake has become available in over 200 restaurants, bars and markets in California, Nevada and Illinois—including Michael Mina’s XIV, Thompson Beverly Hills, Danny Masterson and Gerard Butler’s Shin Hollywood, Koi, Katsu-Ya, Katana, RockSushi several Northern California Whole Foods, and even Chicago’s Wrigley Field!

It’s not easy to find an undiscovered gem in Los Angeles. Anything of quality here tends to get marketed, advertised, celebrity-ized and bastardized within months. But the Private Rooftop Club at Petit Ermitage is different. Quite different.

It may not have the headline-grabbing attention of say, Justin Bieber’s girlfriend crisis or Lindsay Lohan’s latest breakdown, but in the classical music world, this is big news: Placido Domingo is world-premiering a new opera, and he’s doing it here in Los Angeles.

Until recently, dining after 10 PM in Los Angeles was a dodgy prospect at best. Norm’s… Jerry’s… Canter’s Delicatessen (no extra charge for “atmosphere”), or of course your local taco truck. But not anymore. Many places serve until midnight, and for those going even later, a variety of ethnic options are certainly available. But for […]

As I’ve reported recently, this is shaping up to be an incredible season of food fests in and around LA. And I won’t lie, it would be very difficult to pick one. But if I really really had to (doctor’s orders!), I believe it would be the American Wine and Food Festival.

Burgers are everywhere, and everyone is trying to make them fancier and fancier. But few can top what growing chain The Counter puts out with every plate.

The trend of performing whole albums live — Brian Wilson performing the Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds, Cheap Trick and friends assailing the Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper – is becoming so widespread as to lose its impact. But this one is just cool. On September 30, John Cale, classically-trained one-time member of the seminal Velvet Underground, will perform his 1973 album Paris 1919 in its entirety, accompanied by members of the UCLA Philharmonia as well as his own band.

Many things Japanese are very familiar to Americans now: Sushi? Got it. Ramen? Everywhere. Pocari Sweat? Well, okay, maybe not so much. But sake is one thing that, while well known, is not well understood. Any old sake is not hard to find among LA’s myriad Japanese eateries. But the best sakes, explained for the best enjoyment? Only a few do that well. Here’s my Top 5:

Viva la Revolucion! Viva Mexico! Viva la Grita! While many gringos believe Cinco de Mayo to be the ultimate Mexican holiday, in fact it’s 16 Septiembre, Mexican Indpendence Day. While we could debate the very best cocinas y cantinas in which to celebrate all over Los Angeles (which, lest we forget, was originally a Mexican city—and visit Olvera street if you doubt me), in order to keep things civil, I’ll just mention five of the newest, most interesting Mexican destinations in town: