There’s no shortage of sweet shops in Los Angeles, but since I’ve already given you Haute 5 ice cream and Haute 5 bakeries in recent weeks, today I’m focusing on strictly meal-ending treats.

In the ever-expanding realm of LA’s chic boutique hotels, very few feel both contemporary and classic. Which is what makes Ocean Avenue’s Shangri-La so special. Just putting the finishing touches on a radical renovation, owner Tamie Adaya’s personal attention to every detail has made it something of a Chateau Marmont by the sea. Not in terms of style, mind you, but spirit and substance.

Sushi snobs may turn up their noses at this popular dish—as they do at many creative rolls (don’t even ask for it at Sasabune or other omakase spots). Let’s be honest, though, when you crave sushi, nothing quite satisfies like Spicy Tuna. You’d think the recipe would be simple enough: a little toro, a little wasabi, a little rice. But, all Spicy Tuna rolls are not created equally. Just ask anyone who makes his or her favorite spicy tuna, and you will get nearly as many answers as there are mouths. Still, in a city filled with sushi, there are some sure things. Here’s a Haute 5:

Though it wasn’t widely reported, Glass suffered a heart attack this past April, actually while onstage performing with Sarah Silverman at the Largo. Since Glass didn’t have health insurance, Spade decided to put together a benefit this Tuesday night at the same venue (and with many of the same performers—Silverman among them) to pay off his bills.

Most of us remember Dennis Hopper as a movie star (from Rebel Without A Cause to Blue Velvet and beyond), director, raconteur, even as a patron. But few of are conscious of the contributions and impact the late Venice resident made as a fine artist. Or at least the scope. But now an exhbit at […]

When New York star chef Scott Conant hinted last year that he’d be opening a spot in Las Vegas, the food world seemed to react with a shrug. After all, Vegas already had plenty of culinary kings (it’s easier to count who isn’t there than who is) and no shortage of excellent Italian food—Conant’s forte.

But things change, and instead, Conant has just announced he’ll be opening an outpost of his widely awarded eatery Scarpetta in the Montage Beverly Hills (as if you needed one more reason to visit that stunning spot).

The Pasadena Jazz Fest, going off this weekend, August 28-29, offers nothing less than some of the best talents performing music today. Stanley Clarke, Rachelle Ferrell, Spyro Gyra, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno’s Kevin Eubanks, Take 6, Miss Rita Coolidge, Hubert Laws are just some of the headliners. New Orleans’ Dirty Dozen Brass Band were just added to the line up.

“A burger? What’s so haute about a burger?” A few years ago, I’d have been the first one saying that. But in recent months, many of LA’s best chefs have become obsessed with reinventing this popular wheel. While many will still stand by classics like In N Out’s 2×2, the venerable hickory-smoked Apple Pan patty, or the no-substitutions selections at Father’s Office, for the adventuresome meater, there are certainly many others worth sampling. Here’s my Haute 5:

It’s a really rare opportunity to be able to see Sinatra at the intimate Catalina Bar & Grill, where he’s having a rare four night stand from August 26 through August 29. One of the best places to enjoy jazz in an intimate, refined setting, Catalina regularly offers the best names in the business. Expect Sinatra to be accompanied by some serious talents, and pull from his voluminous songbook of standards in swing and ballads. Expect some family members to show up. And a few celeb friends.