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Sushi Hanada Closing

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One of the BEST sushi restaurants is closing today. Sushi Hanada was a hidden gem in Port Hueneme (Oxnard) where some of LA’s top sushi chefs would drive over an hour to get to on their days off to eat here. YES, it was that good!   Not because they received top notch quality seafood from Toyosu Fish Market in Tokyo, but just the opposite.    Sushi Hanada used a lot of local sustainable seafood and the preparation was the real secret.    Chef Yuki Hanada was the master at bringing out the flavors of local ingredients. Sushi Hanada served Edomae-style sushi, made from seafood caught in Tokyo Bay.    Small fish, Japanese tiger prawns, clams, sea eel, etc. were cured or lightly cooked before serving.    200 years ago, it wasn’t about toro or uni in sushi, you needed to know what to do with what you could get your hands on and how to bring out the flavors. Chef Yuki did all of those things and more.    The 3 or so times I’ve dined there, he never disappointed and each time I had different
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Stokes Purple® Wave Pie by Lauren Ko

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Getting stoked for the holidays can be delicious! I was invited to a Frieda’s  Specialty Produce event, featuring cookbook author, Lauren Ko. Her cookbook “Pieometry” is a wonderful book of pie recipes  and techniques that even a baking novice like me can do to make incredible  looking pies to impress my friends  and family. But First, a little bit about Frieda’s… I’m familiar that Frieda’s is a specialty produce  company, but I didn’t know that Frieda was the  first to introduce Chinese Gooseberry to the U.S. in 1962.  (before my time) After changing the name to Kiwifruit, the item took off! (Did you know?  I didn’t…) Frieda introduced other exotic items, maybe I’ll do a video at a later time. Frieda’s Specialty Produce  is a second generation, female owned, family business in Southern California. But tonight, it’s all about the Stokes Purple® Sweet Potato. Grown in California, this is a denser sweet potato  with good flavor. Just look for the Stokes Purple® Sweet Potato label Lauren
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South City Fried Chicken is Back at Lunch! (New)

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Between 8th and 9th on Spring Street in Downtown Los Angeles, you’ll find  Preux & Proper and their South City Fried Chicken lunch menu. Due to COVID 19, this restaurant is now Closed. August 2020 If you follow me, you’ll probably remember  my visit to South City Fried Chicken post when they were at Corporation Food Hall down the street.  See it  HERE . They’re now back at   Preux & Proper with their all-time favorites... (Served at Lunch Only) Nashville Fried Chicken Sandwich  Served with an overnight buttermilk brined premium Georgia chicken breast, Nashville rub,  chili oil, house-made pickles, and cookout slaw  on a buttered bun. This spicy sandwich can be ordered as hot / xxx / reaper / hellfire I’m already sweating... A lot of choices to choose from... Lunch Monday - Saturday 11 AM to 4 PM But maybe something from the bar first... They have really good cocktail too. Chef Sammy Monsour  The chef explaining all of their proteins and  ingredients are from sustainable source
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Bar Avalon (New) - Hidden Gem in Echo Park

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Do you like finding hidden gems? Plancha Blue Prawns I Found One! Bar Avalon A new restaurant which had its  Grand Opening last week on Sunset Blvd in Echo Park. (just West of Alvarado Blvd) Photo by Kelly Bylsma A casual neighborhood gathering spot with an ever-changing menu features shareable dishes and a curated wine list. Choices, Choices, Choices... Menu by Chef Joshua Guarneri (formerly The Hearth & Hound) Photo by Kelly Bylsma Wines curated from North and South America and each is offered by the glass. Not sure which wine to order? Ask Nathaniel Muñoz for a recommendation, GM and Sommelier. I sampled a Chilled Red from Chile, Maitia Pipeño ‘Aupa’ Old Vines Maule I would order this again! See What Jay Eats... Fried Smelt (Alaska) Served with a house-made aioli  and wild arugula. Dip in the aioli and eat the entire fish. Who can’t resist a Deviled Egg? AND it’s topped with chicken chicharron. Lamb Rillette Served with giardineira (pickled vegetables). BTW, the bread was delici
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Free Play (New) - Banc of California Stadium

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Photo Courtesy of Kristie Hang There’s a New Casual Dining place in Los Angeles  to Eat Drink and Game! Free Play at Banc of California Stadium A Chef Tim Hollingsworth concept, so I knew the food would be great. You may know of Chef Tim from Otium at The Broad  in Downtown LA. Photo Courtesy of Kristie Hang Located above  The Fields LA (food hall) on the Second Floor. Tonight is one of the Preview Evenings... Grand Opening  is Friday, October 26, 2018. You walk in and there’s tables on the left and the bar in the center. Foosball tables, billiard and pinball to the right. Lots of places to sit, eat and drink. Grab a menu And order at the bar... A creative bar menu, by  Julian Cox and Nick Meyer. Melon Dollar Baby (L) Macho Man Shady Savage (R) Melon Dollar Baby Gin, Sake, Watermelon, Hibiscus, Lime Macho Man Shady Savage  Mezcal, Chipotle Pepper, Yellow Peach, Pilsner and a Slim Jim Once we got our drinks, we took our number and headed for a table. By the time we sat down, and before
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