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November 2008 - Posts
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Let us consider the turkey, that curiously hyperbolic fowl that an uncommonly large number of us will be forced to consume tomorrow. Turkey is a creature that one either loves, or doesn't love, with only a very few left sitting on the proverbial fence. Read More...
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– Food stamp usage in the U.S. is nearing an all-time high. [ Washington Post ] – How do farmers get so many turkeys ready to go for Thanksgiving? [ Slate ] – On Monday, the double cheeseburger will leave McDonald's dollar menu. Read More...
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By Jacqueline Wasilczyk, ZAGAT.com Staff Editor After five seasons of being involved with Top Chef , Lee Anne Wong shares some behind-the-scenes scoop. Lee Anne Wong Top Chef whips up drama on TV screens every Wednesday night, but there's plenty of Read More...
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Ferran Adrià acolyte José Andrés (DC’s Zaytinya ) arrives in town with Rojo y Blanca at The Bazaar , a sure-to-be hot modern Spanish in SBE's newly opened SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills; the Philippe Starck design mixes LA modernism, Read More...
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The results of our 2008 Airline Survey are in , and while there were a few positive developments, the industry as a whole is hardly flying high in the public’s eyes. First, the good news: average overall ratings – factoring in Comfort, Service Read More...
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The 9,950 surveyors who participated in Zagat's 2008 Airline Survey had plenty of gripes about air travel. Below are some of our favorite comments. (To see the results of the survey, click here .) The Rhett Butler of airlines: they just don't Read More...
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– Campbell soup is so over MSG. [ Chicago Tribune ] – Starbucks lost a laptop with 97,000 employees' names, addresses and social security numbers. [ Starbucks Gossip ] – Was the head of New York's State Liquor Authority pressured Read More...
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Had I known the lobster cost $300, I would have brought it home and kept it as a pet. Read More...
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When Morton's , much beloved by the movers and shakers of Hollywood, closed last year, it was originally announced that the West Coast branch of Nick Jones' members-only Soho House would open in its place. Instead, it appears as if Soho House Read More...
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– A 2.15-pound truffle is having a terrible time selling in New York. [ Gothamist ] – Beaujolais' big days are behind it. [ WSJ ] – Massachusetts' wine shipping laws have been thrown out. [ Bostonist ] – The feud between Read More...
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No one would think of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) as a dining destination. And thanks to the TSA, it's not an option anyway – without a ticket and several dozen pieces of federally mandated ID, there's no way to get past the Read More...
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Can't get enough of Top Chef ? You're not alone. Each Thursday, it seems that food sites on the Internet stop to take a collective look at what went down on the chopping block the night before. So if you're looking to kill some time reading Read More...
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Zagat's new iPhone application Starting today, iPhone and iPod Touch owners will have one more reason to obsess over their favorite gadgets. Available now in the iTunes App Store for the bargain price of $9.99, ZAGAT TO GO '09 gives you access Read More...
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After having to drop a September wine event due to the markets , popular Pasadena spot Bistro 45 is coming back with a second stab at a Twisted Oak wine dinner. And what better way to warm up for Thanksgiving than with a five-course feast paired with Read More...
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– The definition of organic milk in the U.S. may soon be finalized. [ USA Today ] – In defense of disliking dishes. [ MenuPages ] – PETA, which really doesn't like Thanksgiving, has pulled up some very disturbing turkey videos. [ Read More...
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The Cosmo may come and go . But of this we can be sure: the margarita is eternal. And of this we can also be sure: no one knows for certain where the first margarita was imbibed. One popular tale holds that it was the creation of a bartender named Daniel Read More...
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The Kress photo: naomi kiang There has been a bit of a shake-up at The Kress , the new pan-Asian in the old Frederick's. Troy Thompson, the former Jer-ne chef who opened the restaurant, is out and the sushi chef, Travis Kamiyama, has stepped up into Read More...
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The specialty at the pricey Koreatown arrival Byul Gobchang , open until 4 AM every day, is barbecued offal – various cuts of tripe, tongue and beef intestines – cooked on the hwaro, a charcoal grill; its well-lit mini-mall setting includes Read More...
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– The New Yorker's annual food issue is out and chock full of interesting reads. [ New Yorker ] – Spam? The beloved canned meat product is gunning for a comeback. [ NYT ] – Business lunches ain't exactly what they used to be. Read More...
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There are 40 wines by the glass at City Sip LA , a funky, friendly neighborhood small-plates arrival just down the street from Dodger Stadium, offering further evidence that Echo Park is the new Silver Lake; a small, affordable menu including chorizo, Read More...
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– Milk-based products from China have been blocked by the FDA for fear of contamination. [ NYT , WSJ ] – When you eat fast food you are mostly eating... corn. [ Time ] – At least one blogger is done with pandering to the Internet's Read More...
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"Flask service" at Café Wa s photo: Courtesy of Café Wa s We know that Mary-Kate Olsen made "boho chic" fashionable way back in 2005, but we assumed that the turbulent economy would have reminded folks that poverty isn't Read More...
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Last night the fifth season of Top Chef premiered on Bravo and the Internet is already full of recaps and discussion of what went down in the kitchen. Here's just a quick sampling of the Top Chef talk going around this morning: – Lots of folks Read More...
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– Bake sales ain't what they used to be in California. [ NYT ] – Less-than-perfect-looking fruit are expected to be allowed back in the EU. [ Independent ] – The U.N. is warning that a serious food shortage in Gaza is two days away. Read More...
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Josie photo: courtesy Josie For the past year, New Yorkers have been taking part in a new program called Zagat Presents , and now California gets to join in the action. The concept is simple: Zagat Survey teams up with local restaurants to present our Read More...
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Sonora Cafe, the Southwestern sib of El Cholo , will shut its door tomorrow in La Brea (where it's been since leaving Downtown in 1994). A call to the restaurant revealed that the owner is looking to reopen in a new location, but that it won't Read More...
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Traditionally released on the third Thursday in November, the young, fruity Beaujolais Nouveau is almost synonymous with joie de vivre. Though its magnetic pull seems to have lessened in the past few years, the wine's annual launch still draws a crowd. Read More...
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Talk about a deal. While the widely spread rumors of an In-N-Out 60th Anniversary roll-back turned out to be unfounded, it seems that another 60-year-old California staple isn't afraid to celebrate with a great bargain. Specifically, the West Hollywood Read More...
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For years, celebs have counted on the high-end Sunset Marquis Hotel as a place to hide out in the middle of the action, but what they couldn’t count on was a restaurant – that is, until The Restaurant at Sunset Marquis , a pricey new French, Read More...
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– It isn't just the cereal boxes. Food packages across the board are shrinking. [ LAT ] – Nutritional labels are coming to Philadelphia's chain menus. [ Inquirer ] – A Q&A with Eric Ripert . [ Gothamist ] – Beer sales Read More...
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Ciudad Photo: Courtesy of Ciudad On November 15th, Ciudad owners Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger of Too Hot Tamales lead a journey through the spicy world of fresh and dried chilies with a cooking demonstration and three-course lunch at their downtown Read More...
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– Steep food price increases are likely on the way. [ Reuters ] – Meanwhile, food banks in some areas are already in dire need of donations. [ Boston ] – David Chang is at it again: a Momofuku Milk Bar is coming. [ Eater ] – Making Read More...
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With the economy still uncertain, what is the foodie in search of a deal to do? Turn to OpenTable , it seems. The online reservation site (and Zagat partner) has teamed up with area restaurants to launch its " Appetite Stimulus Plan " from Monday, Read More...
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For those who consider protein and veggies the price they have to pay for eating dessert, chef Rich Mead is cutting to the chase at Sage on the Coast with a "Sweet Tooth Happy Hour" menu served every night from 8:30–10 PM. Desserts go Read More...
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On Sunday, November 9th, a few days before Veterans Day, McCormick & Schmick’s will honor those who have served our country by serving them a free lunch or dinner entree, ordered from a special menu, as well as a complimentary soft beverage. Read More...
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By Jacqueline Wasilczyk, ZAGAT.com staff editor With increased funding and star chef support, Timothy Hollingsworth has high hopes for the Lyon competition. The Bocuse d'Or trophy, modeled after founder Paul Bocuse Photo: courtesy of Bocuse d'Or Read More...
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– Five restaurateurs were elected to congress yesterday. [ NRN ] – Meanwhile, California's farm animal treatment proposition passed handily. [ LAT ] – A tough economy is a boon for budget beers. [ AdAge ] – Anecdotally, Barack Read More...
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Photo: Ion Sokhos For a holiday, Thanksgiving can sure feel like a lot of work. Want to skip the shopping, cooking and cleaning this year? Then make a dinner reservation instead. There's a meal out there to suit every budget, from affordable family-friendly Read More...
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photo: Tony Miller Today is Election Day in America. And if you haven't already cast your ballot, we just wanted to add to the chorus reminding you of the importance of letting your voice be heard. (Not sure if you'll have time? Here is a list Read More...
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Chef Jared Simons (formerly at Violet in Santa Monica) surfaces at Bardot , a Hollywood hot spot serving what he describes as ‘Promiscuous Dining’ – lots of intensely flavored Eclectic small plates; located above the venerable Avalon Read More...
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Blu LA Café , a casual arrival in the historic Pacific Electric Lofts building, offers an all-day (and late-night weekend) menu of American fare like burgers and braised pork; a young, boho crowd dines indoors and out in a setting built of wood, Read More...
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– Learn how they stuff in all those sponsorships into Top Chef . [ AdAge ] – From the silver linings department: Will a recession mean more affordable wine lists? [ Slate ] – Here are some sweet ideas for those wondering what to do with Read More...
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