Why are LA pizzerias receiving cease and desists? Plus, OpenTable’s resurgence, reflections on dinner at Baroo, and Father Sal gives his mom a daughter-in-law (kind of).

What’s the deal with the cease and desist letters going to Los Angeles pizzerias? Is OpenTable’s comeback slowly killing Resy? And was our visit to the LA Times 2024 Restaurant of the Year a Chef’s Kiss or a Big Miss? 

Father Sal’s with us today to discuss all of that and more, plus where you can try a $750 burger, what Molly Baz is doing to give back to wildfire victims, and an invitation I extended to Bill Esparza that can only be described as ill-advised and reckless. 

Helpful Links:

NYT’s Kim Severson on teh legal brawl over “Dirt Candy” https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/13/dining/dirt-candy-trademark-dispute.html

GrubStreet on OpenTable vs. Resy https://www.grubstreet.com/article/restaurants-leaving-resy-for-opentable.html

Molly Baz gives back https://www.latimes.com/food/newsletter/2025-02-16/la-fires-rebuilding-kitchens-cooking-molly-baz-pantry-cooking-editorial

Taste on mutton https://tastecooking.com/no-matter-what-you-call-it-mutton-is-delicious/

Karen Palmer on the $750 burger https://www.sfgate.com/la/article/porsche-experience-center-carson-california-20107593.php

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Go check out The Lonely Oyster in Echo Park!⁠https://thelonelyoyster.com/⁠