James Beard Awards Controversy Explained, Wagyu Wars, and LA Dominates Esquire’s Best New Restaurants. Plus, 2025 Gift Guide Feat. My Wife.

Welcome back to The LA Food Podcast. This week, Luca and Karen Palmer dive into one of the most fascinating food stories of the year: the global fight over wagyu. Karen breaks down what Japanese producers are trying to protect, whether A5 wagyu is actually worth the hype, and why the debate mirrors DOP fights in Italy over ingredients like San Marzano tomatoes and Neapolitan pizza standards.

We also unpack Esquire’s Best New Restaurants in America 2025, where California dominated the list and Los Angeles landed an incredible six spots, including Travis Lett’s RVR crowned Restaurant of the Year. Karen explains what stood out, how the 5 C’s rubric plays into national lists, and which LA restaurants might have been unlucky snubs.

In Chef’s Kiss / Big Miss, we break down Michael Nagrant’s viral takedown of the James Beard Awards, Greg Dulan winning the LA Times Gold Award, The New York Times critics on what defines a four-star restaurant, DoorDash entering the reservation game, and The Infatuation declaring where you should host your office holiday party.

Plus, Part 2 brings a festive return from Luca’s wife, who drops the hottest gift guide of the season. From Veso vermouth to butter bells, homemade shortbread to A24’s Scrounging cookbook, and at-home wine tasting to Kitchen Lingo classes, this guide has you covered for cocktail lovers, hosts, family, and anyone scrambling for last-minute inspiration.

If you love LA dining, restaurant news, and smart food media commentary, this episode is packed.

Keywords: LA restaurants, LA dining, wagyu beef, Esquire Best New Restaurants, Travis Lett RVR, James Beard Awards controversy, Greg Dulan, NYT food critics, DoorDash reservations, LA Times Gold Award, holiday gift guide, Los Angeles food podcast.

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