The LA Food Podcast

Father Sal returns to the pod to discuss some hot-topics in LA and global food news, including the recent backlash incurred by a new Salt & Straw location in Silver Lake, the pros and cons of music festival food, and why L.A. Taco's Taco Madness competition is actually a great way to gauge the actual merits of a taqueria. We also give a quick updated on how our Fantasy Top Chef is progressing and - spoiler alert - it's not looking good for yours truly. Helpful links: Eater article on Salt & Straw and Pazzo Gelato https://la.eater.com/2023/4/12/23680602/pazzo-gelato-salt-and-straw-silver-lake-controversies-los-angeles-whats-going-on-explained LA Times on Coachella food https://www.latimes.com/food/story/2023-04-18/where-to-eat-at-coachella-this-year-for-best-food LA Taco's Taco Madness https://www.lataco.com/taco-madness-2023/ Press release on Elena Reygadas' award https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/mexico-citys-elena-reygadas-named-130000107.html?guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAACO-nL0emODGcflWAcyaxaPF06mUTtPcU_ikkeg_J4F7_nvRComN2ZZsQf2zQ9uxDfKIdy0mcfFboHoIruyKoMgx8XVTcMZYZDKHGqGFObumcCv973eg5GFf4OpxcGaUmDR1Pe2pOgHWBg1k__OiQ_fAdlUsubhmRQ3b3P0sVxrO&guccounter=2 Eater on Blackbird's dining NFTs https://ny.eater.com/2023/4/20/23674545/ben-leventhal-blackbird-loyalty-platform-restaurant-nfts

Solo pod alert! We're a third of the way through the year, dear listener, and I want to tell you about four incredible dining experiences that I've had of late. From handmade cavatelli to wood-fired kanpachi, you're gonna want to have your DoorDash app open cuz impending hunger is guaranteed. Helpful links: Uncle Paulie's - https://site.unclepauliesdeli.com/ Mirate - https://www.mirate.la/ Isla - https://www.isla-la.com/ Pasta Night at Pizzana - https://pizzana.com/

I'm joined by a true OG of the food influencing world today to discuss the ins and outs of this weird world. Jessie Evans has been producing food content under the moniker of @JessieEats for the better part of a decade, putting her storytelling to work so that foodies from all over can learn where to eat next. We discuss how she started, how she approaches reviewing spots that offer a less-than-positive experience, and we even play a round of The LA Food Podcast's favorite game, "The Perfect Rec." Helpful links: Jessie on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jessie_eats/?hl=en Jessie's website - https://jessieeats.com/ Angler - https://anglerla.com/ Anajak Thai - https://www.anajakthai.com/ Oy Bar - http://oybarla.com/ Sonoratown - https://www.sonoratown.com/ Factory Kitchen - https://thefactorykitchen.com/ Maude - https://www.mauderestaurant.com/ Stephanie Breijo at LA Times - https://www.latimes.com/people/stephanie-breijo

Big news! Your favorite podcast host tied the knot recently! Cousin Sal joins me to talk all things wedding food, including what makes for an unforgettable wedding menu and what he really thought of the food served at my wedding. We then go head to head as we each try to create the ideal wedding menu using our favorite dishes from Los Angeles restaurants. Who won? You decide! Helpful links: James Harden's new prosecco - https://www.foodbeast.com/news/james-harden-debuts-his-own-signature-prosecco/ Dublin's alcohol-free bar closes - https://www.foodandwine.com/dublin-alcohol-free-bar-closes-virgin-mary-7372205 Birba Palm Springs - https://www.birbaps.com/ Bavel - https://baveldtla.com/ Bestia - https://bestiala.com/ Little Joy - https://www.instagram.com/littlejoyla/?hl=en Girl & The Goat - https://girlandthegoat.com/los-angeles Sichuan Impression - https://www.sichuanimpressions.com/ Open Sesame - https://www.opensesamegrill.com/ Mother Wolf - https://www.motherwolfla.com/ DTown Pizzeria - https://www.dtownpizzeria.com/ The Win-Dow - https://www.thewin-dow.la/ Tacos El Unico - https://www.yelp.com/biz/tacos-el-unico-los-angeles-3 Tacozone - https://www.yelp.com/biz/taco-zone-los-angeles

Michael "Fat Phuck" Cannata joins us to talk about his journey as a long-time food influencer, what eats he's been enjoying recently, and what the heck makes for a good New Haven-style apizza (pronounced "a-BEETZ!"). We then debut a brand new LA Food Pod game, "The Perfect Rec," in which our guest is tasked with providing the pinpoint ideal restaurant rec for a very specific and rather outlandish scenario. Helpful links: Fat Phuck on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/fat_phuck/?hl=en Fat Phuck on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@eatwithfatp Breadologie - https://www.breadologie.com/ EP & LP - https://www.eplosangeles.com/ Sichuan Impression - https://www.sichuanimpressions.com/ Angry Egret - https://www.aedinette.com/ The Griddle Cafe - https://www.thegriddlecafe.com/ Button Mash - https://www.buttonmashla.com/#poltergeist

What would LA be without its street vendors? From pupusas to tacos de canasta, some of my favorite places to eat in this fair city don't even have names. They're just there. But them being there shouldn't be taken for granted - in fact, making street vending legal has been a long and arduous fight in this city. Today, Rudy Espinoza stops by to talk about the fight for legal street vending in LA. For more than a decade now, Rudy, his organization (Inclusive Action for the City) and other organizations have spearheaded the campaign for street vending alongside the street vendors themselves. He breaks down how far we've come, and how far we still have to go. Helpful links: Great article on how street lending became legal - https://www.kcet.org/shows/city-rising/making-it-official-how-l-a-street-vending-became-legal Inclusive Action for the City website - https://www.inclusiveaction.org/ Inclusive Action for the City Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/InclusivAction/ Rudy Espinoza IG - https://www.instagram.com/rudyespi/?hl=en Tacos Arabes de Puebla - https://www.instagram.com/tacosarabes/?hl=en

Top Chef Season 20 airs TONIGHT on Bravo at 8p ET/PT. It's a special season - they're headed to London for a World All-Stars in which winners and finalists from past editions across the globe will go head to head. Cousin Sal joins me to preview the season and to conduct a draft for our very own game of Fantasy Top Chef! Helpful links: Top Chef website - https://www.bravotv.com/top-chef Contestant Bios - https://www.goldderby.com/gallery/top-chef-20-cast-chefs/top-chef-season-20-3/

Kyle Davidson joins the pod to talk about Dough Daddy, his Detroit-style pizza concept that first popped up during the pandemic. We discuss why Dough Daddy got started, how it rose to such rapid success, and what the journey has been like for Kyle, both from a business and a mental health perspective. 

We're joined by the all-star chef of one of LA's hottest new restaurant concepts, Amiga Amore. Chef Danielle Duran Zecca is cooking up Italian-Mexican fusion, and she tells us about the concept's history, as well as its exciting future. I'm then joined by Daniel Wargo of the Forking Around social media channels for an epic duel with ChatGPT - who can provide the best list of Top 10 restaurants in LA? Us or the machines!? Listen to find out. Sponsored by TUMS. Not really. Helpful links: Amiga Amore website Amiga Amore Instagram Forking Around Instagram Forking Around TikTok Restaurants mentioned: Ka'teen Ye Olde King's Head El Cholo Midori Sushi Petit Trois Jitlada Harold and Belle's Sunnin Cafe Cici's Cafe Pizzana Bavel Villa's Tacos Sushi Bar Sichuan Impression Asadero Chikali Park's BBQ Night + Market Holbox Providence Osteria Mozza n/naka Gjelina Republique Felix Trattoria Mother Wolf Animal Majordomo Langer's Delicatessen

As the City of Los Angeles proposes new hoops for restaurants to jump through in order to keep serving diners outdoors, Casa Vega's Christy Vega joins us to break down just what the new red tape would mean for LA's restaurateurs. She also tells us about what it was like to grow up in and take over one of LA's most legendary Mexican restaurants, and how the Ventura Blvd icon became a Kardashian mainstay.   To celebrate the imminent return of Bravo's Top Chef, Cousin Sal joins me to brainstorm what the BEST food competition show of all time would look like. We come up with a (frankly genius) concept on the fly, and are now accepting meeting invites (looking at you, HBO). Sponsored by TUMS. Not really. Helpful links: Casa Vega Christy Vega's website Christy Vega's Instagram The LA Times' Jenn Harris on the new outdoor dining ordinance LA Mayor's Office contact page Top Chef Season 20 preview