Jessica Koslow

Sometimes being called a hidden gem is a compliment. Other times, being hidden is not the goal.

Take Marina del Rey, for instance.

“Marina del Rey is oftentimes thought of as a hidden gem,” said Janet Zaldua, CEO of Marina del Rey Tourism, “and we don’t want to be so hidden anymore.”

This sentiment rings especially true now that FIFA World Cup 2026 has landed at its doorstep. Marina del Rey is 20 minutes from SoFi Stadium, where eight matches will be held through July 10.

“I’ve been involved with the visitor experiences committee of the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board,” explained Zaldua. “We heard from LA Sports & Entertainment Commission about what folks can do to participate. There was a lot of talk about how this is going to bring a lot of energy to Los Angeles. We didn’t want to be on the sidelines.”  . . .

Read the entire article at The Argonaut.

Hotel June is perfectly located in LA. It’s just minutes from LAX and also near to Venice, Marina del Rey, Playa Vista and Santa Monica on one side and SoFi Stadium, Intuit Dome and the Kia Forum on the other.

Since June 2020, when it took over the 1960s modernist white tower then occupied by the Custom Hotel and originally designed by architect Welton Becket — whose firm is also responsible for the Capitol Records Building and the Beverly Hilton — Hotel June’s restaurant (and bar and pool) has slowly become a neighborhood spot on the Westside. 

Its latest launch, Caravan Cantina is a full re-concept of its previous restaurant, Caravan Swim Club, into a Baja-inspired taqueria and bar, and it may be just what the locals ordered. . . .

Read the entire article at The Argonaut.

When Lenny Rosenberg and Adaeze Nwanonyiri first met in 2013 at a private event in Malibu, it did not take long for them to imagine a future together. Nwanonyiri discussed her love of design, and Rosenberg relayed his affinity for food and baking.  

“We wanted to learn more about each other’s passions,” said Nwanonyiri, who now handles the aesthetics, interior and exterior, of the couple’s two shops: New York Bagel Deli & Bakery in Santa Monica and New York Bagel Deli (NYBD) Mar Vista, which just changed ownership on May 13. 

When NYBD co-founder Brian Gruntz decided to retire, the married restaurateurs purchased the business. They took over the Santa Monica location in February 2025 and agreed to buy the Mar Vista store the following year. . . .

Read the entire article at The Argonaut.

Agnes Restaurant & Cheesery is unique. According to chef Thomas Kalb, one-half of the husband-and-wife team that owns it, Agnes is not the only cheese shop in town, and it’s definitely not the only restaurant in town, but it is the only one of its size that has a strong relationship between the restaurant and the cheese shop.

Its one-of-a-kindness is especially significant today because, according to Vanessa Tilaka Kalb, the wife and cheesemonger of the duo, a lot of cheesemakers are closing their doors this year.

“It’s really sad when people go to Trader Joe’s or Costco to buy cheese when these small producers are the ones who need our help the most,” she shared. . . .

Read the entire article at Pasadena Weekly.

“Sushi Row” — aka Ventura Boulevard — in Sherman Oaks has one of the highest concentrations of sushi restaurants in the United States. Coming this summer, Yama Sushi Marketplace is opening its fourth and largest location, 7,200 square feet with a brand-new drink concept. 

“We have the largest curated sake selection in Los Angeles,” CEO Scott Kohno said. “I thought we could take it to the next level and have a drink station so that our customers could enjoy our craft sake. This location will have a hard liquor license and serve craft whiskey and vodka and gin from Japan. Customers can order very exclusive Japanese beverages.”

The founder of what was once known as Yama Seafood, Kenzo “Yama-san” Yamada was a former fish broker who opened the original location in San Gabriel in 1984. He sourced the freshest fish and supplied to the top LA restaurants and markets. . . .

Read the entire article at The Argonaut.

What Tyler Burges is most excited about as the chef/owner of Bengara, which opened April 17 in the Arts District, is debuting his genshiyaki grill. In this process, proteins are positioned at a distance from the binchōtan charcoal and cooked slowly through radiant heat.

“I’ve never seen anyone do that in the United States,” said Burges. “It’s not super common even in Japan.”

Burges is part of the team operating Smoke Door restaurants in Lake Tahoe and at The Knot Yokohama hotel in Japan — he now splits his time between all three locations. . . .

Read the entire article at LA Downtown News.

Taking your mom — and grandmother — to afternoon tea is an elegantly delicious way to celebrate maternal bonds. Pasadena offers a handful of delightful and delightfully different options.

Chado Tea Room’s Mother’s Day afternoon team begins with refreshers — wine-inspired iced tea and tea-infused chocolates—and ends with mini chocolate mousse cups with fruit and lemon curd tartlets. In between, a selection of delicate finger sandwiches — smoked salmon, Souchong chicken and tea-marinated egg salad — and warm scones are served, all paired with a choice of Beauty white tea, Lemon Chiffon herbal tea, Podrea black tea and Chado Special Darjeeling.

Added decadence arrives in the form of Chado cream, French macarons and a butter cookie, which are served with the scones. Tea service is $69 per person. . . .

Read the entire article at The Argonaut.

Sichuan cuisine is misunderstood, explained Zhi Min Zhu, Mountain House’s culinary director. According to Zhu, people hear “Sichuan” and think only of heat, but the cuisine is about balance and complexity.

Online sources claim the defining taste of Sichuan food is known as málà, or numbing and spicy, which is created by combining red chilies with Sichuan peppercorns. The result is a citrusy, buzzing numbing effect.

“The peppercorn creates a numbing sensation that isn’t just spice — it opens the palate,” said Zhu. “The layering of fermented, fresh and dried ingredients creates depth that takes years to learn how to execute properly.” . . .

Read the entire article at Pasadena Weekly.

Chef Chris Yang opened Yang’s Kitchen in Alhambra in 2019. In 2024, he was a James Beard Award nominee for Best Chef: California. Yang knows a thing or two about a chef’s life.

“As a cook, you’re always on the fire,” he explained. “It’s always so hot, and the work is physically demanding and tiring. A lot of cooks drink coffee, energy drinks or sodas throughout the day. I just wanted a healthier alternative, and kombucha was that. It was bubbly, refreshing, tangy and it supposedly has health benefits, like probiotics. For me, that was my drink of choice for the kitchen.”

After returning from a trip to Taiwan, one of Yang’s business partners gifted him Oolong tea leaves from a region called Alishan. . . .

Read the entire article at LA Downtown News.

Lazy Dog is not lethargic when it comes to rolling out its quarterly menus. Like clockwork, when the flowers bloom and the days grow longer, the nationwide eatery debuts its spring menu.

Branden Roelofson, general manager of the L.A. LIVE location, knows his guests are ready for some lighter bites and vibrant flavors.

“We always want to stay fresh and relevant with our menu choices,” he explained, “which go great with some of the warmer weather, like the Yuzu Skinny Margarita. We’ve been really thoughtful with our menu and making sure that it goes really well with the season.” . . .

Read the entire article at LA Downtown News.