My latest Huffington Post article is up. This time, I polled celebs and locals about their favorite off-the-beaten path restaurants and bars in Los Angeles. As a result, I was able to once again speak with James Van Der Beek and Mario Lopez and learned about some new places that I'll have to try soon before they become too popular now.
Whenever I have moved to a different area of Los Angeles, or to a new city even, it's not the new Top Chef-helmed gourmet restaurants that I miss the most, but the local dive bars and hole-in-the-wall restaurants. It's those hidden gems that I tell friends to visit because they have a drink or an item that I just can't seem to forget. For me, it's a hard-shelled taco with cheese from Tito's Tacos in Culver City that I crave when I've been away. That is where I like to take out-of-towners for a real L.A. experience. I could go on and on about my other favorite strip mall joints, but I figured I'd poll some interesting locals for their picks too. So, here's an alternative guide to Los Angeles' restaurants and bars (read full article)
I've also been working on promoting Disney's new stylish children's clothing line that is inspired by the art from the 'it's a small world' attraction at the parks. The items are so adorable, that I'm tempted to buy the entire line and save it for my future children.
Available at Nordstrom stores and at Nordstrom.com, the line also includes give back items from bags, bibs and infant and toddler themed shirts and bodysuits from FEED Projects that will enable UNICEF (which was the ride's original 1964 beneficiary when it first appeared at the NY World's Fair) to provide Vitamin A supplements to children in need. Thus, the 500 number appearing on the FEED Our Small World bags means that for each bag purchased, 500 children will receive Vitamin A supplements for one year.
As a result, I spent yesterday afternoon with FEED Projects' Co-Founder and CEO Lauren Bush at Nordstrom's Grove location for the launch of the line, where she also read to children during a special story time. It was a pleasure getting to meet Lauren as she was very down to earth, which I think is very impressive considering she is a former Tommy Hilfiger model, a Princeton alum and niece of President George W. Bush and granddaughter of President George H. W. Bush. And of course, I was also very impressed by her philanthropy and the FEED Projects program.
Here we are working together at the event:
My team also booked Lauren to appear on EXTRA to speak with Mario Lopez about the partnership. Since EXTRA films in The Grove shopping area, we simply joined his outside set for the interview, which was pretty cool. The segment airs tonight, but it's online already (see clip and my pics below).
Oh, and check out this TMZ paparazzi shot, where I'm looking small in the background behind the mall cop and EXTRA's bodyguard:
It's now Market Week in the LA Fashion District and designers are busy previewing their fall collections to buyers.
For work, I helped orchestrate a breakfast here in a downtown showroom for the newly announced fashion collection — Disney by: Patterson J. Kincaid. If you're not familiar with them, PJK is a rapidly recognized design label in the women's contemporary fashion world and they are now collaborating with Disney for a limited edition line, which just debuted with designs inspired by the film Bambi that are both fashion forward, yet nostalgic. Each t-shirt, oversized sweatshirt and tank from the line is so soft to the touch that I had to resist the urge to rub my cheek on them.
Also at the morning preview party was Stephanie Pratt (The Hills), Jamie-Lynn Sigler (Entourage, The Sopranos), Mickey Mouse (Fantasia), Taryn Manning (Hawaii 5-0, Crosswords, 8 Mile) and Janelle Ortiz again (Disney's upcoming film Prom).
The best part though? Mickey Mouse pancakes!! These designer tees don't go on sale until July though, but keep an eye out for them, they've already appeared on The Today Show (view video) either.
Last weekend, I attended the debut of the monthly TruckIt Fest at Downtown’s iconic Union Station. The festival is a celebration of three things Los Angeles can’t seem to get enough of: food trucks, fashion (hand-crafted jewelry and accessories) and live music. Despite the popularity of food trucks, I was surprised to find that the festival was way bigger than I was even expecting with roughly 5,000 people attending. It took place both inside and outside the station, featuring 40 food trucks, 200 local designers and artisans, live bands and DJs, plus a climbing rock wall.
General admission to the fest costs $5 and kids under 12 are free. I was able to walk there, but could have also just taken the subway one stop and then if I showed my Metro train ticket, we would have received $1 off admission. Along with some other press, we were able to go V.I.P. though ($45), which provides entrance an hour before the crowds; complimentary valet parking; access to a private lounge located in the Fred Harvey Room; a $10 food voucher; and menu service, so guests can order and receive their food from the lounge instead of standing in line like the rest of the guests. I ate from the Canter's Deli Truck for a yummy pastrami sandwich and a red velvet cake ball and lemonade from Molly's Sweets Truck. Despite the crowds, the lines weren't too bad, but the longest one belonged to Cool Haus for their ice cream sandwiches on the nice sunny warm day. Next time, I'll have to try the Mac N' Roll. TruckIt fest will take place monthly on the 1st Sunday of every month from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. The next one is on Sunday, April 3, see you there!
Union Station 800 North Alameda Street. Los Angeles, CA 90012
Recently, I had the pleasure of attending a media dinner at LA Market by Kerry Simon at the JW Marriott in the center of L.A. Live. If you're not familiar, the L.A. Live area is in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles and is like the West Coast Times Square--lots of lights, digital billboards, restaurants, concerts, but instead of Broadway shows there are the Clippers, Lakers and Kings games playing in the Staples Center.
Inside the JW Marriott's huge, almost open air and sleek lobby, sits the LA Market restaurant where we were previewing the updated menu from their new Chef de Cuisine-Hell’s Kitchen Season Eight winner Nona Sivley. At the helm of Chef Simon’s kitchen, the HK winner plans to add her own touch to the current menu of reimagined American classics that complement the music and entertainment scene surrounding the hotel. True to her Texan roots, Nona has incorporated her passion for Southern and Southwestern cuisine by adding Crispy Pork Belly, Gnocchi and Jumbo Lump Crab, Pan Seared Cod, Grilled Ribeye dishes and a banana custard pudding with pecan ice cream (Taste of Georgia) for a sweet finish.
The best of the new additions was the Gnocchi and Jumbo Lump Crab appetizer with truffle parmesan cream. It was so creamy and delicious with generous chunks of sweet crab meat, that I'll definitely be back to order that again, even an an entree! Another great appetizer is the Tuna Dynamite, an LA Market signature starter, which had caviar and lump crab on top over sticky rice and spicy tuna. Delicious!
I also enjoyed their yummy, melt-in-your-mouth, Braised Short Rib entree. Nona even jokingly asked, "how can you go wrong with short ribs?" I can't wait to order this entree again too. You don't need to attend a special tasting like I did in order to see Chef Nona though as almost every seat in the restaurant has a view inside the open kitchen, where you can easily see Nona moving around dishes and overseeing everything. Even before she stopped over at our table, I felt like we already met, since I was watching her and her team throughout the entire meal, which was really cool. You can spot Nona in the kitchen over Darin Dines shoulder below. FYI: A special Mardi Gras menu will appear Saturday March 5 through Tuesday, March 8.
LA Market Lobby level of the JW Marriott 900 West Olympic Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90015 213-765-8930
or to a new city even, it's not the new Top Chef-helmed gourmet restaurants that I miss the most, but the local dive bars and hole-in-the-wall restaurants. It's those hidden gems that I tell friends to visit because they have a drink or an item that I just can't seem to forget. For me, it's a hard-shelled taco with cheese from Tito's Tacos in Culver City that I crave when I've been away. That is where I like to take out-of-towners for a real L.A. experience. I could go on and on about my other favorite strip mall joints, but I figured I'd poll some interesting locals for their picks too. So, here's an alternative guide to Los Angeles' restaurants and bars (read full article)
