(Gerry Furth-Sides) Owner Smita Vasant opened Saffron Spot ice cream shop in the summer of 2005. after her delicious, unique homemade ice cream creations became so popular at home they inspired a commercial business supplying wholesale ice cream to restaurants and for events, and then the store. Located at the end of a spiffy street in freeway-close Artesia and well-known as “Little India,” here each part alone adds up to a whole. The photo of fashion-model Smita below starts the story. Owner and ice cream maker, Smita Vasant at Saffron Spot Ice Cream Shop in Artesia (Little India) The me ..read more

(Gerry Furth-Sides) The fun food and culture-rich “Old Pasadena Food Walking Tour” feels like minutes even though it covers over two miles and two hours of walking and food tastings. That’s because of the careful planning and expertise of Tour guide and Melting Pot Tours owner, the exuberant Jodi Flowers. By the end of the tour new friends are made, both local and out-of-towners alike and tummies filled. Exuberant Melting Pot Tours owner and tour guide extraordinaire, Jodi Flowers welcomes a group to Old Pasadena This expertly curated food tour features some of Pasadena’s independently owned&n ..read more

(Gerry Furth-Sides) Celebrating Women’s Month with women-founded Garcia de la Cruz! And what could be more feminine than their new Organic Olive Oil Exfoliating Soap and Hydrating Cleansing Soap? We learned that you also need to apply moisturizer after cleansing each and every time! A life-changing moment. And there is more news! García de la Cruz’s new Organic Olive Oil Exfoliating Soap and Hydrating Cleansing Soap And in addition to using the classic and still evolutionary skin products, García de la Cruz’ now also has made nutritious olives in addition to their extensive line of olive oils ..read more

(Gerry Furth-Sides) As promising as the invitation read to a Rhode Island themed evening at  Connie & Ted’s, starting with the offer of an uber pick up in a storm, it exceeded expectations. Nothing does about a classic waiting to be discovered. A warm welcome to a Rhode Island themed evening at Connie and Ted’s Aperitif beer and wine tastings were already set up at the bar when guests arrived, along with passed hors d’oeuvres. The wine and beer options from Rhode Island were the first surprise. Newport Vineyards and THE GUILD provided wine, beer for this Rhode Island themed evening Th ..read more

(Gerry Furth-Sides) Banana Leaf, Redondo Beach is honored to be an official participant in the Blue Zones Project®. This represents is a community-wide approach to creating healthier and more productive citizens. Owner-Chef Sri Sambangi proudly places the decal on the window with BCHD’s Jackie Uy, Well-Being Programs Coordinator. The restaurant offers Southern Indian and an American menu in honor of Banana Leaf’s inspiration, writer Barbara Hansen. The project is a partnership with Beach Cities Health District. Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach and Redondo Beach have all placed in the top five o ..read more

Catch is in for Bluewater Grill’s Second Tuesday Tasting 2024 (content and photos courtesy of Bluewater Grill) As if sitting at a table overlooking the ocean was not enough, Bluewater Grills’ Second Tuesday Tasting 2024 add to the heavenly experience with a series of one-evening only regional, French and Italian feasts. Chefs go all out at these monthly tastings featuring seasonal seafood and shellfish paired with hand-selected wines, beers or sakes. Just take a look. Bluewater Second Tuesday Tasting on Feb. 6, 2024: “A Lobster Tail Celebration.” This special feast, dining pairs starts with a ..read more

Los Angeles Magazine BEST NEW RESTAURANTS 2024 (Gerry Furth-Sides) Los Angeles Magazine‘s events have always been in our top five. They know how to throw a party even in the far off Malibu hills. That’s because the team does extensive research all year to find the very best. We know. We’ve been to every one. Photos are below. This season  Los Angeles Magazine BEST NEW RESTAURANTS celebrates at California Market Center on Thursday, February 8th, 2024, from 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm. The 11th annual BEST NEW RESTAURANTS tasting extravaganza br ..read more

Michael Crupain, MD, MPH (Gerry Furth-Sides) Michael Crupain, MD, MPH is executive vice president, clinical operations, at Sharecare. A board-certified preventive medicine physician whose mission is to make the world a healthier place. Dr. Crupain is a multiple Emmy® Award-winning producer and author of the best-selling book “What to Eat When,” the sequel “The What to Eat When Cookbook,” and “The Power Five: A Cookbook,” which we wrote about on LocalFoodEater.com. And yet he apologies when he doesn’t get back to your instagram message within a couple of hours! This Renaissance Man of the culin ..read more

(Gerry Furth-Sides) The story of Sushi Koo is as much of former waitress, Ogi Jiimen, who bought the place a decade ago and celebrated her tenth anniversary with a party honoring customers and and her line of Aji-Mori Umami Sauces, as it is the reputation as a three-staff restaurant where chefs still amaze customers by preparing practically priced high-quality sushi and only sushi, conveniently located steps from the Beverly Center in West Hollywood. http://www.sushi-koo.com The invite for the SUSHI KOO customer appreciation party The most recent news is the new, wildly successful line of AJI ..read more

(Roberta Deen with Gerry Furth-Sides) The Specialty Food Association’s 2024 Winter Fancy Food Show showcases thousands of artisanal products from more than 1,200 domestic and global specialty food and beverage makers and manufacturers.  The Specialty Food Association’s 2024 Winter Fancy Food Show Networking and educational events mark this 49th show, a pivotal gathering where innovation meets opportunity,” said SFA President Bill Lynch, and one that predicts and can predict the future for the $194 billion specialty food industry. “Global flavors and upscaling the everyday while ..read more