I was invited to attend a memorable collaborative dinner on August 30 at Botanist, a renowned restaurant located on Fairmont Pacific Rim‘s second floor. Botanist Executive Chef Hector Laguna collaborated with Lazy Bear Chef/Partner David Barzelay on a six-course tasting menu that, true to their shared visions, showcased local and seasonal ingredients. Botanist’s Jeff Savage and True Laurel’s Nicolas Torres collaborated on a welcome cocktail called California Gleanin’, a refreshing, beguiling beverage crafted with Spanish white vermouth, foraged black sage tonic, finger lime, and Glendalough ..read more

Santa Barbara is an idyllic coastal city just 90 miles north of Los Angeles known as the “American Riviera.” The city has roots with local Native people called the Chumash. Spanish Missionaries arrived in the 1780s and established Old Mission Santa Barbara in 1786. Mexicans grabbed the reins in 1826. 20 years later, Colonel John Fremont colonized the city. California joined the United States in 1850. Since then, the region has earned a reputation for growing some of the best wine and produce. Discover Santa Barbara food worth seeking at 30 businesses in this growing culinary destination. Updat ..read more

Santa Barbara is an idyllic coastal city that resides just 90 miles north of Los Angeles, near one of the world’s great wine, vegetable and fruit growing regions. The city has roots with Native Americans called the Chumash. Spanish Missionaries arrived in the 1780s, Mexicans grabbed the reins in 1826, and 20 years later, Colonel John Fremont claimed the city for the United States. Since then, the culinary landscape has of course grown and shifted many times. Learn about 12 places you must drink when visiting Santa Barbara at this moment. Updates since February 9, 2019: Additions: Cajé Coffee R ..read more

Learn about my favorite places to eat (and drink beer) in Vancouver, Canada’s third largest city and a beacon for international cuisine, based on two memorable trips. This globally influenced, beautifully scenic British Columbian gem now has at least as many destination restaurants beyond the downtown peninsula. I enjoyed compelling food and beer experiences in neighborhoods like Railtown, Kitsilano, and Mount Pleasant, a neighborhood southeast of downtown that has become a craft beer hub. Yes, I’ve got a lot of bakeries, donut shops and ice cream spots on my list. You’re welcome. Enjoy 23 sel ..read more

Learn about 10 places to drink specialty coffee in Vancouver, Canada’s third largest city and home to a populace that craves high-quality caffeine. Establishments appear in alphabetical order instead of by preference. Additions since November 4, 2016: East Van Roasters, Nemesis Coffee, Oidé Coffee, Propaganda Coffee + Prototype Coffee 49th Parallel Coffee Roasters Caffe Artigiano co-founder Vince Piccolo built 49th Parallel Coffee Roasters into a force. Their sleek Mount Pleasant outpost shares space with sister company Lucky’s Doughnuts. Given the inextricable link between coffee and donuts ..read more

If you like what you read, contact joshua (at) foodgps.com with freelance writing inquiries. LA Mag – 6 Deliciously Creative Holiday Desserts from L.A. Bakeries (December 3, 2023) LA Mag – 6 Global Spins on Thanksgiving Dishes That You Can Order Right Here in L.A. (November 16, 2023) LA Mag – Convenience Score: Fatty Mart Brings Array of Asian Comfort Food to Mar Vista (August 30, 2023) LA Mag – Five Prime Butchers for Your Fourth of July Cookout (June 23, 2023) LA Mag – 5 San Fernando Valley Restaurants That Showcase Its Culinary Diversity (April 12, 2023) Ventura Blvd – Borekas in Sherman Oa ..read more

East, South, West or North? That’s a question I frequently ask myself. Being an independent writer and entrepreneur gives me freedom of movement for lunch most weekdays. I can work from anywhere on my laptop between meals. Living in NELA makes it convenient to reach culinary hotbeds like the San Gabriel Valley, Koreatown and Glendale. Waking up each morning, it’s often just a matter of picking a direction and cross-referencing my bookmarks or checking Instagram for inspiration. In L.A. these days, it’s hard to make a wrong turn as a diner. I still feel a strong pull to explore, eat, and learn ..read more

Khachapuri, a cheese bread that takes many forms in its native Republic of Georgia, is primarily boat-shaped in Los Angeles. The savory delicacy is baked to order, and cheeses and toppings vary, but you’ll typically find fresh-cracked eggs, which cook in the oven, and a finishing spice shower. Khachapuri producers in L.A. are often Armenian or Syrian, but they draw on baking traditions established by the diaspora from people in the region. Learn about some of the best versions in Los Angeles. Additions: Ani Bakery, Art’s Bakery, Gev’s Kitchen, Havlabar, Tony Khachapuri Subtractions: Adana Bake ..read more

The combination of salty bacon, crisp lettuce, juicy tomato and warm, toasted bread may seem simple, but the BLT sandwich can be one of lunch’s greatest pleasures. Of course, for some chefs, those three letters aren’t enough, but their embellishments work wonders. Learn about some of the best Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato sandwiches in Los Angeles. Establishments appear in alphabetical order instead of in order of preference. UPDATES SINCE JUNE 27, 2014 Additions: A Cut Above Butcher Shop, Bread Head, Clark Street Bread, Friends & Family, Hank’s Bagels, Jasmine Corner Market, Jon & Vinny’s ..read more

Buellton is a Central Coast community with just over 5,000 residents that dates to 1867, when Rufus T. Buell and brother Alonzo (his short-term partner) bought a land grant from Jose Maria Covarrubias and Joaquin Carrillo and founded a multifaceted ranch, where he lived until his death in 1905. Buellton has played a vital role in the surrounding Santa Ynez Valley’s development over ensuing decades, but remarkably didn’t become an incorporated city until 1992. Buellton straddles the 101 and 246 freeways at a high-traffic crossroads. Lompoc and Vandenberg Space Force Base are located due west, L ..read more