Chinese New Year; Edible Aphrodisiacs; Eating Snake

Guest Interview

Market Report ()

David LeFevre is the chef and owner of MB Post in Manhattan Beach. He recently visited Coastal Organics, a 15-acre farm in Santa Paula run by the Carpenter family. He is using cavolo nero (Tuscan kale) from Coastal Organics in a salad of quinoa, beets, kale and goat cheese.

Pernilla Carpenter is part of the family that runs Coastal Organics. Primarily known for their tomatoes come summertime, the farm plants winter greens like mustard frill, kale and chard during the cooler months.

Guest Interview

Spago 4.0 ()

Spago, perhaps the most famous restaurant in Los Angeles, closed last summer for a renovation. Jonathan Gold reviews the new design and the new menu, which he calls Spago 4.0. He says the dining room has been "de-kitsch-ified" and is impressed with how chef Wolfgang Puck marries modern technique and dishes meant to "wow" with classic plates like braised short ribs. He recommends the chirashi sushi, veal tartare, uova da raviolo, agnolotti and black bass with crispy scales.

Spago
176 N Canon Dr
Beverly Hills
310-385-0880

All of Jonathan Gold's restaurant suggestions are on the Good Food restaurant map.

Guest Interview

Cooking for the Chinese New Year ()

Fuchsia Dunlop is a food writer and cookbook author. She was the first Westerner to train at the Sichuan Institute of Higher Cuisine. Her new book is Every Grain of Rice: Simple Chinese Home Cooking.

You'll find two Chinese New Year recipes from the book over on the Good Food blog.

Guest Interview

Seven Courses of Boa Constrictor ()

Deep End Diner Eddie Lin attends a dinner where snake is the star of the meal. Chef Lupe Liang of Hop Woo restaurant in Chinatown cooks a seven-course meal for Lin and his family. Snake is eaten regularly in China where it is thought to keep you warm, give you strength and keep mosquitoes at bay.

Find photos of the snake feast on the Good Food blog.

Guest Interview

Valentine's Day at the 99 Cent Store ()

Independent producer Gideon Brower finds Valentine's Day treats at mini-markets and the 99¢ Stores in Santa Monica. See more of his photos on the Good Food blog.

Guest Interview

Edible Aphrodisiacs for Valentine's Day ()

Linda de Villers is a psychologist and sex therapist in Los Angeles where she teaches psychology at several local colleges. She is also a self-proclaimed foodie and the author of Simple Sexy Food. Her book is filled with edible aphrodisiac suggestions and Valentine's Day-worthy recipes. Try her Bagna Cauda recipe on the Good Food blog.

Guest Interview

Eating Hearts ()

Chef CJ Jacobson is best known for his appearance on Top Chef. You can also find him at The Mercantile on Sunset and this Thursday through Sunday at this is not a pop-up in East Hollywood. He will be cooking a prix fix dinner on Valentine’s Day and beef heart is on the menu.

Guest Interview

How to Love Wine ()

Eric Asimov is the chief wine critic for the New York Times. His recent book, How to Love Wine: A Memoir and Manifesto, encourages wine drinkers not to be intimidated by wine scores and wine culture. He says it's best to find the wines you love and just simply enjoy them.

Hear an outtake in which Asimov selects some of his favorite wine regions and grapes.