Barrel & Ashes Sells Colt 45, a Mozza Chef's Origin Story, and More A.M. Intel

Elizabeth Hong of Mozza is cooler than you

LA Times shares the story of Elizabeth Hong, the current executive chef of Mozza. Raised in large part in Korea and part of the Park’s BBQ family, Hong talks about struggling through high school and college, her first extern at Osteria Mozza years ago during culinary school, and her rise through the ranks to become executive chef after Matt Molina left last year.

More support for LA has America’s best dining city

This time it’s Phil Rosenthal talking about Los Angeles as the best place to eat in all of America. The recent James Beard Award-winner said as much on his show I’ll Have What Phil’s Having for PBS, but reiterates the fact for Zagat, adding that LA’s produce, prices, and casual nature help to make it the country’s current dining obsession.

Support your neighborhood barman

Steve Livigni, noted barman and one of the faces behind Scopa Italian Roots, is running for Venice’s neighborhood council. Feel like supporting (and live in the right ‘hood)? Get out and vote.

@stevelivigni is running for At Large Community Officer for the Venice Neighborhood Counsel we need your support and vote!! #vnc #veniceneighborhoodcouncil #votelivigni

A photo posted by Pablo Moix (@pablo_moix) on May 9, 2016 at 4:32pm PDT

Italo Disco in Highland Park

Though the area is changing rapidly, Highland Park still has plenty of weird (the best kind of weird) left. Case in point: the Italo Disco night at Offbeat bar in Highland Park. As LA Weekly discusses, Offbeat works with DJ duo Dolce Vita to turn out true disco jams, Italian style, the first Sunday of every month.

Barrel & Ashes gets in on the NBA Finals

Feel like staying in the Valley while supporting your NBA team? There are lots of places to go, among them Barrel & Ashes, which apparently has upped their TV game to 55 inches in the dining room (there’s another two at the bar). The plan is to run assorted rotating food and drink specials during NBA games, and if you don’t feel like going highbrow you can always stick with a bottle of Miller High Life or even Colt 45.

The rise of Israeli food

Ventura Boulevard Magazine takes a look at Ventura Blvd. Grill inside the Sherman Oaks Plaza, which is apparently turning out some of the city’s best Israeli food. It’s a seemingly generic spot, but does just about everything well — from mixed grills filled with perfectly realized chicken (spleen and all) to shawarma and sides.

Monday moves at Esters in Santa Monica

In order to shore up their quieter Mondays, the team at Esters in Santa Monica is getting into making Monte Cristos, the notoriously hearty French sandwich. The massive thing runs $14 from 4 p.m. on, and there’s no corkage fee should you feel like adding on a bottle of wine. Check the massive meal out below.