Grandmothers Continue to Be the Lifeblood of Any Los Angeles Restaurant Kitchen

It’s always about the grandmother

No matter the culture or the cuisine, there is something reverent about grandmothers in kitchens, poring over boiling pots and sending their recipes down through generations. It’s also a timeless trope in the restaurant world, with chefs and restaurateurs and designers alike pointing to their female lineage when describing and executing their next great passion project.

Now LA Weekly is jumping into the conversation head-on with a new video that reaches out to a number of Mexican-American chefs in Los Angeles to discuss their abuelitas. From suddenly-hip-again ice cream to Yucatanean seafood, these chefs are happy to not only show off the skills and stories they’ve learned from their grandmothers, but also to pass their legacy on to their workers, customers, and the entire restaurant industry. Long live the culinary grandmother.

A cookie quest

Want to know where the best cookie is in Los Angeles, hands down? KCRW’s Good Food has you covered with a fun, funny look at the sometimes unsung sweets here: the simple, beguilingly delicious cookie.

A pricey new pop-up to know

There’s a cool new Beverly Hills pop-up to know about, called Le Cercle. It lands Monday, April 24 at 7:30 p.m., and will feature chef Alain Giraud of all people. The plan is to cook a traditional French meal, complete with cheese course and champagne to start, from the kitchen at Heritage Fine Wines.

Dinner on the town

Got no plans for Tuesday, April 25? Get to The Harvest at The Ranch at Laguna Beach for a five-course beer pairing tasting menu from chef Charles Imbelli along with San Pedro’s Brouwerij West. The party costs $90 and spans multiple courses; you can make your reservations on OpenTable.

Tax time means martinis

Need a stiff drink after getting your taxes done? Get to Whisper Restaurant and Lounge at The Grove April 18 for some 18-cent martinis (one per guest). The party starts rolling at 11:30 a.m. and lasts until 10 p.m.

Mar Vista’s latest

There’s a hip new coffee shop in Mar Vista to check out, called Alanas’ Coffee. Soft opening has been running since Monday, with the colorful space turning out hours from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 12511 Venice Boulevard.