Alton Brown Declares Los Angeles the ‘Top Food Town in America’, and More A.M. Intel

Alton Brown’s big meal

Roving eater Alton Brown is in Los Angeles, eating from place to place as he is wont to do. Most recently the television food host stopped at Silver Lake’s own Night + Market Song, saying the hip neighborhood is “damn lucky” to have the restaurant within its borders.

Brown has also decided that he really loves Salazar, fawning (like everyone else) over the ambiance as much as the tacos and guacamole at the award-winning Frogtown restaurant. Along the way there have been stops at Sqirl, Kismet, and more, with Brown ultimately calling Los Angeles “the top food town in America right now.” High praise from a man who’s job involves a lot of coast-to-coast eating.

No more food hall?

Updating a previous Eater LA story, LAist says there may not be plans for a food hall next to Grand Central Market after all. Though two collaborative entities (in this case RKF and Neilson Hammer) both showcased design mockups for a possible food hall at the site, neither says they’re officially pulling the trigger just yet, and that all options are on the table. Eater had previously reached out to both, but did not hear back, so it seems the project may indeed be in limbo — or not happening at all.

Largey x Winsome

Chef Jessica Largey is doing a pop-up at Winsome for the Echo Park restaurant’s ongoing Houseguest series this Sunday. She’ll be previewing dishes from her forthcoming Arts District eatery Simone, working a family-style $48 gratuity-included five course menu that comes (in part) with fried chicken — a staff meal favorite that Largey is adding to the Simone bar menu later this year.

Downtown’s di Alba does breakfast

Beginning today, di Alba in the Arts District will start serving breakfast along with expanded hours that kick off at 8 a.m. There’s room for bacon egg and cheese sandwiches, skillet-baked eggs, focaccia french toast, and more. The full menu can be found on the company’s website.

Manpuku hits the big time

The former Link on West Third Street is under construction, with a newcomer named Manpuku heading in. The Tokyo-based company has locations already in Torrance, on Sawtelle, and beyond, working a Japanese grill format known as yakiniku.