Jonathan Gold Dishes on the Sunset Strip Dining Scene During the Wild 1980s

Jonathan Gold to the Sunset Strip

Before he won a Pulitzer Prize as a food writer, Jonathan Gold was a music aficionado crawling the Sunset Strip looking for bands. Now he’s back and talking to the Standard about his time along the iconic drag, with the rockers and late night eaters alike.

The 1980s on the Sunset Strip were a fascinating time, of course, and much of the scene ended up revolving around bars and after-hours restaurants like the Rainbow Room or even Canter’s further down on Fairfax. There were also famed restaurants like Scandia that helped revitalize the area in a new way, while Wolfgang Puck was at Spago turning himself into a culinary rock star. Give the piece a read; it’s a fascinating look at what dining during the rocker era was like, from a man who lived it.

LASA x El Cochinito gets a menu

Here’s the menu for LASA’s Labor Day collaboration party with long-running Silver Lake Cuban restaurant El Cochinito. The party will focus on pig of course, and runs $38 a head.

Simmzy’s x the LA Zoo

Simmzy’s is partnering with the LA Zoo for a fun night that will pair dinner with a specialty brew made just for the occasion. In fact, brewer Brian Herbertson is actually going to be using ingredients for the beer that one of the zoo’s gorrillas picks out. It’s a four-course affair on Wednesday, September 13, with proceeds going to benefit the zoo.

Pez Cantina’s big night

Downtown’s Pez Cantina is doing a fish fry tonight on the patio. It’s all family-style, where guests show up and chow down on a bunch of whole fish plus sides and even dessert. $25 a head, with cheap beer on offer too.

The Exchange gets spicy

Downtown newcomer The Exchange is stepping up for a weekend of spice-infused fun with spice-maker La Boite. The two-day event is purely a la carte but lets customers try new, unique dishes based on La Boite spices. There will even be a blending workshop on August 26.

A day in the life

Ever wonder what it’s really like to brew up big batches of beer for the all-consuming public? Food GPS found out by shadowing Angel City brewer Layton Cutler for a day — all while taking photographs. Check it out.

Turning the page

Eagle Rock’s Turningfire has retooled its menu, simplifying things into more direct categories like plates, salads, and sandwiches. The gem remains a solid option for families and anyone needing a quick, relatively healthy lunch — though the $6.50 happy hour wine is also tempting.