Episode guide | The Cook Up with Adam Liaw S2 | All episodes and recipes

New Chinese In Redondo, Brekkie Burritos In Hermosa, Lots Of Wine Events, And Other Dining News

A La Carte for 04 April 2024

New Guys In Town: The South Bay has a new Chinese restaurant, and their menu goes well beyond the Americanized fare that is common in our area. As the name Dumpling Mix suggests, housemade noodles, wontons, and dumplings are a specialty, but they offer regional items from Taiwan, Sichuan, and Shanghai as well. The interior is pretty and modern, and the place is already catching on with locals (705 N. PCH, RB)… The former King Harbor Brewing location on 182nd Street just west of Hawthorne Boulevard has a new tenant, and it's another brewery. Trusted Gut has an odd name, but once you know that they also make kombucha, which is supposed to promote gut health, it makes a bit more sense. They're making a limited set of products now, two kombuchas and four beers, but promise a wider variety and some hard seltzers in the future. Food trucks will be on hand on some evenings for those who enjoy the aesthetic of dinner in a working brewery, and goat yoga sessions for those who enjoy meditative movement with ovine companionship (2907 182nd St., RB)… Hermosa has a new destination for breakfast burritos, appropriately named The Breakfast Burrito Factory. They offer 10 varieties, plus smashburgers and drinks, and that's all, so you have a general idea about you'll be eating as soon as you walk in. Despite rumors to the contrary, this business is not related to Hermosa Kentucky or any previous tenant (450 PCH, HB)…

Coming Attractions And Departed Eateries: Soba and udon lovers will be happy to know that Japonica owner Taka has leased a space near his Redondo restaurant for a new Japanese noodle restaurant. Expect an opening this summer… Several people have observed work in progress at the Lavender & Honey coffee bar and café on the Aviation curve. Things have been progressing, but the company's main office is still saying that they expect to open in May… And the South Bay has one fewer place to get a bagel, Western City Bagels in Redondo has closed. Since they've been in business exactly 30 years, I assume the lease ran out and they decided not to renew. There has been a lot of turnover in the Redondo Shores Shopping Center in the last year, with the former Dickey's and Smashburger locations showing no signs of new occupants, which is odd because the adjacent Whole Foods and other tenants seem to be doing well… Finally, it looks like the Mermaid project under the Redondo Pier has fallen through. Construction seems to have stopped, and a new "For Lease" sign has been posted, so this high-traffic but oddly configured space is apparently on the market again…

Event Alerts — And Lots Of Them: Many restaurants host wine dinners and other events to boost traffic during the winter, and April is the month in which they start to taper off. This April is lively, and it begins on the 9th with a Taste of New Orleans dinner at Bluewater Grill. It's not as fancy as most other events listed here, just 'Nawlins shrimp and seafood gumbo paired with two glasses of wine, but the price isn't fancy either – just $55. Book by calling the restaurant at (310) 318-3474… The sake pairing dinner at Bashi at Terranea on April 12th is an altogether different style, with five courses paired with Kikusui sakes. Kikusui's General Manager Takeshi Endo will be on hand to explain the sake styles and comment on pairings, and it should be an interesting evening. Price is $150 per person, about $185 total – book HERE… On April 18th there is a very rare event — a wine dinner at Fritto Misto in Hermosa. They only host these once a year, and the winery this time is Wilson Family Vineyards of Paso Robles. Erudite wine consultant Peter Kerr and winery owner Kevin Wilson will be on hand for a four-course Italian dinner that will set you back only $85 plus tax & tip, about $110. Reserve by phone, and do it soon – (310) 318-6098… If you're interested enough in the art of wine blending that you'd like to try your hand at it, you'll want to be at Pacific Standard Prime's "Winemaker for a Day" event on April 24th. Sommelier Peggy Dean will preside over a session where you concoct your personal blend of wines, with appropriate food pairings of course. Price is $150 inclusive — reserve on Open Table… And to round out the month, on April 25th there will be a Heaven Hill whiskey dinner at The Rex Steakhouse. Heaven Hill owns storied brands like Evan Williams, Elijah Craig, and Rittenhouse,. You'll sample their spirits with a four-course tasting menu. The price is $150 plus tax, about $185 total — reserve via Open Table…

A Little Culinary History: I don't always mention my own programs in this column, but two are coming up that may be of interest to those who like to know the cultural background and history behind the things we eat and drink. On April 20th at 2 PM, I'll be presenting "The First California Cuisines" at Rancho Dominguez, the 200-year-old Spanish rancho on Alameda Street just south of the 91 Freeway. This is an illustrated overview of the Native, Spanish, and Mexican diets of our region prior to the American annexation of California. If you're at all curious about California food history, you should find it enjoyable. The talk is free, and reservations are not required… There's another program called "Imbibing LA: Boozing it Up in the City of Angels" on May 11th for the Culinary Historians of Southern California. This program about the history of alcohol in our fair city is at the Downtown Central Library in LA at 10:30 a.M., and should delight all scholarly barhounds. Free program, no reservations required. But enough about me…

We don't usually run crochet projects on the food page, but since it's crocheted food, it's probably applicable. If you'd like to make them, the pattern is on their website at thewoobles.Com.

Art of Food: A company called The Woobles sent me a press release about their cute crochet kits to replicate food, including how to make cheerful looking pineapples, avocados, sushi, and strawberries. I was going to hit delete, but the darn things are so cute that I figured some crafty readers would like to know about them. I'm not about to do this myself because I have shown no talent at artful plying of a needle, but I'm sure somebody's going to be happy they saw this…

In Closing: If you know a restaurant opening I might've missed, a culinary event that should be covered, or just about anything related to food that I should know about, please send the information my way. I'm at richard@richardfoss.Com. And as long as you're on the internet, check out past restaurant reviews on our website at https://easyreadernews.Com/restaurants/.

Discover A Taste Of Asia At The Amazing Food Hall In West Michigan

Three local restaurants under one roof. How three women came together to share authentic recipes with West Michigan.

KENTWOOD, Mich. — It's Women's History Month and we're highlighting three women-owned restaurants you can find all in one place in West Michigan.

From classic Thai dishes, to Filipino favorites, delicious fried chicken and more.

The Amazing Food Hall has a blend of Asian street food and comfort food you need to try.

Mai Thao is the owner and chef of Brunch n' Rice.

The idea for the restaurant came to her after traveling around Asia.

"We realized that in Asia, there's really no breakfast food and so we're eating leftovers from yesterday, or we're eating what we eat normally every day," Thao said.

Brunch n' Rice became a food vendor during the Grand Rapids Asian Pacific festival.

Another business that got started there was Adobo Boy named after the owner's son, Redd.

"When he was young, I think three or four years old. He always asked me to make him Adobo Pork Adobo and that is his favorite food," said Jacqueline Marasigan, Owner & Head Chef at Adobo Boy. 

Marasigan said the menu changes weekly because there are so many amazing Filipino dishes she wants to share with the community, made with recipes that have been passed down through generations.

"I watch my parents; you know how they cook and my grandparents. When you taste the Filipino food, it's like, you know, it's a home-cooked food. You know, it's comfort food and there's love," Marasigan said.

Mai and Jacqueline along with the founders of Amazing Myanmar now operate out of the same building.

"We are to share kitchen share costs of rent, utilities and such inventory. It's ours to take care of. Our menu is very small so like three to four items each. So, we're able to use the kitchen together," Thao said.

The business owners say the ultimate goal is to get a bigger space so that even more food vendors can get the brick-and-mortar experience.

"I am very happy about the turnout. The community is supporting us very well. And I'm very we're very blessed about it,"  Marasigan said.

Authentic food from three different restaurants all in one at the Amazing Food Hall.

The Amazing Food Hall is located at 3740 28th Street in Kentwood. 

There's a grand opening celebration planned for April 20.

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Review: Thai Food And Sushi Restaurant's Sweet And Salty Flavors Will Leave You Smiling

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