Watching a celebrated chocolatier launch a line of chocolates in 2004, then an Echo Park shop in 2013, and a second 5,000-square-foot outpost in Glendale in 2022 has been a literal treat for longtime Angelenos. Valerie Confections' Valerie Gordon prepares toffees, petit fours, pies, and an outstanding and signature coffee crunch cake. The Glendale shop has an adorable and covered patio to enjoy any of these things, but also check what Gordon prepared for the daily specials, like quiche or breakfast hand pie.
Records and beer, together again! This afternoon record swap at the Cellarmaker Brewing location in Berkeley will feature over a dozen vendors selling a wide range of vinyl (vendor space is available; $25-$40 fee to sell), DJs playing records, food and more brews than you can shake a stick at...
There are plenty of conceptions around what athletes do and don't consume as part of their routine when their sport is in session. There's a reason why Lionel Messi has lent his name to an energy drink - and why one of the all-time great SNL sketches features John Belushi as an Olympic athlete fueled by doughnuts. It's surprising, then, to read about a record-breaking athlete who's very open about his fondness for a less heralded athletic beverage: beer.
In the 1940s, gluten was identified as the trigger for celiac disease, and in the decades since, more and more people have realized that even if they didn't have celiac, they might be slightly or significantly gluten intolerant. Cue the rise of gluten-free diets and products in the 1990s and early aughts, with many a terrible gluten-free muffin, cupcake and bowl of pasta consumed along the way.
I've had the pleasure of visiting Japan twice in the recent past, and it's quickly become one of my favorite places in the world. Everyone is organized and polite, there are bidets everywhere, the food is outstanding and, maybe best of all, Japanese people love to drink. From Tokyo's neon-lit karaoke rooms and elegant cocktail bars to the buzzing izakayas of Osaka, the drinking culture of Japan is woven into daily life, seasonal festivals and centuries-old traditions.
Nestled deep in the heart of Washington State, the Yakima Valley is an all-around powerhouse for alcoholic beverage production. The region is perhaps best known for its designation as an American Viticultural Area, meaning it has been federally recognized for growing high-quality grapes.
Germany's beer reputation is well established due to brands like Beck's and Warsteiner, alongside its iconic Oktoberfest celebration. The Reinheitsgebot law emphasizes purity, allowing only water, hops, and barley, though has evolved to include more grains.