Try a taste of Cali-Creole

Local Habit celebrated their re-launch last March in traditional “La Grande Boucherie” bayou style with a 325 pound milk-fed hog “pulled a hundred different ways.” My studly tattooed dinner companion and I decided to check out the new fare one recent weeknight. We seated ourselves and admired the massive bar made from reclaimed wood and…

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Where ‘Farm to Table’ is more than a tagline

Farmer’s Bottega is one of the gleaming gems in Mission Hills’ culinary crown. Chef/owner Alberto Morreale brings his Sicilian roots, professional training and years of experience to the bistro table. The varied menu and natural ingredients reflect his lifelong passion for garden-fresh locally sourced cuisine. “Food doesn’t need to be complicated,” Morreale once said, “but…

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California ‘Soul Food’

A trusted friend raved about Circa, a University Heights restaurant which recently celebrated their first anniversary, and I eagerly anticipated being seated one memorable evening. Sometimes a food column’s word count limit can be frustrating, and this is one of those occasions. Because there isn’t enough space to describe how the experience met and exceeded…

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