Gus’s BBQ
My Peruvian father-in-law, who had just been in Geneva, Switzerland, after attending a wedding in France, wanted to go to Gus’s as soon as we got back from LAX. He had been out of the country for several months, and out of all the cuisine choices in Claremont, he chose American barbecue. Understandably so, since …
Le Bouchon Gourmand – Chantilly, France
My wife and I were in Chatilly, France for my sister-in-law’s wedding, and Chantilly is a very picturesque French town with its own stunning castle, and worthwhile places to eat. For a family get together before the wedding, we ate at Le Bouchon Gourmand. The place and the food were really enjoyable, but I spent …
South City Kitchen – Atlanta, Georgia
When traveling in the Southern US, it’s hard to not yield to the temptation to find the best Southern comfort cuisine, which generally consists of hopefully flavorful ‘helpings’ of fried things with a lot of fat in them. I was in Atlanta for a few meals, and I did yield to the temptation. Atlanta is …
Butcher’s House – Costa Mesa, California
I was in Hong Kong once, having a conversation with a French bookstore owner (in English, which was a wonderful international moment), and we were talking about the difference between Michelin star type restaurants and their 15 tiny courses, vs a meal with only two or three dishes that makes you feel full. My conversation …
Sciamadda – Turin, Italy
My wife and I had just flown from Los Angeles to Milan, and then we drove a car from Milan to Turin. We had been traveling for about 20 hours straight including cars, planes, and waiting at airports and I was exhausted, grumpy, and hungry. We were in a strange place where we knew nothing …
République – Los Angeles, California
A lot happened in the world before we were born, and then after we are here and try to make things happen for ourselves, we depend on that combination of what happened before, and what we can make happen, to try to find fulfillment in life. In some rare extraordinary circumstances, the past and the …