L.A.’s Landmark Restaurants Book Review – Delicious, A Fun-filled Foodie Trip (Recipe)
- Details
- Category: Books
- Published on Monday, 04 December 2023 15:21
- Written by Janet Walker
L.A.'s Landmark Restaurants, from Santa Monica Press and Author George Geary, is a delicious, fun-filled trip through the historic Los Angeles food culture scene as the thriving metropolis morphed into a contemporary gourmand's smorgasbord of delightful goodies.
Los Angeles often evokes dreamy images of paradise, and during its early days, its allure became a magnet as the city expanded. The food culture, influenced by the recipes of generations, began to build into what it is known for today, a mosaic of cultures and foods to whet the appetite of Angelenos, and the millions who arrive to sample the distinct flavor of LA.
Friday Night Cocktails Book Review – A Year of Mixers, Elixirs, and Cocktails (Recipes)
With 51 landmark restaurants featured, L.A.'s Landmark Restaurants is as varied as the neighborhoods that encompass the City of Angels. From El Cholo's to the Derby, the 274 pages travel from downtown LA, to Malibu, and Beverly Hills, to Koreatown introducing eateries both known and unknown, the elegant and pop-ups, and along includes the history, the signature recipes.
Even the content pages of L.A.'s Landmark Restaurants offer an interesting retrospective of the early LA restaurant scene, with sidebars separated by a collection of vintage photographs.
Mocambo (page 130) which in its heyday served tropical island cuisine, was the spot in LA for Hollywood's power couples and was frequented by Lucille Ball and Desi Arnez. Across the six-page spread vintage Hollywood pictures of Marilyn Monroe taking singing lessons, Ava Garner, Mickey Rooney, Joan Crawford, and Gary Cooper.
Dolly Parton 100 Remarkable Moments Book Review – Entertaining, Informative, A Must Have
From Otto's Pink Pig (page 147) to The Bull Pen (page 183) the Red Lion Tavern (page 225) to Geoffrey's Malibu (page 265) author George Geary has compiled a historic trip through LA's diverse restaurant scene.
He also presents tributes to the now closed like Piero Selvaggio's Valentino (page 250) which closed New Year's Eve 2018, and The Bistro (page 240) another Beverly Hills magnet for Hollywood's most glamourous stars including Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Gregory Peck, Warren Beatty and even Princess Margaret and her husband Antony Armstrong-Jones were known to have dined at The Bistro. Of course, the most recent closure of Cantor's on Fairfax featured on page 90, marks a passing of one of the great food institutions of LA..
Sydney Pollack: A Subliminal Existentialist Book Review – Enlightening, Entertaining, A Treat
The Mexican restaurant El Cholo's (page 51) is also featured and for those who crave the authentic south of the border cuisine, there are six other locations in the greater Los Angeles area. Three of El Cholo's most famous recipes, Spanish Rice, El Cholo Flan, and Traditional Albondigas Soup are included.
With vintage photography, restaurant introduction when the phone exchange began with two letters followed by five numbers, an in-depth collection of vintage photography. Along with the restaurant, Geary includes a brief history of the eatery, interesting facts, specialties, significance to the scene and how it has modernized or sadly if it has not.
L.A.'s Landmark Restaurants is more than simply coverage of the history of Los Angeles's food culture, it is a work of art. For historians, Angelenos, culture buffs, and fans of food and the city of Angels. Bon Appetite!
Entertaining is my Love Language Book Review – A Comprehensive Guide to Successful Parties
Recipe reprinted with permission of L.A.'s Legendary Restaurants by George Geary
Santa Monica Press / 2023
The Victor Hugo
In 1916 Hugo Albert Aleidis opened a restaurant in downtown Los Angeles naming it after the famous French novelist, Victor Hugo. The eatery advertised "genuine French cuisine," "refined entertainment," and "best of service" in newspapers. After nine years at its original location, Hugo built the restaurant of his dreams two blocks away. Furnished in elegant Louis XVI décor, the new location became a regular hangout with Hollywood stars and producers.
Medallion of Beef
Serves 4
This dish was only served at Victor Hugo's on the weekend but so many homemakers at the time learned to make this for weekly meals at home.
2 lb filet mignon (about 1 inch thick)
3 tbsp unsalted butter
1 small yellow onion, diced
6 large button mushrooms, cleaned and sliced
1 clove garlic, minced
2 medium Roma tomatoes, diced
5 artichoke hearts, halved
Sea salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Trim fat from meat and set aside.
In a large Dutch oven, melt butter. Cook the onion until softened, about 5 minutes, and add mushrooms and garlic. Add the tomatoes and cook for 10 minutes; add artichokes, salt, and pepper.
Place the meat into the sauce and cook for 20-30 minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 130 degrees.
Serve hot on a platter and cover the meat with sauce.
Title: L.A.'s Landmark Restaurants.
Author: George Geary.
Publisher: Santa Monica Press.
Image/Photography: Sean Suydam, John Thomas Pattillo, Xavier Blair King, Nicolas David Morales.
Cover Design: Amy Inouye
Length: 274 pages, Hardcover.
ISBN-13: 978-1-59580-113-5.
MSRP: $50.00 (U.S.).
