Category: Beer & Food

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Under the California Sun

Even though Bell Marker is looking for a new home (?), the ABC group and their New Original Breweries are expanding.

I visited under cover of press, the upcoming pizza project from Tony Yanow and crew, California Sun.

Sunset Junction has a new pizza player with a healthy side of beer.  California Sun will be opening for business of February 11th and this has vaulted into the top 3 of pizza places and I haven’t even tried the non Detroit-style pizzas yet.

This ABC Group outpost slots nicely in between the snugness of Tony’s Darts Away and the expansiveness of Mohawk Bend.  It has the vibes of both but also breaks new ground.  CalSun straddles the to-go and eating in line with a large cooler (with cans only) of a wide ranging amount of beers.  The whole layout is fun with arrows pointing the way to the order counter and a zig-zag communal table that can allow for new conversations or to stay insular.


The 12 taps will pour the typical Yanow split of IPA and Non-IPA.  Russian River was seen on both sides with Pliny the Elder and STS Pils and you will see a smattering of New Original beers on tap as well.  The cooler had a little of everything from cider, kombucha, foreign and local beers at a slightly elevated price point but if you are there to get a pizza to go, getting one or more cans won’t hurt, especially if it is something you haven’t seen or want to try.  Considering Flagship February, tall Duvel cans were sighted so that would work especially well with the food.

And the main draw will be that vegan and meat eaters (count me in the latter) will both have pizzas to choose from and some weird ones at that.  (taco pizza anyone) By the slice or whole pies on offer.  The Detroit style had a lovely light bready and carmelized cheese taste to it.  My harsh pizza judge and significant other deemed them excellent which is high praise.  She also wants to schedule a return visit which is another feather in the pizza makers cap.



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Humphry’s SF Beer Week Ice Cream

Wanna get some ice cream with your beer and you want to get some SF with that?

Humphry Slocombe has you covered with….. (my personal choices are in bold)

“From February 1st to February 10th, LA craft beer aficionados and ice cream lovers alike can get a taste of the special boozy flavors created in collaboration with key Bay Area Brewery partners at the Venice Shop. The flavor lineup includes:”

Drake’s Brut Rosé (Drake’s Brewing, featuring Rosé Beer Ice Cream with Lemon Zest)
Oolong Saison (Barebottle Brewing, featuring Oolong Saison and Pear Ice Cream)
Animal IPA Ice Cream (Fort Point Brewing, featuring Animal Ice Cream with Hop Caramel and flavored with Mango, Orange, and Passionfruit)
Coffee & Cigarettes (Cellarmaker, featuring Smoked Hops, Coffee Ice Cream, and Chipped Chocolate)
Fish & Chips (Hen House Brewing, featuring Red Rye Ice Cream with Goldfish Crackers and Chocolate Covered Potato Chips)
Anchor Porter with Fluff and Cookies (Anchor Brewing, featuring Anchor Porter Ice Cream with Chocolate Wafer Cookies and Marshmallow Fluff)

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Slice & Pint with ESBC

I was lucky enough to make an early pizza visit to the new El Segundo Brewing, Slice & Pint.

Here are some glamour shots of beer and pizza…

The pizza was really good. The ingredient balance was just right and you could tell that thought had been put into each one. I mean, they tasted a lot of pepperoni to find one that had the right flavor and size and would look good too. The space is really nice. Lengthy, with well defined areas including a spot that could be used for private parties with its own taps.

The next time ESBC has a beer release that I am in the area for, I will probably stop here either before or after.

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You put the Beer in the Chocolate

Of course I learn about a great beer gift, after Christmas. But hey, everyone has a birthday. Theo Chocolate has a 4-piece collection with Washington beers for the good price of $11.00.

Immersion Amber Peanut Caramel – Two Beers Brewing
Dark Star Imperial Oatmeal Stout Marshmallow – Fremont Brewing
Hive Five Hopped Honey Ale Pate de Fruit – Pike Brewing
Bodhizafa IPA Syrup Confection – Georgetown Brewing

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from the Untappd Podcast – Part 1


I have been listening to the Untappd podcast a bit, been on a pod binge of all sorts lately and two stories caught my attention that they spoke about, here is number 1…

Who would have thought that Stouffers meets craft beer in Alabama.

Back Forty Beer Co. from Gadsden, Alabama, provided Stouffer’s with the beer for the new frozen entree Beer Glazed Meatballs. Back Forty’s Truck Stop Honey Brown Ale (silver medal winner in the Specialty Honey Beer category at the 2010 Great American Beer Festival) is the beer used and though, I can’t drink that beer with the meal, maybe I could find a different one to pair with it. And maybe, Stouffer’s will create a whole craft beer line of dinners.

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Six Courses


The official cask marque’d beers of Yorkshire Square Brewing are getting the beer dinner treatment.
Robert Bell, the Executive Chef of the restaurant Chez Melange along with YSB owner Gary Croft and Andy Black the brewmaster from Yorkshire Square have created a quite British take on the beer dinner.

Here are the pairings, “Mini Cornish Pastie that pairs incredibly well with the Early Door, an English pub bitter. Served next, is the Bouzy Scotch Egg paired with the Little Nipper Beer, a golden ale/blonde ale. The third tasting includes Mulligatawny, an English soup, paired with Yellow School Bus, an American style cream ale. Fourth, is an authentic Pork Vindaloo served with an extra special bitter, the Strongest Possible Language. Fifth, is the Lamb Shepherd Pie paired with the Double Mashed Export Stout. The night is then finished with a century old dish, Spotted Dick with vanilla custard and paired with an English Pale Ale.”

Tickets are $45 per person for the August 27th event (that is a Monday), plus tax and service, and are available for purchase by calling Chez Melange at (310) 540-1222.

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Eat and Drink Your Feelings


My wife and I have been enjoying the Los Angeles Ice Cream boom for a few months now. We even have a list, comprised of, need to visit, have visited – liked, have visited – didn’t like. I thought it was a nice long list but Eat Your Feelings was not on the list.

Now, thanks to Eagle Rock Brewery, I can get some ice cream and beer pairing going….
“Our friends from Eat Your Feelings will be out at the taproom serving up some delicious gourmet ice creams to have with your beer on Thursday, September 6th from 6-9pm. Bring some friends and see who can come up with the best flavor combinations! Maybe we can even convince Chef Jason to make an ice cream with that beer!”

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Pizza and Casks


Coming soon, when you are at MacLeod’s for a pint of the cask, you will be able to slide over to a window and get some pizza to go with it.

The next door kitchen will be overseen by chef Bruce Hall (who is also heading up the upcoming 2nd location Ale and Pie Emporium). The window will have slices and salads. Then it is up to us to determine which pizza pairs best with which beer.

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A Beer & A Podcast – The Dave Chang Show


I have already highlighted one Ringer podcast and now I am back with another. But this one delves (at first) into the opening of the Majordomo restaurant by Dave Chang of Momofuku fame.

The podcast starts with episodes before the restaurant opens and then into a few episodes after the initial start of service. Bill Simmons is around for these episodes to add in sports analogies and the voice from outside to the proceeding which really do shed light on the process of opening a brand new restaurant especially in a city that Chang has not opened a restaurant in before. Not to mention the location which is not Beverly Hills to say the least.

You will get hungry while listening even though there is some repetitious sections (enough about the Kimmel dinner already!) but buried in the discussion are some great realizations about how to manage and how to delegate and just how to be a boss which I think are even stronger than the restaurant topics.

The beer choice is easy. Grab a crowler or a 4-pack of cans from Highland Park Brewery. Their new Chinatown location is a two minute drive from Majordomo. Maybe you can get the Quinoa Cowboy Pale.