The Choosy Foodie - Los Angeles
Issue #3 - Holiday Treats, Cage Free Eggs?, "The Menu" & more...
Hi all,
I hope everyone has been settling into winter & enjoying their warm meals on cooler nights these days… :)
I’m happy to report that I’ve officially moved over to Substack (so if things look just slightly different formatting wise, you now know why!).
Okay, I have a lot of insights this month into holiday options, treats, and LA food news - so no more wasting your time!
Let’s get into it…
WHAT'S COOKING LOS ANGELES?!
LOCAL FREE-FROM BAKERIES FOR YOUR UPCOMING HOLIDAY PARTY:
Erin McKenna’s🍩, Karma Baker🧁, and Yvonne’s Vegan Kitchen🍰 are all completely vegan & gluten free bakeries based in LA. There are more bakeries out there, but I grouped these together for their incredible holiday gift selections and nationwide shipping options!
I also want to mention Cake Girl🎂. Although they don’t ship, and perhaps have less holiday options, they’re a local bakery that runs the free-from gamut (GF, V, SF, & NF (though not coconut)). I would definitely check them out.
One other local spot with nationwide shipping that deserves a mention is Cake Monkey 🙊. They’re not all GF or V, but they have a decent amount of free-from options. Also, their prices are slightly less up the wazoo (hallelujah)! For the holidays I have my eye on their GF sampler gift box! I also just ordered the Triple Chocolate Loaf for my birthday coming up this Sunday :)
What Else is Simmering...
(restaurant news)- If you’re looking for vegan conchas🐚 in your neighborhood, this article from VegOut has got you covered!
(food news & photos)- LA is having a bit of a mushroom boom, and this urban farm (a 34,000 sq ft warehouse in Vernon) is growing some fantastical fungi 🍄.
(food news & photos)- LA is ALSO having a bit of a dry-aged fish🐟 boom - as it allows restaurants to keep their product longer, without preservatives, and with better-tasting results.
(product)- Family owned, LA-based Hebel & Co is pulling out all the stops with their incredible halva (GF, V, & Organic). If you’ve never heard of halva, and you like tahini / sesame, you’re in for a treat!
(product)- Violife’s smoked provolone slices🧀 are not only GF & V, but also soy and nut-free. Not to mention they’re delicious & melt really well (grilled cheese alert!).
(recipe)- Not sure what to cook for Christmas yet? Check out these suggestions for a GF Christmas dinner menu🎄🎅🏻.
(recipe)- Here are some unique & flavorful ideas for latkes (potato pancakes 🥔🥞) for Hannukah. There’s a vegan option included as well.
(product)- Califa Farms’ almond-based Eggnog is now available (at your holiday service)!
WHAT ARE YOU REALLY EATING?!
Your “cage-free” eggs were probably laid by hens that have never been outdoors. In this FoodPrint podcast episode, the team breaks down the many, confusing food labels that have people wanting answers. Here’s an article breakdown of the egg-related food labels🥚🍳 , what they mean, and whether they’re reliable or not.
What Else Is There To Digest?
(article)- Did you know that there are likely no real truffles in your truffle oil (sorry my truffle fries lovers)? Today, most of the oil is made synthetically with aromatic molecules that give truffles their smell - but no actual truffle is used.
(article)- Chlorella based soft-serve anyone? This food tech company is creating a DF ice cream out of microalgae🍦with an impressive nutritional profile!
(article)- The FDA just approved the first lab-grown chicken🍗🐔. [I laid out the basics for cell-cultured meat in my last newsletter for anyone who is interested].
(article)- In an incredible interactive article, The Guardian details how the lack of variety in our food system (including crops like 🍌,🥑,☕etc…) leave it vulnerable to climate breakdown.
(article)- FromSoil2Soul🌱, a CA based organization, is teaching communities regenerative homesteading techniques (primarily in food production).
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
(article & images)- Actress Anya Taylor-Joy, director Mark Mylod, and consulting chef Dominique Crenn discuss how they built an authentic, yet creepy fine dining experience in this Q&A about “The Menu”📜.
(video) - There is a lot of innovation happening within the indoor farming space, and I’m willing to bet these high tech food farms🧑🏻🌾 will blow your mind!
(article)- Tehran-based artist Mahnaz Miryani creates the sweetest, life-like miniature baking trays out of clay.
(guide)- Here’s a “how-to” on the best ways to grow microgreens🪴 during winter!
(article)- Apparently, Elon Musk drinks a lot of Diet Coke, and he isn’t the only rich and powerful person that’s been a part of the Diet Coke army🥤.
Closing Thoughts…
As always, feel free to hit reply and shoot me an email or DM on Twitter. I’d love to hear your feedback on how I can improve this newsletter to better suit our free-from community.
I’ll be in your inbox next month!
Hugs,
Noam
🙆🏻♀️ website: noamleead.carrd.co
📖 book editor: Happier Being by Dr. Tal Leead