Hi all,
It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the first edition of The Choosey Foodie - Los Angeles!
I started this newsletter as way to fill the free-from news gap in our community. No more reading Eater articles knowing you won't be able to try any of the food! No more searching on Yelp for hours only to give up and make some GF pasta at home. No more wondering - 'what the heck does this food label mean?!' NONE OF THAT!
Why? Because now you have The Choosy Foodie-LA, and me & my free-from ass got you! ;)
So let's get into it...
WHAT'S COOKING LOS ANGELES?!
Vegan vs. Fries
The plant-based, fast food pop-up shop is opening it's first location in LA starting the week of 10/24 (this week!).
Vegan vs. Fries is a pop-up spin-off of Man vs. Fries with locations already spreading across the US.
It's strictly vegan, so it doesn't adhere to too many other free-from markers besides DF, but it still deserves a mention!
The trend of vegan food in LA is probably shocking to no one, but 100% vegan fast-food seems to be just getting started. Earlier this year Kevin Hart opened up Hart House in Westchester (with more locations coming) and Mr. Charlie's, dubbed the "Vegan McDonalds", opened up in Mid-Wilshire.
What Else is Simmering...
(food service news): La Princesita from East LA won a tortilla tournament last week (yes, you heard that right). They're one of the few tortillerias left still using the traditional nixtamalization process to mass produce their tortillas.
(product): I bet it's been a long time since you've had a KitKat, but fear not! Trupo Treats is reviving your childhood favorite with with this GF, DF and plant-based chocolate wafer bar.
(product): Ever heard of a kelp burger? Well, it’s happening… AKUA is bringing regenerative ocean farmed sea greens to your burger bun. This plant-based patty is also SF (soy-free) and GF.
(guide): What do dumplings, spaghetti, and buttercup all have in common? Well, they're all squash! Here's a lovely guide on seasonal winter squash varieties & cooking tips.
(recipe): What would October be in LA without hearing about your pumpkin spiced latte options? This GF, DF and paleo-friendly recipe from Tess Masters (known as 'the blender girl') has also got a kick of espresso in it!
WHAT ARE YOU REALLY EATING?!
Curious About Plant-Based Milk? — foodprint.org
Plant-based milks are everywhere, but how much better are they really for the environment? Food author Tom Philpott answers FoodPrint's questions in this Q&A and gives us reasons as to why oat milk is a good option.
What Else is There to Digest...
(book excerpt)- An excerpt from the new book “Our Fermented Lives" dives into fermented food flavors, nutrition, and the effects of fermentation on our microbiome.
(podcast)- Gastropod released an eye-opening episode on food delivery apps including the control of big tech and the high costs of consumer convenience.
(article)- Researchers at the University of Washington are using a new IHME tool to analyze hundreds of studies on diets and habits. Their work will result in "Burden of Proof studies" that aim to help consumers and clinicians alike cut through 'diet fad noise' pushed by special interest groups.
(article)- Farms are starting to seek out pollinator-friendly ("bee-friendly") certifications (a promising move), but food product certification programs are taking very different approaches.
(article)- Michael Pollan answers questions on the current state of America's relationship with food, pesticides, farming practices, and his favorite healthy recipe :)
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
Impeccably Precise Geometries Are Baked into These Bold Cakes & Tarts — www.thisiscolossal.com
Dinara Kasko is a Ukrainian baker whose intricate, incredible, "IS IT EVEN CAKE?!" designs are taking the internet by storm... (check out the photos!)
(video)- The Plant-Based World Expo held recently in NYC featured over 200 alt meat and dairy product exhibitors.
(video)- This adorable mini baking sequence, shot using stop-motion animation, was made entirely from wool.
(article & images)- A chef creates some of the most luxurious and creative Indian American wedding spreads at the Ritz Carlton in Orange County.
(article)- A 'cookie snack break' collaboration has emerged between Oreo and Microsoft (because there's no better place to f*-up your diet than in the office).
(article)- New research labs are looking into how mushrooms become MaGiC mushrooms (particularly psilocybin).
Closing Thoughts...
I won't be in your inbox until after Halloween, so wishing you all the very best spooky holiday filled with pumpkin-spiced treats!
As always, feel free to shoot me an email at thechoosyfoodiela@gmail.com 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 in a couple weeks!
Hugs,
Noam
Can't wait to try those fries!
Hi there! Welcome to Substack! I love your articles!