WORK • Thursday Routine

Guilty pleasures

BRIAN BORNEMANN • chef & owner • Crudo e Nudo
Neighborhood you live & work in: Santa Monica

It’s Thursday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
Thursdays, I start with bodybuilding at Deuce Gym, followed by a flow class at Open. Then, I’m in the restaurant by 1130a. Thursdays are our first post-farmers’ market day of the week, so we just got a bunch of prep done and a bunch of new dishes on since Wednesday. We usually get in a box of Seremoni-grade rockfish and Baja kanpachi on Thursdays, which the team sukibikis [a Japanese descaling technique] and hangs for the next week to dry-age. Wine deliveries come in before the weekend and we get the by-the-bottle list and chalkboard by-the-glass menu updated.

What’s on the agenda for today?
Today, I’m stoked to be going to my friend Duyen Ha’s Top Chef premiere. In the meantime, I’m working on the usual mix of paying bills, emails, and planning the menu for the week. I also luckily got some good news back on a project that has been in the works on the street.

Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
I’ve really been enjoying Shirube recently. It’s a cozy neighborhood izakaya that’s open every day. I’m also looking forward to my next sneaky night at Capo — it’s a guilty pleasure. Also, Bar Betsy is in the works, and despite how freakin’ far it is, I will be there as soon as they are ready.

Any weekend getaways?
I am big on getaways. As someone with no real days off, getting out of town is crucial. Laguna has Casa Loma, Petit Pali, and nearby, my favorite place: The Ecology Center. Ojai has the best hikes, a beautiful river, amazing restaurants and markets, and the best light in the state. The Valle de Guadalupe is my third, and it is too much goodness to describe, with amazing local food and a truly rustic and Mexican raison d’etre.

What was your last great vacation?
I had the best time in Paris last year. Honestly, it feels like the city is the best it’s ever been. Friendly, complete, classic, modern. I had the best “Mexican” food of the year while there — a wild asparagus tostada with a housemade tortilla that blew my mind — at a restaurant called Crudo.

What’s a recent big-ticket purchase you love?
I got the 145n bottle wine fridge from Wine Enthusiast to expand our wine program at Crudo e Nudo. Feels good!

What store or service do you always recommend?
I highly recommend Open. It unfortunately isn’t a very small business, but the quality of the offering is too good. From meditation to flow, to core, to sauna and cold, it’s a one-stop shop for a good reset.

Where are you donating your time or money?
I donate my time to The Ecology Center. It is the only certified regenerative and organic working farm, education center, and restaurant around. It is the happiest place on earth.

THE NINES • More FOUND

The Nines are FOUND’s distilled lists of the best in LA and surrounds.

RESTAURANTS • FOUND Archives

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The Skinny: Perched at the busy corner of Sixth and Western in Koreatown and opened late January, Lapaba is a highly anticipated, slightly buzzy neighborhood pasta bar that skillfully blends quintessential Korean flavors with Italian cooking.

Read more

BRIAN BORNEMANN • chef & owner • Crudo e Nudo
Neighborhood you live & work in: Santa Monica

It’s Thursday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
Thursdays, I start with bodybuilding at Deuce Gym, followed by a flow class at Open. Then, I’m in the restaurant by 1130a. Thursdays are our first post-farmers’ market day of the week, so we just got a bunch of prep done and a bunch of new dishes on since Wednesday. We usually get in a box of Seremoni-grade rockfish and Baja kanpachi on Thursdays, which the team sukibikis [a Japanese descaling technique] and hangs for the next week to dry-age. Wine deliveries come in before the weekend and we get the by-the-bottle list and chalkboard by-the-glass menu updated.

What’s on the agenda for today?
Today, I’m stoked to be going to my friend Duyen Ha’s Top Chef premiere. In the meantime, I’m working on the usual mix of paying bills, emails, and planning the menu for the week. I also luckily got some good news back on a project that has been in the works on the street.

Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
I’ve really been enjoying Shirube recently. It’s a cozy neighborhood izakaya that’s open every day. I’m also looking forward to my next sneaky night at Capo — it’s a guilty pleasure. Also, Bar Betsy is in the works, and despite how freakin’ far it is, I will be there as soon as they are ready.

Any weekend getaways?
I am big on getaways. As someone with no real days off, getting out of town is crucial. Laguna has Casa Loma, Petit Pali, and nearby, my favorite place: The Ecology Center. Ojai has the best hikes, a beautiful river, amazing restaurants and markets, and the best light in the state. The Valle de Guadalupe is my third, and it is too much goodness to describe, with amazing local food and a truly rustic and Mexican raison d’etre.

What was your last great vacation?
I had the best time in Paris last year. Honestly, it feels like the city is the best it’s ever been. Friendly, complete, classic, modern. I had the best “Mexican” food of the year while there — a wild asparagus tostada with a housemade tortilla that blew my mind — at a restaurant called Crudo.

What’s a recent big-ticket purchase you love?
I got the 145n bottle wine fridge from Wine Enthusiast to expand our wine program at Crudo e Nudo. Feels good!

What store or service do you always recommend?
I highly recommend Open. It unfortunately isn’t a very small business, but the quality of the offering is too good. From meditation to flow, to core, to sauna and cold, it’s a one-stop shop for a good reset.

Where are you donating your time or money?
I donate my time to The Ecology Center. It is the only certified regenerative and organic working farm, education center, and restaurant around. It is the happiest place on earth.

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Guilty pleasures

BRIAN BORNEMANN • chef & owner • Crudo e Nudo
Neighborhood you live & work in: Santa Monica

It’s Thursday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
Thursdays, I start with bodybuilding at Deuce Gym, followed by a flow class at Open. Then, I’m in the restaurant by 1130a. Thursdays are our first post-farmers’ market day of the week, so we just got a bunch of prep done and a bunch of new dishes on since Wednesday. We usually get in a box of Seremoni-grade rockfish and Baja kanpachi on Thursdays, which the team sukibikis [a Japanese descaling technique] and hangs for the next week to dry-age. Wine deliveries come in before the weekend and we get the by-the-bottle list and chalkboard by-the-glass menu updated.

What’s on the agenda for today?
Today, I’m stoked to be going to my friend Duyen Ha’s Top Chef premiere. In the meantime, I’m working on the usual mix of paying bills, emails, and planning the menu for the week. I also luckily got some good news back on a project that has been in the works on the street.

Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
I’ve really been enjoying Shirube recently. It’s a cozy neighborhood izakaya that’s open every day. I’m also looking forward to my next sneaky night at Capo — it’s a guilty pleasure. Also, Bar Betsy is in the works, and despite how freakin’ far it is, I will be there as soon as they are ready.

Any weekend getaways?
I am big on getaways. As someone with no real days off, getting out of town is crucial. Laguna has Casa Loma, Petit Pali, and nearby, my favorite place: The Ecology Center. Ojai has the best hikes, a beautiful river, amazing restaurants and markets, and the best light in the state. The Valle de Guadalupe is my third, and it is too much goodness to describe, with amazing local food and a truly rustic and Mexican raison d’etre.

What was your last great vacation?
I had the best time in Paris last year. Honestly, it feels like the city is the best it’s ever been. Friendly, complete, classic, modern. I had the best “Mexican” food of the year while there — a wild asparagus tostada with a housemade tortilla that blew my mind — at a restaurant called Crudo.

What’s a recent big-ticket purchase you love?
I got the 145n bottle wine fridge from Wine Enthusiast to expand our wine program at Crudo e Nudo. Feels good!

What store or service do you always recommend?
I highly recommend Open. It unfortunately isn’t a very small business, but the quality of the offering is too good. From meditation to flow, to core, to sauna and cold, it’s a one-stop shop for a good reset.

Where are you donating your time or money?
I donate my time to The Ecology Center. It is the only certified regenerative and organic working farm, education center, and restaurant around. It is the happiest place on earth.

→ MILL’S MAKE FOOD NOT WASTE DINING EXPERIENCE COMES TO LA. Three nights, seven acclaimed chefs, one farm. For Earth Month, the cult-favorite food recycler, Mill, brings together top chefs from LA and New York, including Heather Sperling (Botanica), Telly Justice (HAGS) and Aaron Lindell (Quarter Sheets), for one-night-only evenings centered on no-waste cooking. Hosted at a hidden farm in LA, 100% of proceeds benefit LA Compost. Seating is limited. [spon]

WORK & PLAY LINKS: Design-forward private members’ club Club Hue opening in Koreatown this June • Law firm Goodwin leaving Downtown, moving office to Arts District • Gwyneth Paltrow’s erstwhile Brentwood home auction includes designer chairs, couches, more • The California grocery store that only opens in high-end neighborhoods (no, it’s not Erewhon) • Want to build your own Eames house? Now you can.

GOODS & SERVICES • FOUNDLISTING

The best anti-aging secret is science

SCIENCE-BACKED TOOLS FOR WOMEN WHO WANT EVERY ADVANTAGE: San Francisco. April 17-18. Dr. Mark Hyman, Dr. Mary Claire Haver, Dr. Stacy Sims, Dr. Jessica Shepherd, and special keynote Jane Fonda — alongside 70+ of the world’s top researchers and physicians — in one room for two days. This is where science becomes your advantage. A quick flight from LAX or a Highway 1 road trip is all that stands between you and the knowledge that changes everything. Only a handful of front-row seats, private meet-and-greets, and exclusive evening events remain. Seats are going fast. Don’t miss your moment. Use code FOUND for $75 off.

→ RSVP: Livelong Women’s Health Summit (Nob Hill) • The Masonic, 1111 California St • 04/17, 3-6p, 04/18, 8a-530p. [spon]

RESTAURANTS • First Word

High bar

The Skinny: Perched at the busy corner of Sixth and Western in Koreatown and opened late January, Lapaba is a highly anticipated, slightly buzzy neighborhood pasta bar that skillfully blends quintessential Korean flavors with Italian cooking.

Read more

• Crudo e Nudo (Santa Monica, above), chalkboard specials, always perfect wine pairings, excellent Main Street-parallel patio seating, reserve

Read more

California’s freshest, most sustainable, best-looking, and even better-tasting oysters? They’re at The Jolly Oyster, a truck-turned-seaside-shuck-shack, permanently parked at Ventura’s San Buenaventura State Beach.

Read more

Having not grown up in an oyster-loving family, it was a great pleasure to marry into one. Not just for the chance to learn how they grow or to taste them fresh off a dock, but because an obsession with oysters opens up a world of easy gift-giving opportunities.

Read more

ARI KOLENDER • chef & partner • Found Oyster & Queen’s Raw Bar & Grill
Neighborhood you work in: East Hollywood & Eagle Rock
Neighborhood you live in: Eagle Rock

It’s Thursday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
The workplace is my home kitchen today (or at least the first half of the day), if I don’t need to run into the restaurant to go over an order, a new dish, or the ever-useful pep talk. Since Leo was born, I haven’t been working nighttime service as often.

Waking up (early, always) somewhere between 5-6a, my day starts by taking care of our two dogs, an Italian Mastiff named Pina and a pitbull named Birdie. We eat, make coffee for mom, take a walk, and then back up to the house to relieve her of our beautiful baby boy. He’s six months old, and sleeping in a little later.

What’s on the agenda for today?
I’m going over our list of catering jobs and private events outstanding, working to make sure everything is put together so service runs smoothly. I’m also about to review the final kitchen plans for Lord Fletcher, a restoration of a classic restaurant space in Palm Springs. Hoping to open later this year — we’ve been working very hard to get the space ready for a facelift.

I’ll then be headed into Found Oyster at about 1p to taste a new vegetable dish our sous chef Mere has come up with. It’s exciting to help the team grow in developing flavors and techniques, and I’m always ecstatic when they bring a new idea to the table.

Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
The big plan this weekend is date night at Etra! I’m excited — we really haven’t been back since the first month they opened, and I can never eat enough Italian food. Also on the horizon: my friend Tim is in town and taking me to one of his favorite sushi spots, Asuka. I’ve never been, but apparently it’s been around for a long time, and the young chef helming the counter is from Hokkaido.

How about a little leisure or culture?
I have a reso with friends at the Vermont Courts, the best public tennis courts in town. I love my mornings up there. I’m also meeting up with my friend Annabelle later in the weekend at The Padel Courts, to see what all the fuss is about.

Any weekend getaways?
We’re headed to Palm Springs to visit my in-laws next weekend. Always a blast to spend time with them and eat some schnitzel at Johannes. It’s our favorite restaurant in town. I’m excited to check out the new bar Beaton’s as well. With any luck, we’ll make some time for golf at Indian Canyons south course as well as a day trip up to Pioneertown to check in on our bar The Red Dog Saloon. If you haven’t been up to Pioneertown, you’re missing out.

What was your last great vacation?
We took time last summer to go to Greece for the first time. We started in Athens, which I thought was going to be a short blip, but turned out to be such a beautifully enriching time. We discovered so many great markets, places to eat and drink, as well as a handful of incredible artisans making jewelry and art.

After Athens we went to Milos, Folegandros, and Paros. All amazing in their own right, but the tiny island of Folegandros has our heart. There is certainly something in the air on that rugged island. It was warm, welcoming, and full of great seafood.

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Sitting in the sun at an almost boardwalk-adjacent twilight table at Venice Beach’s Dudley Market, I considered the beauty of a well-timed oyster. The restaurant’s fisherman, who comes by daily around 6p to drop off the day’s catch, shuttled rockfish, halibut, and lots of oysters through the dining room and into the kitchen. Inspiration followed — a raised hand, eye contact with the server, and soon, a dozen freshly-shucked, on my table (above). On ice, with mignonette and a few slices of lemon, the oysters were an ideal complement to the salt still on my skin from surfing the Venice Breakwater an hour earlier.

And the best part? There are repeat-worthy variations of that experience all around the city. At the end of the Holbox line. Seabreeze set-ups at Neptune’s Net, Crudo e Nudo, and Fishing With Dynamite. Further from the source, but always packed and perfect raw bars at Found Oyster and Queen’s Raw Bar & Grill, and sensational, park-side shooters from Mariscos El Faro. Or on special (and always with a perfect amount of zip) at Holy Basil.

And that’s just for starters. Welcome to FOUND’s first-ever Oyster Week. –James Royce

INTEL • Oyster Week

What are your go-to LA spots for oysters and seafood?

→ KAT TURNER, chef, Highly Likely: L&E Oyster (Silver Lake), Crudo e Nudo (Santa Monica), Found Oyster (East Hollywood).

→ CONNER MITCHELL, chef & owner, Dudley Market: Typically we eat ‘em at Dudley, but also: Found Oyster (East Hollywood), Queen’s Raw Bar & Grill (Eagle Rock), and Scopa (Venice Beach) with a shoutout to its surprisingly good presentation.

GOODS & SERVICES • FOUNDLISTING

Live better. Live longer.

THE EVENT THAT TAKES YOUR HEALTH SERIOUSLY: Grab a flight out of LAX or make it a Highway 1 road trip — either way, San Francisco is calling. Dr. Mark Hyman, Dr. Mary Claire Haver, Dr. Stacy Sims, Dr. Jessica Shepherd, and special keynote Jane Fonda headline two days of real science on hormones, metabolism, brain health, and aging on your terms. No fluff. No filler. Just the knowledge to level up everything you thought you already knew. 30 roundtables. 15 breakout sessions. 2,000 women who get it. Exclusive front-row seats, meet and greets, and private receptions are limited — use code FOUND for $50 off.

→ RSVP: Livelong Women’s Health Summit (Nob Hill) • The Masonic, 1111 California St • 04/17, 3-6p, 04/18, 8a-530p. [spon]

WORK • Thursday Routine

Fitting subject

ARI KOLENDER • chef & partner • Found Oyster & Queen’s Raw Bar & Grill
Neighborhood you work in: East Hollywood & Eagle Rock
Neighborhood you live in: Eagle Rock

It’s Thursday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
The workplace is my home kitchen today (or at least the first half of the day), if I don’t need to run into the restaurant to go over an order, a new dish, or the ever-useful pep talk. Since Leo was born, I haven’t been working nighttime service as often.

Waking up (early, always) somewhere between 5-6a, my day starts by taking care of our two dogs, an Italian Mastiff named Pina and a pitbull named Birdie. We eat, make coffee for mom, take a walk, and then back up to the house to relieve her of our beautiful baby boy. He’s six months old, and sleeping in a little later.

What’s on the agenda for today?
I’m going over our list of catering jobs and private events outstanding, working to make sure everything is put together so service runs smoothly. I’m also about to review the final kitchen plans for Lord Fletcher, a restoration of a classic restaurant space in Palm Springs. Hoping to open later this year — we’ve been working very hard to get the space ready for a facelift.

I’ll then be headed into Found Oyster at about 1p to taste a new vegetable dish our sous chef Mere has come up with. It’s exciting to help the team grow in developing flavors and techniques, and I’m always ecstatic when they bring a new idea to the table.

Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
The big plan this weekend is date night at Etra! I’m excited — we really haven’t been back since the first month they opened, and I can never eat enough Italian food. Also on the horizon: my friend Tim is in town and taking me to one of his favorite sushi spots, Asuka. I’ve never been, but apparently it’s been around for a long time, and the young chef helming the counter is from Hokkaido.

How about a little leisure or culture?
I have a reso with friends at the Vermont Courts, the best public tennis courts in town. I love my mornings up there. I’m also meeting up with my friend Annabelle later in the weekend at The Padel Courts, to see what all the fuss is about.

Any weekend getaways?
We’re headed to Palm Springs to visit my in-laws next weekend. Always a blast to spend time with them and eat some schnitzel at Johannes. It’s our favorite restaurant in town. I’m excited to check out the new bar Beaton’s as well. With any luck, we’ll make some time for golf at Indian Canyons south course as well as a day trip up to Pioneertown to check in on our bar The Red Dog Saloon. If you haven’t been up to Pioneertown, you’re missing out.

What was your last great vacation?
We took time last summer to go to Greece for the first time. We started in Athens, which I thought was going to be a short blip, but turned out to be such a beautifully enriching time. We discovered so many great markets, places to eat and drink, as well as a handful of incredible artisans making jewelry and art.

After Athens we went to Milos, Folegandros, and Paros. All amazing in their own right, but the tiny island of Folegandros has our heart. There is certainly something in the air on that rugged island. It was warm, welcoming, and full of great seafood.

LA RESTAURANT LINKS: Historic Cole’s is closing for real, for real • Iconic Taix shuttering and selling everything at auction • New Afro-Latino restaurant Amiguita opens in Silver Lake • Mumford and Sons’ Ben Lovett opening new club in Chinatown, envisions new LA cultural hub • Neighborhood bar The Holloway reopening in Lonely Oyster’s former Echo Park space • Santa Monica raw bar Crudo e Nudo celebrating 5th birthday with ticketed takeovers • LA’s new It vegetable? Cabbage.

GOODS & SERVICES • FOUND Object

Everything but the pearl

Having not grown up in an oyster-loving family, it was a great pleasure to marry into one. Not just for the chance to learn how they grow or to taste them fresh off a dock, but because an obsession with oysters opens up a world of easy gift-giving opportunities.

For example, we all spent one summer experimenting with oysters on the grill. It’s a great way to prepare them, because a) there’s no need to shuck the oysters, as they pop open over the hot flame, and b) you can melt butter as they lightly cook, creating a more novice-friendly texture than a raw slurp. The following Christmas, my in-laws were delighted to receive a cast iron oyster grill pan, which cuts down on the mess (and loss of precious oyster juice).

Now, I see oyster-themed gifts everywhere. Inside a French antiques store in Upstate New York, I discovered an array of antique silver oyster trays, which sent me down a rabbit hole. They’ve become an increasingly popular product in the last few years, especially among ceramicists. They’re a little kitsch and a fun addition to the slurpable treat. I’m particularly fond of Michelle Morton’s ocean-inspired rendition, and the freeform variety from Gloob Ceramics in Brooklyn. While the tray from Virginia Sin is simple, that also means it’s a safe gift for any home. I wish I had friends getting married on the beach this summer so I could get a custom oyster platter from Chell Fish (above), an acceptable off-registry gift.

The other day, I found out that JLD, a brilliant knife maker who makes pieces for restaurants and sells a select few during occasional online drops, makes a small, stainless steel oyster knife with a walnut handle. It’s a major upgrade from the plastic variety that comes with fish market oysters — and a thoughtful present for the oyster-lover in your life. –Sylvie Florman

GETAWAYS • Ventura

Holly, jolly oyster

California’s freshest, most sustainable, best-looking, and even better-tasting oysters? They’re at The Jolly Oyster, a truck-turned-seaside-shuck-shack, permanently parked at Ventura’s San Buenaventura State Beach.

The brainchild of former investment banker Mark Reynolds and business partner Mark Venus, it opened in 2011. Their mission: to create a sustainable shellfish operation serving healthy, organic, nature-friendly raw goodness.

Reynolds spent the mid-’90s studying aquaculture and scouting set-ups in South America and Europe. Then, in 1999, he opened the Baja Oyster Company with Venus. A sustainable shellfish farming operation, it took a few years to get things moving properly. After selling wholesale bivalves to set-ups in Mexico and the US, they decided they wanted their own spot too. They approached the California State Parks, which sent them to Ventura. They haven’t left since.

To arrive, stop at the park ranger booth on the way in. Tell them where you’re headed, and they’ll give you a free parking pass that’ll give you 30 minutes. At the beach lot, find the 20 aqua-colored, umbrella-covered tables, and you’re there. Specialties and fried goods are available at the truck. Tinned add-ons, shuck-them-yourself oysters, clams, plus knives for it all at the other nearby window. It’s all outdoors, it’s on the water, and it’s perfectly relaxed.

A suggested plan of attack: first, Kumamotos and Laguna Bay Selects by the dozen or half. Also, an option for a half-dozen grilled oysters with either habanero butter, uni butter, a creole with sage, green onion, and garlic, or Jolly Style, featuring white wine, leek, cream, parm, and thyme. The uni butter is a standout, as is the habanero, with its nice balance of lime, garlic, and butter on a half shell. Also, the scallop ceviche and whatever tostada is on special (for us, sea urchin with a combination of chile, tomato, lime, and more) are outstanding. There’s always a new highlighted chalkboard menu item each visit, too.

The crowd’s relaxed — families, surfers, in-the-know travelers, and bikers taking a well-earned last stop on their coastal cruise. Prepared diners bring coolers filled with their own wine, beer, cocktails, and cheese and crackers to the table as well. There are also open grills, which you can use to grill your clams and oysters, if you’ve got the supplies and skills. Judging from the bottles and tools around us, guests tend to have great taste, and know how to enjoy themselves.

Even in an area littered with other places that specialize in the sort of thing, The Jolly Oyster’s raw bar picnic set-up is a standout. In fact, it may be one of the best pit stops off the entire 101. –James Royce

→ The Jolly Oyster (Ventura) • 911 San Pedro St • Sat-Sun 11a-6p • Walk-ins only.

RESTAURANTS • The Nines

Oysters

The 9 best spots for oysters in LA.

• Crudo e Nudo (Santa Monica, above), chalkboard specials, always perfect wine pairings, excellent Main Street-parallel patio seating, reserve

Read more

Lifestyle business

ALLEN SANFORD • founding partner • BeachLife Festival & California Surf Club
Neighborhood you live in: The South Bay

It’s Thursday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
The sun is shining on the Pacific Ocean, the California Surf Club is getting ready for the weekend, the BeachLife Grotto is preparing fresh fish, and the BeachLife crew is working to build our festival.

What’s on the agenda for today?
Taking care of people, both customers and our staff. After a cup of coffee with my wife, kissing my baby, and getting our seven-year-old daughter off to school, I’ll plug in and start my work for the day. I’m translating the lifestyle I live (Beachlife) into the businesses we have, whether it be developing our rum, helping create a menu, booking bands, or designing t-shirts. As long as the subject matter contemplates the ocean, I’m into it.

Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
Hitting the Surf Club for sure (love me some oceanside dining) then perhaps sushi at Black Bamboo Sushi on the hill, which is owned and operated by an amazing small business owner who I love to support. I love their rolls so much that we created one down at the Surf Club as a compliment to them. It’s important for me to support small businesses — I don’t believe in the big box stores, and we have more power than we think with where we spend our money.

How about a little leisure or culture?
Between building a festival and a club, I take my daughter surfing and to ballet. My two girls are my passion and my hobby. Surfing is not my hobby, it’s my escape. Feeling nature, being with friends or alone out there, the salt, the wind, the water, the cold… it makes me feel more alive than anything else, and is the only place I can truly be present.

Any weekend getaways?
Santa Ynez, Mammoth, Alisal Ranch, or a drive up the coast. I grew up going to Alisal before it was a buttoned-up fancy retreat. It shaped my love for California ranch culture, and was the inspiration behind BeachLife Ranch. When we’re up there, we’ll drive over to Jalama for the day and surf, then retreat back to the countryside for some BBQ and horse watching.

What was your last great vacation?
As surfers, we grew up going on surf trips, but when you have families, you can’t necessarily disappear to Fiji for seven days. So we got 10 families together, and decided to go to the Palm Springs Surf Club, where the surfers got to have waves, and the kids got to play around and enjoy some open grass fields, slides, and hangs. Morning surfs, followed by golf, yoga, and family time, is a recipe for success under the cool October desert sun.

What’s a recent big-ticket purchase you love?
A new surfboard! I don’t necessarily spend money on material things, but my secret love is surfboards, and I’m always looking for a new shape that will help this old guy surf better. Though I’m a traditionalist and I like classic stuff better than new stuff, that thinking doesn’t translate to the amazing advancements shapers like Pyzel have pioneered to help us surf better, more, and increase stoke levels.

Where are you donating your time or money?
I serve as the chairman of The Police & Fire Foundation and president of the Riviera Village Foundation. Locality is important to me. BeachLife also supports Surfrider, Heal the Bay, and anything that mixes community with our beach lifestyle.

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ASK FOUND

Three PROMPTS for which we seek your immediate attention:

• What’s your go-to spot for oysters?

• What’s your go-to spot for jewelry repair?

• What was your getaway hotel of choice this winter?

Hit reply or email found@itsfoundla.com with more answers or questions.

RESTAURANTS • The Nines

Restaurants, Echo Park

Our 9 favorite restaurants in the neighborhood. See also: Chinatown, South Bay.

• Ototo (Allison Ave), izakaya w/ Japanese bar food hits, best sake list in town, walk-ins only

Read more

Recipes for success

MAXINE SHARF • culinary creator & recipe developer • Maxi’s Kitchen
Neighborhood you work & live in: Los Feliz

It’s Thursday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
I work from home in Los Feliz, and Thursday mornings usually start with a walk with my husband and pup, followed by a workout and short meditation. From there, it’s matcha or a cappuccino and some journaling, which helps me tap into creativity and set clear goals for the day. Work-wise, mornings are typically spent editing a recipe video and recording the voiceover, with the goal of getting it posted by around noon.

Since it’s Thursday, I’ll probably swing by the South Pasadena Farmers Market later in the day. It’s a great midweek stop to pick up something for my next tea pairing, or just a snack I didn’t know I needed.

What’s on the agenda for today?
Today I’m filming a recipe from my just-released new cookbook, Maxi’s Kitchen: Easy To-Go Recipes To Make Again and Again [on sale now! -ed.].

Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
Thursdays are usually date night for my husband and me. One of our favorite neighborhood spots is All’Acqua in Atwater Village. We almost always order the Caesar salad, diavola pizza, and chicken Milanese. We’ve also been spending more time in Koreatown lately. A recent favorite is Soowoon Galbi, excellent for Korean barbecue.

How about a little leisure or culture?
Most Saturdays start with a yoga class, followed by our favorite crunchy chicken tacos plate from Tacos Delta, which has become a weekly ritual. In the evenings, we’re often driving to the San Gabriel Valley or Koreatown to try a new Asian restaurant we’ve had bookmarked. On the second Sunday of every month, we love heading to the Rose Bowl Flea Market to hunt for new art for our house, vintage clothing, and unexpected finds.

Any weekend getaways?
We love driving to Ojai, where my brother lives. It has such a calm, grounding energy. Sometimes we stay with him, but we also love the Ojai Valley Inn for its beautiful, sprawling property.

What was your last great vacation?
My last great vacation was a trip to Tokyo with my mom, aunt, and cousin. We stayed at The Capitol Hotel Tokyu, which was incredible and extremely convenient thanks to a subway station directly beneath the hotel. The best bowl of ramen I’ve ever had was at Noriaki Bibi, where I ordered a spicy miso ramen that I still think about regularly.

What’s a recent big-ticket purchase you love?
The Dr. Dennis Gross LED red light mask. I use it every night for just three minutes, and it’s become one of my favorite routines. It’s meant to boost collagen and help prevent fine lines, and I genuinely feel like it works.

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LA RESTAURANT LINKS: Redzepi steps away, but show goes on at Noma LA • Duke’s Malibu reopens tomorrow • Hamjipark, Koreatown BBQ institution that closed two months ago, making comeback • Legendary dive bar and former art-world hangout Hop Louie may be reopening • Santa Monica icon Bay Cities considering taking over Cole’s French Dip • Grand Central Market’s Miznon adds standalone restaurant in Beverly Grove • Can Sushi Park’s food keep up with its culture?

RESTAURANTS • First Word

Fresh dynamism

Chef Marcus Jernmark has said that dinner at his new restaurant Lielle is neither a tasting menu nor a Nordic interpretation of California produce. At a moment when controversy swirls around a certain high-profile Nordic tasting menu, it turned out to be a prescient stance.

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MAXINE SHARF • culinary creator & recipe developer • Maxi’s Kitchen
Neighborhood you work & live in: Los Feliz

It’s Thursday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
I work from home in Los Feliz, and Thursday mornings usually start with a walk with my husband and pup, followed by a workout and short meditation. From there, it’s matcha or a cappuccino and some journaling, which helps me tap into creativity and set clear goals for the day. Work-wise, mornings are typically spent editing a recipe video and recording the voiceover, with the goal of getting it posted by around noon.

Since it’s Thursday, I’ll probably swing by the South Pasadena Farmers Market later in the day. It’s a great midweek stop to pick up something for my next tea pairing, or just a snack I didn’t know I needed.

What’s on the agenda for today?
Today I’m filming a recipe from my just-released new cookbook, Maxi’s Kitchen: Easy To-Go Recipes To Make Again and Again [on sale now! -ed.].

Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
Thursdays are usually date night for my husband and me. One of our favorite neighborhood spots is All’Acqua in Atwater Village. We almost always order the Caesar salad, diavola pizza, and chicken Milanese. We’ve also been spending more time in Koreatown lately. A recent favorite is Soowoon Galbi, excellent for Korean barbecue.

How about a little leisure or culture?
Most Saturdays start with a yoga class, followed by our favorite crunchy chicken tacos plate from Tacos Delta, which has become a weekly ritual. In the evenings, we’re often driving to the San Gabriel Valley or Koreatown to try a new Asian restaurant we’ve had bookmarked. On the second Sunday of every month, we love heading to the Rose Bowl Flea Market to hunt for new art for our house, vintage clothing, and unexpected finds.

Any weekend getaways?
We love driving to Ojai, where my brother lives. It has such a calm, grounding energy. Sometimes we stay with him, but we also love the Ojai Valley Inn for its beautiful, sprawling property.

What was your last great vacation?
My last great vacation was a trip to Tokyo with my mom, aunt, and cousin. We stayed at The Capitol Hotel Tokyu, which was incredible and extremely convenient thanks to a subway station directly beneath the hotel. The best bowl of ramen I’ve ever had was at Noriaki Bibi, where I ordered a spicy miso ramen that I still think about regularly.

What’s a recent big-ticket purchase you love?
The Dr. Dennis Gross LED red light mask. I use it every night for just three minutes, and it’s become one of my favorite routines. It’s meant to boost collagen and help prevent fine lines, and I genuinely feel like it works.

Subscribe now

The sound of water boiling

TOMOKO IMADE DYEN • Japanese culinary curator & Japanese tea specialist • Culinary Curation
Neighborhood you live in: Downtown

It’s Thursday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
Thursday mornings start quietly, usually with the sound of water boiling. It’s my favorite part of the day: that first pour of hot water into a teapot. It resets my mind better than coffee ever could. My desk is a mix of tea samples, ceramics, and what I call “organized chaos in my brain” — ideas, collaborations, and future pop-ups all floating around together.

Since it’s Thursday, I’ll probably swing by the South Pasadena Farmers Market later in the day. It’s a great midweek stop to pick up something for my next tea pairing, or just a snack I didn’t know I needed.

What’s on the agenda for today?
Packaging new tea products! I’ve been working on a line that reflects my philosophy of tea that connects people, culture, and time. Each tea has a story, whether it’s from a small farm in Ureshino or a friend’s harvest in Tokushima.

Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
I like eating clean whenever possible, and LA’s seafood scene has gotten really exciting in the past few years.

• Yess Restaurant (currently closed) in the Arts District is my top pick for seafood that feels Japanese in spirit but is entirely its own thing. Chef Junya sources local fish and cooks with a deep understanding of Japanese philosophy and restraint. It’s soulful, not textbook.

• When I want to eat well and catch up with friends, I head to Yang’s Kitchen in SGV. They use locally-sourced ingredients and make every dish feel thoughtful and nourishing. Whatever you do, don’t skip their seasonal soft serve.

• People often ask me for the best sushi omakase in LA. Sushi’s personal — it’s about your connection to the chef as much as the fish. My current favorite is Sushidokoro Miyama in Arcadia. Hiro-san adjusts his shari (sushi rice) for each fish and makes the silkiest chawanmushi.

• If I’m on the Westside, you can usually find me at Crudo e Nudo, for beautiful space, great energy, and food that just feels good.

How about a little leisure or culture?
I recently became a G-Dragon fan (yes, really) and experienced my first K-pop concert. It was electric — the fashion, the stage design, the sheer dedication of the fans. It reminded me that artistry takes many forms, whether it’s a perfectly brewed bowl of matcha or a full arena performance.

Any weekend getaways?
Ojai is my favorite reset. The light there feels softer, somehow. Even if you’re not staying overnight, walking the grounds at Ojai Valley Inn is restorative. And Rory’s Other Place on the main street has a great matcha affogato. It’s become a ritual stop.

What was your last great vacation?
Most of my travel is tea-related, but it never stops feeling magical. Visiting tea farms in Japan — in places like Ureshino, Shizuoka, and Tokushima — is like stepping into another rhythm of life. Everything moves slower, more intentionally. My husband and I once visited an onsen with a tea theme — we literally bathed in tea and did morning stretches surrounded by tea fields. It reminded me that tea isn’t just something you drink; it’s something you live.

What store or service do you always recommend?
Joint Seafood in Sherman Oaks. Top-quality seafood, handled with care, and their chirashi is perfect (order in advance!).

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LA RESTAURANT LINKS: Former Horses chefs’ pop-up Bruce moving from Cafe Triste to Justine’s in Frogtown • Chinatown hotspot Cafe Tondo has to pause outdoor music programming after permit woes • Longtime popup Bevel Coffee opens permanent space in Altadena • People are outsourcing Max & Helen’s line waiting to Taskrabbits • My personal goodbye to Echo Park’s Taix • LA’s best comfort dishes, according to LA line cooks.

RESTAURANTS • The Nines

LA Marathon, dining

Nine spots for sustenance and libations along Sunday’s marathon route. Paid subscribers have access to the complete Nines archive.

• Bia Ôm (Echo Park), spectacular Sunset Boulevard-parallel patio for Vietnamese-German fusion and starting line viewing, reserve

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