Ambient conviviality

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WORK • Thursday Routine

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?

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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.