Rustic lifestyle
Maydan Market, Yhing Yhang BBQ, Wilde's, best new cookbooks, goop Kitchen, Japanese Knife Imports, Monterey real estate, MORE
FOUND GIFT GUIDE • The Nines
Cookbooks, new
On Meat (Jeremy Fox), legendary Rustic Canyon chef’s low-waste, sustainable approach to cooking meat, w/ beautiful photography, $49.95.
Steak House: The People, The Places, The Recipes (Eric Wareheim & Gabe Ulla), stories and recipes from the country’s most iconic (and outrageous) steakhouses, $60
The King Cookbook (Clare de Boer, Jess Shadbolt, and Annie Shi), Mediterranean-inspired dishes from the elegant, perennially hip Soho restaurant’s kitchen, see above, $39.99
Mokonuts: The Cookbook (Moko Hirayama and Omar Koreitem), 100 dishes from one of Paris’s most beloved spots (and chef-couples), intel, $49.95.
Something from Nothing (Alison Roman), collection of low-effort, maximum yield recipes, featuring lots of soup & stews, $37.99.
Russ & Daughters: 100 Years of Appetizing (Niki Russ Federman & Josh Russ Tupper), smoked fish, matzo ball soup, and babka, from the NYC institution, $39.99.
The Japanese Art of Pickling and Fermenting (Yoko Nakazawa), ancient fermenting and pickling techniques from a Japanese expert, patience required, $35.
Nights & Weekends (Alexis deBoschneck), sub-40-minute recipes w/ short ingredient lists from an Upstate NY recipe developer, intel, $35.
The Art of Gluten-Free Bread: Groundbreaking Recipes for Artisanal Breads and Pastries (Aran Goyoaga), masterpiece that won’t have you missing the gluten, from loaves to sweets, $40.
ASK FOUND
Subscriber responses to our query, Who do you trust to do your eyebrows?
Suzie Moldavon at Flybrow!
Ria Mez in Beverly Hills
Vinita’s in Pasadena and La Cienega
Best brows in the city is by Brows with Sophia in Santa Monica
And now, one fresh PROMPT for which we seek your immediate attention:
Which restaurants are serving the Feast of Seven Fishes on Christmas Eve or during Christmas week?
Hit reply or email found@itsfoundla.com with more answers or questions.
RESTAURANTS • First Word
Market day
The Skinny: The first West Coast outpost from Rose Previte, the D.C. restaurateur behind Compass Rose and Maydan, Maydan Market brings an elevated night-market energy to Jefferson Boulevard in West Adams.
The Vibe: Housed in a former warehouse, Maydan Market recognizes its industrial past with subtle design touches, but the space itself feels anything but cold. Warm lighting, plush upholstery, and a showstopping live-fire kitchen at its center create an inviting, high-energy ambiance. On the covered patio, rattan ceiling fans and climbing bougainvillea lend a tropical touch without tipping into kitsch.
The Food: Maydan Market is essentially two experiences in one. Up front, a food hall operates all day, featuring five distinct stalls, two bars, and a spacious patio. The dramatic open hearth anchors the room and divides the Market from Maydan LA, a dinner-only restaurant serving refined Middle Eastern fare. Pillowy, housemade bread, served warm and complimentary, is a perfect vehicle for smoky muhammara, a standout alongside the tender grilled prawns.
For something more laid-back, grab a meal from one of the stalls and find a seat. The lineup spans the globe, from Southeast Asian barbecue at Yhing Yhang (see intel, below) to tamales from Malena, with Club 104 hosting a rotating cast of vendors.
The Drinks: Cocktails at Maydan LA are smartly designed to complement the food. The Za’atar Martini, a classic vodka martini reimagined with North African flair, was a highlight. The wine list features an adventurous selection from vintners in Lebanon, Georgia, and Morocco. We especially loved the La Ferme Rouge “Les Gris,” a crisp Moroccan rosé. There’s also a thoughtful lineup of creative mocktails.
The Verdict: A vibrant new anchor for West Adams, Maydan Market captures the communal, sensory fun of a global night market. –Anna Lane
→ Maydan Market (West Adams) • 4301 W Washington Blvd • Tue-Sun 11a-10p (market), Tue-Sun 5-1030p (restaurant) • Reserve.
LA RESTAURANT LINKS: Chef Eric Greenspan out at Tesla Diner in advance of new full-service format • In Silver Lake, Taqueria Frontera debuts long-awaited second location • Koreatown’s beloved Sun Nong Dan adds second, 24-hour location in Sawtelle.
WORK • Thursday Routine
Refined palate
KIM FLORESCA • vp of culinary • goop Kitchen
Neighborhood you work in: Santa Monica
Neighborhood you live in: Hawthorne
It’s Thursday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
We start our morning at 6a supporting goop Kitchen restaurants through any shortages, which happens all day, every day. Today we have a tasting for our rotisserie chicken menu and a few other categories — a pizza, refining our wraps, and a new dessert — so on to prep, so we can make it for our noon tasting.
What’s on the agenda for today?
Working on our winter menu, getting ready for our detox rollout in January. We love the tedious work we do to keep refining our current menu to make it better, whether it’s tasting mac-n-cheese 75 times in a month, or making 30 versions of maple pumpkin bread to get that specific texture. The research and development aspect of food is where creativity, innovation, and execution meet — and it’s a beautiful thing when you see your recipes come to life, and all the hands it takes to make it a reality.
Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
We’re going to Darling by Sean Brock, which just opened. Also super excited to eat at Pasjoli, which recently redid its menu and restaurant again. And always love Birdie G’s, which I hear will be closing at the end of the year —so I need to get my fix in!
How about a little leisure or culture?
I’ve never been one to love sports, but my goodness, our team got me into The Dodgers and it’s my favorite sporting event. The culture brought by the fans is incredible to behold and I love the history and goodness they bring to the game. That’s culture, right?
Any weekend getaways?
One of my absolute favorite escapes is Napa. It’s truly my happy place! There’s nothing like slowing down, breathing in that fresh vineyard air, and just being surrounded by nature. Whether I’m staying at Meadowood or soaking in the views from Auberge du Soleil in Rutherford, it’s the perfect place to hit reset. There’s something so grounding about morning hikes through the hills, sipping wine with friends, and indulging in amazing food, while overlooking endless rows of vines. And let’s be honest, half the fun is the drive up the 101 with that stunning coastal view. Give me a good girls weekend with wine, laughter, nature, and some R&R, and I’m totally recharged!
What was your last great vacation?
Spain will always have a special place in my heart. It’s where I spent three incredible years working at some of the best restaurants and truly fell in love with the culture, food, and landscapes.
One of my favorite spots is a tiny hotel on a farm called El Casa Rural Larre Aundi, tucked away in the northern part of Spain just outside San Sebastián. It’s quiet, quaint, and surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty that literally took my breath away. Just a few miles down the road was Mugaritz, one of the most unforgettable dining experiences of my life. On weekends, we’d head into San Sebastián to wander the old city by the bay, hopping from pintxo bar to pintxo bar, never once having a bad meal.
What store or service do you always recommend?
For my fellow chefs and food lovers, Japanese Knife Imports is always fun to shop around and test out new knives. Now Serving is a very unique cookbook store. The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills is a classic. So much to look at and so much to taste and see!
What’s a recent big-ticket purchase you love?
I love this really gorgeous Rue de Verneuil large traversée bag that I take with me everywhere. It’s large enough to fit my computer, notebooks, recipe books and knicknacks, but also chic enough to look great with any outfit.
Where are you donating your time or money?
The team at Upward Bound House does incredible work on food insecurities, and what they do for the unhoused, and how they get them back on their feet is incredible. I also personally love Berkeley Animal Care Services, where I used to volunteer. I also got one of my dogs from there and love the community built around that shelter.
WORK & PLAY LINKS: New portal helps homeowners streamline fire rebuilds • Waymos are taking to the freeways • The retirement Number is just an illusion.
CULTURE & LEISURE • Memories
David Byrne • Dolby Theatre (Hollywood Heights) • tonight @ 8p • Section MEZ3 C $382 per
Boston Bruins v Los Angeles Kings • Crypto.com Arena (Downtown) • Fri @ 730p • Section 119 Row 4 $257 per
A Nostalgic Night with Macaulay Culkin: Home Alone 35th Anniversary • Terrace Theater Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center (Long Beach)• Sat @ 730p • Sec LOGE 2 $109 per
REAL ESTATE • First Mover
Founded by Spanish colonizers in 1774, the Central Coast town of Monterey predates not just the state of California (est. 1850) but the entire US. Its real estate market is steady, with a median sales price of $1.25M over the last year, a 7.5% uptick, Redfin reports. Here, three listings that have come to market in Monterey in the past 30 days.
→ 486 Van Buren St (Monterey) • 5BR/3BA, 2496 SF • Ask: $1.35M (reduced from $1.395 on 11/18) • 1908 Victorian on market for first time in 50 years • Days on market: 20 • Agent: Laura Ciucci, Sotheby’s.
→ 1145 Harrison St (Monterey) • 3BR/2BA, 1638 SF • Ask: $1.485M • renovated MCM w/ vast deck and canyon view • Days on market: 23 • Agent: Ryan Melcher, Sotheby’s.
→ 502 Pierce St (Monterey, above) • 3BR/2BA, 2245 SF • Ask: $3.5M • Casa de la Torre, a historic adobe built in 1851 • Days on market: 26 • Agent: Angolee Bode, Compass.
GETAWAYS LINKS: LAX approves $1.5b in roadway improvements that exclude horseshoe • Entire 66 miles of Angeles Crest Highway has reopened, for now • Forthcoming La Jolla restaurant Fleurette taking reservations starting 12/10.
RESTAURANTS • Intel
GRILL NIGHT: Take an immediate right after walking through Maydan Market’s impossible-to-miss massive front double doors, and you’ll find yourself at Yhing Yhang BBQ… or at least some point in the line for it.