What do the Eater layoffs mean for food media in Los Angeles? Did Bill Addison’s review of Vespertine get us more or less excited to visit the two Michelin-star juggernaut? And what to make of Melissa Clark’s underwhelming experiences at Thomas Keller’s Per Se and The French Laundry?

Father Sal’s with us today to discuss all of the above, plus a controversy at Long Beach’s Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles, a bold proclamation of the best fast food item in America, and quote-unquote intrepid food influencer whose rating every steakhouse chain from the comfort of his own Tesla.

In Part 2, we’re joined by Reilly Cox and Luke Reyes for the second installment of our Opening Cafe Esca series. If you missed Part 1, this is our series where Luke and Reilly are bringing us along in their journey of opening an ambitious new Italian restaurant in a stunning Arts District development come March of 2025. For today’s conversation, I met up with Reilly and Luke at their very much under-construction restaurant space, to hear about how they’ve been working with their designer on a design concept that presents a modern Italian dining experience able to convey warmth while also standing out amidst the sea of Italian restaurants in Los Angeles. Today’s convo will focus on the concept of the design, and our next installment coming up in a few weeks will center around the nitty gritty of bringing that vision to life by way of materials, permitting, budget constraints, and more.

Helpful Links:

News about the Eater layoffs https://www.businessinsider.com/vox-media-lays-off-staff-at-lifestyle-brands-thrillist-eater-2024-12

Vox Media Union statement https://www.wgaeast.org/wgae-vox-media-union-statement-on-layoffs-at-thrillist-and-east/

Voc Media Union relief fund https://x.com/vox_union/status/1866132381758886148

Bill Addison reviews Vespertine https://www.latimes.com/food/story/2024-12-05/vespertine-culver-city-2024-review-jordan-kahn-bill-addison

Melissa Clarke on Per Se and The French Laundry https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/26/dining/french-laundry-per-se.html

Controversy at Roscoe’s https://la.eater.com/2024/12/4/24313359/roscoes-house-of-chicken-n-waffles-trump-doll-maga-los-angeles-southern-california

The Ringer oral history on best fast food https://www.theringer.com/2024/12/03/food/chick-fil-a-waffle-fries-fast-food-rankings

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