THE DISH: Wool Growers makes LA Times list of best restaurants in state
The longtime Basque eatery was named to the Los Angeles Times' 101 Best California Restaurants list.
Restaurant critic Bill Addison doesn't mince words in reducing Bakersfield down culinarily to its rich Basque history.
He writes that he passes through the area at least once a year, hitting up a couple of Basque spots to debate which sets the bar since the original Noriega Hotel, a James Beard Award-winning restaurant, closed in 2020.
Addison gives the edge to the East 19th Street restaurant that has been in operation since 1954. He notes the fried chicken is a little juicier and more roundly garlicky, that meat tumbles off the bone in the hearty oxtail stew and the vinegar of the sliced pickled tongue "twangs like Parker Posey's North Carolina accent in 'The White Lotus.'"
Salt is needed on the fries to make them great by his standards. (The hot salsa served with the opening courses also works well with the potatoes with fewer health concerns for diners, in my opinion.)
Atmosphere and staff also earn his praise:" ... The beige floral wallpaper and the plastic table coverings over white tablecloths woozily blur the time-space continuum. I don't know quite where or when I am, but the friendly, fast-moving staff always seems glad I'm here."
The critic also briefly acknowledges Pyrenees Cafe and The Sinking Ship for providing "outlandish, pirate-themed bliss."
Two other Central Valley restaurants made the list: the new American-style spot Saizon in Fresno and Mi Ranchito Cafe in Stockton.
Visit latimes.com/food/list/best-restaurants-california-guide for the complete list.
Additions for Father's Day
Special offers and menus continue to be announced right up until the holiday. Here are a few that didn't make the list shared earlier this week.
At C Fresh (920 California Ave., Suite A): Dads can enjoy $2 beers along with a seafood boil or other entree at the central Bakersfield spot.
Bangkok Street Food (6300 White Lane,Suite F): Diners will receive a free tiramisu cake with a dine-in purchase of $35 or more on Sunday.
BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse (10750 Stockdale Highway): All dads get a free limited-edition pint glass. Rewards members will receive a 20% VIP card when dining at the restaurant on Sunday. The card is good for a discount on food, merchandise and nonalcoholic beverages once per day from June 17 to July 7.
Del Taco (multiple locations): Take advantage of a buy one, get one free deal on epic burritos now through Sunday via the Del Yeah! Rewards app. Those who buy $40 worth of e-gift cards will receive a free regular size meal (choice of combos 1 to 14) and those who purchase $100 worth will receive three free regular-size meals. Free meal offer redeemable through July 31.
Eureka! (10520 Stockdale Highway): Treat Dad to an Russell's Reserve Old Fashioned, made with the Kentucky bourbon, for $10. Guests can also enjoy a Father's Day prix fixe menu ($40) that includes a choice of appetizer (Caesar salad, nachos, fried pickles or Dorito-crusted shishito peppers), entree (choice of chilaquiles, breakfast sandwich or French toast until 3 p.m. or Eureka! American cheeseburger, spicy fried chicken sandwich or steak salad all day) and dessert (chocolate cake or carrot cake).
California Pizza Kitchen (10150 Stockdale Highway): Purchase a $50 gift card and receive a $10 bonus card valid from July 1 to 29.
El Patron Bar and Grill (4803 Panama Lane): All shrimp dishes will be $20.99 and the restaurant will also have drink specials all day.
Headquarters Bar and Eatery (3015 Calloway Drive): This spot will have a $20.99 dinner with a 10-ounce rib-eye, cheese enchiladas, eggs and country potatoes with the option of a discounted beer or michelada.
Huevo House (3939 Ming Ave.): Dads can enjoy a rib-eye plate ($20.99), served with two eggs, potatoes and two cheese enchiladas, as well as a $3 beer or $6 micheladas on Sunday.
Legends (7900 Downing Ave.): Enjoy a rib-eye and grilled shrimp plate ($36.99) with choice of red wine mushroom sauce or peppercorn sauce , served with mashed potatoes and grilled squash. Call 661-218-9789 for reservations.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
35 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Gal Gadot Says She Left ‘Entourage' Set Because Someone Behaved Inappropriately, ‘Hated' the Experience
The actress appeared in one episode of the HBO series in 2009 Gal Gadot appeared on one episode of 'Entourage' during the show's first season — and she doesn't look back on the experience fondly. While speaking to a group of amateur reporters this week, Gadot said she 'hated' being on the show. 'What I hated and didn't enjoy at all was being on 'Entourage,' an American series,' she explained. 'Someone there behaved inappropriately, it got to the point where I left the set and stopped working with them.' More from TheWrap Gal Gadot Says She Left 'Entourage' Set Because Someone Behaved Inappropriately, 'Hated' the Experience Catherine Zeta-Jones Says Husband Michael Douglas' So-Called Retirement Is 'Flexible': 'Never Say Never' 7 Creepy, Kooky Shows Like 'Wednesday' to Watch While You Wait for Part 2 Wendell Pierce Shuts Down Idea of Remaking 'The Wire' She did not elaborate on the experience, or about whom she was talking specifically. Gadot was later asked about her own acting skills, which she described as 'OK.' As she put it, 'If you cast me, you cast me well. My greatest strength is that I'm not afraid to work and I don't let things stop me.' Though her role in the series was short-lived, director Doug Ellin told Entertainment Weekly in 2018 that it was apparent Gadot would have a successful career. 'I remember when Gal came in, it was a small little role but everyone said, 'This girl is gonna be something big,' so it is cool to see,' he said. Elsewhere in the conversation, Gadot admitted navigating the controversies that surrounded the release of 'Snow White' this year was challenging. Her costar Rachel Zegler came under fire in 2024 after posting the words 'and always remember, free palestine' on X after thanking her fans for their support for the 'Snow White' trailer. Gadot served in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) from 2004-2009. Though both Gadot and Zegler put their best foot forward ahead of the film's release, the movie's box office performance was impacted. 'You can always explain and try to give people in the world a context about what's happening [in Israel] and what the reality is here, but in the end people decide for themselves,' Gadot said. 'I was disappointed that the movie was greatly affected by that and didn't do well at the box office.' The post Gal Gadot Says She Left 'Entourage' Set Because Someone Behaved Inappropriately, 'Hated' the Experience appeared first on TheWrap. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Mila Kunis barely ate when she was making Black Swan
Mila Kunis has admitted her preparation for Black Swan involved "a lot of dancing and very little eating".
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Mila Kunis did 'very little eating' while making Black Swan
Mila Kunis barely ate when she was making Black Swan. The 42-year-old actress candidly admitted she had a gruelling diet and exercise regime when working to portray a professional ballerina in the 2010 movie, which was directed by Darren Aronofsky and also starred Natalie Portman. Mila told Vogue magazine: "My prep was a lot of dancing and very little eating — which I know you're not supposed to say, but it's the truth. I drank a lot of broth and danced for 12 hours a day. "We were only supposed to have three months of prep before filming started, but we lost some financing, so that got extended to six months while Darren tried to find money. "It sucked for Darren, but Nat and I were so happy because we had three extra months to dance." And the intense shoot also saw Mila sustain a number of injuries, including one which left her afraid she would have to leave the production. She said: "We would shoot those dancing scenes for hours, and I had bruises all over my ribs just from being lifted over and over again. "I also dislocated my shoulder pretty early in the production and thought I was completely screwed, but Darren sent me to an acupuncturist and I somehow came out totally fine." Although Darren tried to pit Natalie and Mila - who were friends before being cast - against one another during the shoot in a bid to aid their performances, the two actresses quickly realised his tactics. The director said: "My take is that I was trying to be a sneaky director and make them argue. Mila and Natalie both realised very quickly what I was doing and made fun of me, so it quickly became a joke that we all understood. They're both very clever and were instantly privy to whatever trick I was playing. Do you guys remember it differently?" Natalie, 44, replied: "I remember being separated from Mila and that we weren't in the same space a lot when we weren't shooting. Darren made some comment early on, like, 'Ya know, Nat, Mila's dancing so well.' "And I was like, 'Of course she is! She's so f****** talented and I love her so much and I'm happy she's doing a great job!' " Mila added: "Darren would tell me, 'Nat is working really, really hard. She's not even taking Saturdays and Sundays off.' Then I would text Nat and she'd be like, '…No, I'm not?' "I think that's how we figured out what Darren was up to, but it was all in good fun."
