Latest news with #MonaHolmes
Eater
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Eater
4 Restaurants to Try This Weekend in Los Angeles: May 23
Every Friday, our editors compile a trusty list of recommendations to answer the most pressing of questions: 'Where should I eat?' Here now are four places to check out this weekend in Los Angeles. And if you need some ideas on where to drink, here's our list of the hottest places to get cocktails in town. For affordable Chinese takeout: Combo A As food prices continue to rise, getting an affordable but satiating meal is at the top of many people's minds. Cue Combo A, a longtime Echo Park Chinese restaurant that stuffs takeout containers to the brim with chow fun, orange chicken, and beef and broccoli. It's easy to walk out of here with enough food to spread over multiple meals for well under $20, and the quality is far beyond what would be found at a fast food chain. The orange chicken is tossed in a well-seasoned sauce and remains crispy even after cooling down, while the barbecue pork is tender and flavorful. You can even go half and half on combinations of fried rice, chow fun, steamed rice, and chow mein. Add in sides of cream cheese-stuffed wontons, egg rolls, fried chicken, or pot stickers, and wash it all down with boba. 1411 Echo Park Avenue, Suite 101, Los Angeles, CA 90026. — Rebecca Roland, editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest For a group gathering with fantastic bites and sips: BLVD MRKT Getting a group of friends together with varying tastes can be challenging, but not if you know where to go. To make sure there is something for everyone, head to BLVD MRKT, a Montebello food hall made out of shipping containers. BLVD's got a unique charm to it and an even more uncommon model that mentors and showcases new businesses next to more established ones. At the center of the dining courtyard are community picnic tables covered by umbrellas. Star by taking a lap to see what's appealing — in the complex you'll find pupusas from Vchos, a Oaxacan mocha from Cafe Santo, chilaquiles verdes via Los Taquero Mucho, or bites from Cold Pizza (it's served hot), For the Win, and a Mexican Lollipop cider that actually tastes like watermelon candy. Once everything is prepared, sit at a table and let the joy take over. BLVD has excellent programming happening every week, and on Memorial Day Bluey (the animated cartoon series) will be at a meet and greet that kids will adore, along with fruity and creamy paletas with face painting. It's an excellent plan on any weekday or weekend, so start inviting. 520 Whittier Boulevard, Montebello, CA, 90640. — Mona Holmes, editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest For an elegant Memorial Day dinner in Chinatown: Firstborn For a few weeks after it opened in late March, Chinatown's Firstborn was the talk of the food world, drawing curiosity, excitement, and some eyebrow raises given its location and price. The latter point will probably continue to be in contention, but for now, expect some of the most innovative modern Chinese cuisine in Los Angeles right now. Chef Anthony Wang is treating this like his first feature film and creativity abounds from the plate to the space (FYI, his sister is filmmaker Lulu Wang). Some dishes are brilliant, like steak tartare over soft tofu and tofu gnudi with artichokes. Barbecue cabbage is a show-stopper, scorched like burnt marshmallows but exuding an unnatural sweetness. Combined with the heady leek vinaigrette, it's easily one of the most creative dishes I've had in awhile. Cumin lamb saddle carries traditional Sichuan flavors in a luxurious form with a woven bundle of shredded potato elegant enough for a Michelin-starred restaurant. It's like a reimagined Chinese steak frites with the tenderness and gentle gaminess of lamb that's frankly superior to beef (there, I said it). Order more dishes than you think, as portions are on the smaller side, and expect to pay over $120 per person with a drink or two. If Wang can continue to draw the artsy/well-heeled crowd, I expect Firstborn to gain some major eyeballs come awards season (consider this a culinary 'For Your Consideration'). 978 N. Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012. — Matthew Kang, lead editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest For an underrated seafood gem in Melrose's 'Michelin Mile': Koast While Kevin Meehan's tasting menu restaurant Kali is under the knife, his new seafood spot down the street should be your Larchmont/Melrose dinner reservation of choice. Speaking to Meehan prior to opening, he considered Koast his ode to the East Coast seafood restaurant, with much nicer touches and some LA style. Raw bites are inventive and well-portioned, like local bluefin with vadouvan or sea bream sashimi with ponzu, shiso, and wasabi good enough to be served at Nobu. Grilled prawns in thyme butter offer the succulence of a backyard barbecue with the sweet, tender complexity of the best shellfish from New Caledonia. The lobster manicotti could be the most fun dish on the menu, properly spotted with finely chopped chives that wouldn't make sense at a red sauce joint. The cheesy, gooey mess studded with lobster chunks is the ideal counterpoint to the raw fish. A syrupy salted caramel brown butter cake topped with whipped cream awaits those who must get dessert. 6623 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90038. — Matthew Kang, lead editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest Related The 38 Essential Restaurants in Los Angeles Sign up for our newsletter.
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Operation HOPE Announces Formation of Project Restore HOPE Los Angeles
5-Year Initiative Aimed at Addressing Immediate and Long-Term Needs for Individuals, Small Businesses and Communities Impacted by Recent LA-Area Wildfires ATLANTA, January 29, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Operation HOPE, a national nonprofit dedicated to helping low- and moderate-income Americans thrive in an ever-changing economy, announced today the formation of Project Restore HOPE Los Angeles, the second phase of the organization's relief, recovery, and rebuilding effort in Los Angeles following the recent devastating wildfires in the area. Led by Co-Chairs John Hope Bryant (Operation HOPE Founder, Chairman and CEO), Lance Triggs (Operation HOPE EVP and President of HOPE Programs), and Brad Johnson (acclaimed hospitality executive and 30-year Los Angeles resident) as well as committee members including leaders from the public and private sectors, professional athletes and entertainers, Project Restore HOPE Los Angeles is a five-year initiative aimed at addressing the immediate and long-term needs of individuals, small businesses and communities impacted by the recent wildfires. Through Operation HOPE's partnership offices with Bank of America, Wells Fargo, US Bank, Cathay Bank and Delta Airlines, the initiative already has more than 50 HOPE Inside Disaster offices in place in Los Angeles along with 1,000 HOPE Corps volunteers who stand ready to serve the residents and businesses with disaster and recovery services including: FEMA Applications and Appeals Small Business Recovery / SBA Loan Obtaining Copies of Destroyed Documents Insurance Claims Assistance and Appeals Managing Mortgage Payments on Damaged Home Payment Deferment Assistance Negotiating and Working with Your Creditors Financial Counseling Disaster Recovery Budget Home Inspections and Repair Contracts Foreclosure Prevention A key part of Project Restore HOPE Los Angeles' efforts will include a mobilization of support from the city's hospitality industry. Mr. Johnson and Eater LA Editor and Altadena-native Mona Holmes will be leading the effort to establish a headquarters office in Altadena, where many working-class families and businesses were particularly impacted. The office is expected to include a complimentary meal service for community members facilitated by John Cleveland, renowned chef and owner of Post & Beam restaurant, along with guidance from Operation HOPE volunteers who can help residents, workers and business owners with the complex application processes for federal relief and insurance claims as well as provide longer-term financial coaching and support services. Details on the headquarters office will be available at Operation HOPE's website. "This 5-year commitment to help rebuild, restore and strengthen impacted communities in Los Angeles is a reflection of Operation HOPE's longstanding ties to the community that date back to our founding as a response to the civil unrest following the Rodney King verdict over 30 years ago. In partnering with Brad Johnson, Mona Holmes, John Cleveland and so many other highly-regarded and respected leaders in the community, Project Restore HOPE Los Angeles seeks to bring critical on-the-ground financial relief and recovery services to the areas and people most in need so that middle- and working-class families and business owners have the tools and resources to come out of this devastating experience stronger and more resilient than ever," said Mr. Bryant. For more information and assistance, affected individuals are encouraged to contact Operation HOPE Inside Disaster, powered by HOPE Coalition America (HCA). For organizations interested in partnering with Project Restore HOPE Los Angeles, please contact Lance Triggs at About Operation HOPE, 1992, Operation HOPE has been moving America from civil rights to "silver rights" with the mission of making free enterprise and capitalism work for the underserved—disrupting poverty for millions of low and moderate-income youth and adults across the nation. Through its community uplift model, HOPE Inside, which received the 2016 Innovator of the Year recognition by American Banker magazine, Operation HOPE has served more than 4 million individuals and directed more than $3.2 billion in economic activity into disenfranchised communities—turning check-cashing customers into banking customers, renters into homeowners, small business dreamers into small business owners, minimum wage workers into living wage consumers, and uncertain disaster victims into financially empowered disaster survivors. For more information: Follow the HOPE conversation on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn. View source version on Contacts Operation HOPE Contact: Sarah Troutt, Mendel Communicationssarah@ Sign in to access your portfolio
Associated Press
29-01-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Operation HOPE Announces Formation of Project Restore HOPE Los Angeles
Operation HOPE, a national nonprofit dedicated to helping low- and moderate-income Americans thrive in an ever-changing economy, announced today the formation of Project Restore HOPE Los Angeles, the second phase of the organization's relief, recovery, and rebuilding effort in Los Angeles following the recent devastating wildfires in the area. Led by Co-Chairs John Hope Bryant (Operation HOPE Founder, Chairman and CEO), Lance Triggs (Operation HOPE EVP and President of HOPE Programs), and Brad Johnson (acclaimed hospitality executive and 30-year Los Angeles resident) as well as committee members including leaders from the public and private sectors, professional athletes and entertainers, Project Restore HOPE Los Angeles is a five-year initiative aimed at addressing the immediate and long-term needs of individuals, small businesses and communities impacted by the recent wildfires. Through Operation HOPE's partnership offices with Bank of America, Wells Fargo, US Bank, Cathay Bank and Delta Airlines, the initiative already has more than 50 HOPE Inside Disaster offices in place in Los Angeles along with 1,000 HOPE Corps volunteers who stand ready to serve the residents and businesses with disaster and recovery services including: FEMA Applications and Appeals Small Business Recovery / SBA Loan Obtaining Copies of Destroyed Documents Insurance Claims Assistance and Appeals Managing Mortgage Payments on Damaged Home Payment Deferment Assistance Negotiating and Working with Your Creditors Financial Counseling Disaster Recovery Budget Home Inspections and Repair Contracts Foreclosure Prevention A key part of Project Restore HOPE Los Angeles' efforts will include a mobilization of support from the city's hospitality industry. Mr. Johnson and Eater LA Editor and Altadena-native Mona Holmes will be leading the effort to establish a headquarters office in Altadena, where many working-class families and businesses were particularly impacted. The office is expected to include a complimentary meal service for community members facilitated by John Cleveland, renowned chef and owner of Post & Beam restaurant, along with guidance from Operation HOPE volunteers who can help residents, workers and business owners with the complex application processes for federal relief and insurance claims as well as provide longer-term financial coaching and support services. Details on the headquarters office will be available at Operation HOPE's website. 'This 5-year commitment to help rebuild, restore and strengthen impacted communities in Los Angeles is a reflection of Operation HOPE's longstanding ties to the community that date back to our founding as a response to the civil unrest following the Rodney King verdict over 30 years ago. In partnering with Brad Johnson, Mona Holmes, John Cleveland and so many other highly-regarded and respected leaders in the community, Project Restore HOPE Los Angeles seeks to bring critical on-the-ground financial relief and recovery services to the areas and people most in need so that middle- and working-class families and business owners have the tools and resources to come out of this devastating experience stronger and more resilient than ever,' said Mr. Bryant. For more information and assistance, affected individuals are encouraged to contact Operation HOPE Inside Disaster, powered by HOPE Coalition America (HCA). For organizations interested in partnering with Project Restore HOPE Los Angeles, please contact Lance Triggs at [email protected]. About Operation HOPE, Inc. Since 1992, Operation HOPE has been moving America from civil rights to 'silver rights' with the mission of making free enterprise and capitalism work for the underserved—disrupting poverty for millions of low and moderate-income youth and adults across the nation. Through its community uplift model, HOPE Inside, which received the 2016 Innovator of the Year recognition by American Banker magazine, Operation HOPE has served more than 4 million individuals and directed more than $3.2 billion in economic activity into disenfranchised communities—turning check-cashing customers into banking customers, renters into homeowners, small business dreamers into small business owners, minimum wage workers into living wage consumers, and uncertain disaster victims into financially empowered disaster survivors. For more information: Follow the HOPE conversation on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn. . CONTACT: Operation HOPE Contact: Sarah Troutt, Mendel Communications SOURCE: Operation HOPE Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 01/29/2025 03:45 PM/DISC: 01/29/2025 03:45 PM
