Latest news with #StephanieIzard
Time Out
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time Out
The summer edition of Dine LA is finally back—and here are our favorite deals
Beginning tomorrow, Dine LA is back. Now in its 17th year, L.A.'s biggest restaurant week offers prix-fixe menus starting from $15 per person, though many places now opt to offer menus in the priciest, wide-ranging category: $65 and above. For the next two weeks, Angelenos can score a handful of small discounts at restaurants across the city, including a few of what I consider the city's best restaurants. For those who were going to splurge anyway, you can even score a two-Michelin-star meal at a $75 discount over at Mélisse in Santa Monica. For all of those hunting for an actual bargain, I've found 17 different places across Los Angeles that I'd consider a good deal, in one way or another. My personal favorites include the pair of $25 and $35 meal deals from Koreatown's Soban, home to L.A.'s best soy-marinated crab and one of the best banchan selections in the city. (Any genuine lover of Korean cuisine knows that the complimentary side dishes provided with your meal are one of the best representations of a given restaurant's true culinary capabilities.) Did I mention Soban is also one of the city's best restaurants? Another truly great option is the $65 prix-fixe menu from the Girl & the Goat in the Arts District, which includes five family-style dishes and a matcha tres leches with rhubarb-strawberry sorbet for dessert. While Top Chef alum Stephanie Izard's globally inspired small plates restaurant often gets overlooked with all the other amazing options in the destination restaurant-heavy neighborhood, the Dine LA menu might just remind you why this brick-lined, plant-filled restaurant is a great option to keep in your back pocket for your next night out in greater Downtown L.A. Until Somni reopened last November and upstaged all other restaurants in West Hollywood (it also recently got three Michelin stars!), Ardor was my top dining pick in the city-neighborhood, and it's also participating in Dine LA. The swanky hotel restaurant inside the West Hollywood EDITION offers a vegetable-forward menu within its cinematic dining room and verdant outdoor patio. The $65 prix-fixe menu nets you the eatery's signature tomato-topped milk bread, plus your choice of Spanish octopus or tandoor carrots as an appetizer. For mains, choose between skirt steak, king crab tagliatelle or Ardor's standout sweet potato curry. While I've yet to personally try the chocolate espresso torte on Ardor's Dine LA menu, I've loved every dessert I've tried at the restaurant, so it's likely a safe bet as well. Finally, I'd like to recommend bookmarking two restaurants that have yet to release their Dine LA menus: Mr. T in Hollywood and Sushi Kisen in Arcadia. Both restaurants will be offering menus in the $65 and over category. Mr. T offers République alum Alisa Vannah's rendition of modern Parisian cuisine. Co-owned by music mogul Jay-Z (whose offices are located upstairs), it's one of the best French restaurants in the city, with a gorgeous patio full of string lights and a fire pit. As for Sushi Kisen, the San Gabriel Valley sushi restaurant is one of my favorite places for sushi in L.A. County. Even on a regular day, the omakase at the counter is a relative bargain. Despite the fact it takes over an hour for me to drive there in normal traffic, I spent my birthday weekend shlepping to Arcadia for the restaurant's second anniversary kaisendon, which came topped with blue crab, ikura, sea urchin and shrimp. The set also came with a side of marinated sashimi. While Sushi Kisen has yet to publish its Dine LA menu, you can rest assured that whatever they're offering will be a steal in terms of fish quality and overall value. While it's true that the vast majority of Dine LA prix-fixe menus aren't really deals anymore, these handful of options will be more than enough to keep you happy during the summer edition. Bon appétit!
Time Out
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
DTLA loses another nightlife hub: The Mayan will close in September
A theater is a glorious thing, built to make audiences feel that they've escaped, with architectural splendor that conjures another time or place. And that's certainly true of the Mayan, the 1927 theater in Downtown L.A. with an intricate facade and stage that look like an ancient Mayan temple. In recent years, the theater had become a nightlife hub with live music, DJ nights and lucha libre matches—but it's closing down in September, as first spotted by The Scenestar. The venue itself has been around for 98 years, and this club-like iteration of the Mayan that most Angelenos now know has been under the same management for three and a half decades. The company announced on Instagram, 'It is with heavy yet grateful hearts that we announce the Mayan will be closing its doors at the end of September, after 35 unforgettable years.' For anyone rooting for DTLA to continue as a nightlife destination, this is hard news. View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Mayan (@themayanla) The theater is closing in part due to residual loss of income from the pandemic. Theater president Sammy Chao told the L.A. Times that the last five years have been 'unrelenting' with the loss of business, rising inflation, changes in consumer habits, fires, political unrest and policies at city, state and federal levels that adversely affect small business owners. The Mayan isn't the only victim of this downturn. It's tragic to say, but Downtown L.A. is undeniably in a slump right now. Just last week, three notable restaurants in the area announced their closures: Cabra, a rooftop Peruvian-inspired restaurant from chef Stephanie Izard; Shibumi, a Michelin-starred Japanese restaurant; and Cole's, one of L.A.'s oldest restaurants (and purported originator of the French dip). Last year, the L.A. Live location of the Conga Room closed its doors, too, and the formerly 24-hour diner the Original Pantry Cafe shuttered earlier this year. But just because the Mayan is closing doesn't mean it will be torn down, in case that's anyone's fear. While the current leaseholder is letting go of the nightclub business, there's no indication that the existing owners have sold the building. Further, the theater is an L.A. Historic-Cultural Monument, which means that if someone tries to tear it down, environmental reviews are triggered and the city's Cultural Heritage Commission can object to and delay the demolition. That doesn't necessarily prevent demolition, but tearing down such an iconic building would be unlikely. You can easily spot the theater thanks to its beautiful neon blade sign reading 'Mayan' and bas-relief faces of the god Huitzilopochtli. Inside, the lofty ceiling's chandelier contains a replica of the Aztec calendar stone while colossal pre-Columbian figures flank the stage and the feathered snake Quetzalcoatl wends his way above what appear to be massive carved stone blocks but are really made of plaster. (That's Hollywood magic!) Besides the amazing building itself, the programming here was exceptional. The space hosted Lucha VaVoom (and its successor), a regular wrestling, comedy and burlesque show. Additionally, incredible bands performed there over the years, including Pixies, Daft Punk, Coldplay, Jack White, Muse, Sasha & Digweed, Tiësto, Paul Van Dyk, Panic! At The Disco, Maná, Marc Anthony, Los Tigres del Norte, Ramón Ayala and Alejandra Guzmán, according to one of the Instagram commenters. Remember the romantic Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner 1992 film The Bodyguard? That was filmed here, as well as the goofy 1998 A Night at the Roxbury with comedic geniuses Will Ferrell, Molly Shannon, Jennifer Coolidge and Chris Kattan. The Netflix women's wrestling show Glow was filmed here, too, along with plenty of other lesser-known films. In an effort to create some last memories at the theater in its current incarnation, the Mayan invites everyone to come dance every Saturday night through September 13.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Who Is Stephanie Izard's Husband, Gary Valentine & How Many Kids Do They Have?
Fans are eager to learn more about and her husband. The chef and television personality is popularly known for winning Bravo's Top Chef Season 4. While her career continues to grab attention, many have equally become interested in her personal life. So, here's all you need to know about Izard's spouse, including his profession and the couple's kids. Stephanie Izard is married to Gary Valentine. In an interview with Pursuitist, Izard revealed that she met Valentine at a Lillie's Q bar, where he served as a manager. Though she was intoxicated during their first interaction, they connected and became friends. A year later, the friendship blossomed into love. In October 2013, the pair tied the knot in Chicago. Their reception took place at Bridgeport Art Center, where the guests were served delicious food made by the chef of Chicago's The Bristol and Balena, Chris Pandel. Moreover, Izard shared praises for the menu exclusively with People. She said, 'I was blown away by the food at our wedding! We had such amazing friends put together an incredible menu that everyone loved.' Meanwhile, Mathew Rice, Izard's pastry chef at Girl & the Goat, was assigned to make the wedding cake. Later, Stephanie Izard also took to X (formerly Twitter) to share a picture of her and Valentine's wedding day and express gratitude to their talented friends for making their day special. Stephanie Izard's husband is a craft-beer consultant. As Gary Valentine mostly prefers staying away from the limelight, details about his educational qualifications remain undisclosed. However, according to Chicago Beer Geeks, apart from being a consultant, he has taught at Siebel Institute of Technology. Additionally, he is the Beer Director at all of his wife's restaurant establishments. Stephanie Izard and her husband, Gary Valentine, have one child together. In 2016, the pair was blessed with a son, whom they named Ernie William Valentine. Currently nine years old, the young boy often features in his parents' social media posts. Originally reported by Shazmeen Navrange on The post Who Is Stephanie Izard's Husband, Gary Valentine & How Many Kids Do They Have? appeared first on Mandatory.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Who Is Stephanie Izard's Husband? Gary Valentine's Job & Kids
Fans are eager to learn more about and her husband. The chef and television personality is popularly known for winning Bravo's Top Chef Season 4. While her career continues to grab attention, many have equally become interested in her personal life. So, here's all you need to know about Izard's spouse, including his profession and the couple's kids. Stephanie Izard is married to Gary Valentine. In an interview with Pursuitist, Izard revealed that she met Valentine at a Lillie's Q bar, where he served as a manager. Though she was intoxicated during their first interaction, they connected and became friends. A year later, the friendship blossomed into love. In October 2013, the pair tied the knot in Chicago. Their reception took place at Bridgeport Art Center, where the guests were served delicious food made by the chef of Chicago's The Bristol and Balena, Chris Pandel. Moreover, Izard shared praises for the menu exclusively with People. She said, 'I was blown away by the food at our wedding! We had such amazing friends put together an incredible menu that everyone loved.' Meanwhile, Mathew Rice, Izard's pastry chef at Girl & the Goat, was assigned to make the wedding cake. Later, Stephanie Izard also took to X (formerly Twitter) to share a picture of her and Valentine's wedding day and express gratitude to their talented friends for making their day special. Stephanie Izard's husband is a craft-beer consultant. As Gary Valentine mostly prefers staying away from the limelight, details about his educational qualifications remain undisclosed. However, according to Chicago Beer Geeks, apart from being a consultant, he has taught at Siebel Institute of Technology. Additionally, he is the Beer Director at all of his wife's restaurant establishments. Stephanie Izard and her husband, Gary Valentine, have one child together. In 2016, the pair was blessed with a son, whom they named Ernie William Valentine. Currently nine years old, the young boy often features in his parents' social media posts. The post Who Is Stephanie Izard's Husband? Gary Valentine's Job & Kids appeared first on - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
Chicago Tribune
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Guide: 30 Chicago food and drink festivals for summer 2025
Festivals are one of the best parts of summer in Chicago, ranging from blowout concerts to small neighborhood parties. Food and drinks are key to any celebration, but sometimes they're the real headliners. The city and surrounding suburbs host annual bashes including burger competitions, beer and wine tastings, and celebrations of vegan fare. Enjoy the weather by heading to one of these 30 festivals. The Loop and Near North Side Chicago Gourmet The Illinois Restaurant Association's annual festival kicks off from 6-9 p.m. Sept. 25 with a night of tacos prepared by local chefs paired with cocktails and agave spirits. The next day, diners can feast on burgers and vote for their favorites from 6-9 p.m. and then continue the party with bites and cocktails at TAO Chicago from 9 p.m. to midnight. Chef Stephanie Izard hosts a grand cru tasting of wine and spirits from 2-5 p.m. and 7-10 p.m. Sept. 27. Get a last taste of the celebration with brunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 28. Harris Theater Rooftop at Millennium Park, 205 E. Randolph St., The Great American Lobster Fest Feast on a whole Maine lobster along with lobster bisque, lobster rolls and barbecue while browsing craft vendors and listening to live music. Aug. 16-17 at Navy Pier Beer Garden, 900 E. Grand Ave., Taste of Chicago Small versions of the annual celebration of Chicago's diverse culinary scene will be popping up in Marquette Park June 28, Pullman Park July 19 and Albany Park Aug. 9 before the main event on Sept. 5-7. Grant Park, 301 S. Columbus Drive; free, Taste of River North Downtown restaurants serve up bites at the annual fest that includes wine and spirits tastings, a dog parade, live music and a family area. 5-10 p.m. July 18 and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. July 19 at 627 N. Wells St.; 773-868-3010, Vegandale Vendors from around the world serve a wide range of vegan fare, including tacos, waffles, doughnuts and ice cream, at a bash featuring interactive art and music. Noon to 8 p.m. June 21-22 at Grant Park, Butler Field, 350 E. Monroe St.; tickets are $17-$40, Chicago Taco & Tequila Fest Sample tacos from more than 10 Chicagoland restaurants paired with beer, tequila and margarita flights while listening to live music. 5-10 p.m. June 27 and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. June 28 at Wrightwood Park, 2534 N. Greenview Ave.; tickets are $10, 773-868-3010, Craft Brews at the Zoo Visit the Lincoln Park Zoo after hours, where tasting stations will be serving more than 100 craft beers and ciders from local producers, including Right Bee Cider, Pipeworks Brewing Co. and Revolution Brewing. The adults-only party also features live music from SideStreets, food trucks and yard games. 7-10 p.m. June 28 at 2400 N. Cannon Drive; tickets are $57-$67, 312-742-2000, Flavors of Albany Park Choose from one of four routes on the annual restaurant crawl to sample dishes from neighborhood spots. 5-8 p.m. June 25 at North River Commission, 3403 W. Lawrence Ave.; tickets are $40, $25 for kids 12 and under, Horner Brew Fest Spend an evening in the park sipping beer and cider from more than 30 local breweries. Grab a snack from a food truck and catch live funk and soul from Bumpus. 6-10 p.m. July 18 at Horner Park, 2741 W. Montrose Ave.; tickets are $44-$54, 312-719-1960, Lakeview Taco Fest Try a variety of tacos from local restaurants and vote for your favorite at the 12th annual bash, which also features seasonal beers, Mexican wrestlers, live music on two stages and kids activities. 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Aug. 23 and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Aug. 24 at 3500 N. Southport Ave.; $10 suggested donation, 773-868-3010, Ravenswood on Tap The neighborhood's Malt Row brewing community offers special tappings alongside cocktails from Koval Distillery, live music, food vendors and ax throwing. Noon to 10 p.m. July 19 and noon to 8 p.m. July 20 at Ravenswood and Berteau avenues; $10 suggested donation, 773-975-2088, Ribfest Chicago The 25th annual barbecue competition features a bourbon and whiskey tasting, live music on two stages and a kids area. 5-10 p.m. June 6 and noon to 10 p.m. June 7-8 at 4000 N. Lincoln Ave.; $10 suggested donation, 773-868-3010, Roscoe Village Burger Fest Burger vendors compete for your vote at the 18th annual fest, which also features two stages of live music with performers including 16 Candles and Hello Weekend. 5-10 p.m. July 18 and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. July 19-20 at Fellger Park, 2000 W. Belmont Ave.; $10 suggested donation, 773-868-3010, Summer Wine Fest Stroll through the Lincoln Park Zoo's gardens and animal habitats while trying more than 50 varieties of wine from 20 wineries. The annual party also features guided tours with the horticulture team, live music, lawn games and free carousel rides. 7-10 p.m. July 25 at 2400 N. Cannon Drive; tickets are $57-$67, 312-742-2000, Taste of Lincoln Avenue The 41st annual street festival features food, arts and crafts vendors, a tasting of eight Midwestern whiskeys curated by Delilah's ($20-$25), live music on two stages, a dog parade and a kids' carnival. 3-10 p.m. July 25 and noon to 10 p.m. July 26 at 2500 N. Lincoln Ave.; $10 suggested donation, 773-868-3010, Taste of Polonia Billed as the largest Polish festival in the U.S., the Labor Day weekend celebration features tastings, a craft beer tent, and vendors selling pierogi, potato pancakes, blintzes, zapiekanka and other traditional fare. Tribute bands and comedians perform, and there are carnival rides, games and inflatables for the kids. 5-10:30 p.m. Aug. 29, noon to 10:30 p.m. Aug. 30-31 and noon to 9:30 p.m. Sept. 1 at Copernicus Center, 5216 W. Lawrence Ave.; tickets are $10-$15, WingOut Chicago Try variations on wings from vendors including Jake Melnick's Corner Tap and Smoke Daddy and vote for your favorite at the 10th annual fest, which also features live reggae, soul and R&B music. 1:30-4:30 p.m. and 5:30-8 p.m. Aug. 30 and 1:30-7:30 p.m. Aug. 31 at Gallagher Way, 3635 N. Clark St.; tickets are $20, Taste of Greektown Feast on Greek fare from neighborhood restaurants at the 35th annual celebration of Mediterranean culture, which also features performances from Greek bands and games. 4-10 p.m. Aug. 22 and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Aug. 23-24 at 315 S. Halsted St.; $10 suggested donation, 773-868-3010, Taste of Randolph After, ROOP, Gaijin and other West Loop spots serve up food and drink at the 28th annual street festival, which also features live music, DJs and kids activities. 5-10 p.m. June 13 and noon to 10 p.m. June 14-15 at Randolph Street between Peoria Street and Racine Avenue; $10-$15 suggested donation, Windy City Smokeout Twenty-two pitmasters from around the country, including Chicago's Lexington Betty Smokehouse, Smoque BBQ and Soul & Smoke, show off a wide variety of barbecue styles at the annual festival. You'll also find cocktails and performances from top country music stars, including Bailey Zimmerman, Kane Brown and Old Dominion. July 10-13 at United Center, 1901 W. Madison St.; tickets are $77-$163, Tacos Y Tamales Festival The annual celebration of Latin cuisine includes regional fare paired with beer, micheladas and margaritas plus art installations, music and dance performances. 5-9 p.m. July 18 and noon to 9 p.m. July 18-20 on Blue Island Avenue between Wolcott and Ashland avenues; $7 suggested donation, Bloody Mary Fest Try versions of the classic cocktail made with a wide variety of booze and other ingredients as mixologists compete to make the best drink. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 17 at Everts Park, 111 North Ave., Highwood; free, Blues, Brews and BBQ Try beer, mead and cider from local producers including Casa Humilde Cerveceria, Noon Whistle Brewing and Penrose Brewing while listening to music from Marty 'Big Dog' Mercer, Brother John and Windy City Rev Ups. Noon to 3 p.m. June 7 at Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle; tickets are $68-$83, 630-968-0074, Evanston Art & Big Fork Festival Local restaurants and food trucks provide a variety of dishes in downtown Evanston, where you can also browse works from more than 150 artists. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 16 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 17 at 800 Church St., Evanston; free, Garlic Fest Enjoy the taste and smell of garlic in pasta, sandwiches and spreads, as well as more unusual combinations such as cookies, cocktails, ice cream and cupcakes. 4:30-9:30 p.m. Aug. 13 at Everts Park, 111 North Ave., Highwood; free, Inferno Fest Test your heat tolerance by trying spicy American, Italian and Mexican dishes, desserts and cocktails, and competing in a hot taquito-eating contest. Stevie Ray Vaughan tribute band Wall of Denial performs and there will be other vendors for those who prefer their food mild. 4:30-9:30 p.m. June 25 at Everts Park, 111 North Ave., Highwood; free, Naperville Ale Fest Local breweries, including Pollyanna Brewing Co., Solemn Oath Brewery and Half Acre, offer samples of more than 100 beers while Cheesie's Pub & Grub, Pierogi Rig and other food trucks sell snacks. Noon-5 p.m. July 12 at Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St., Naperville; tickets are $60, Oak Park Microbrew Review More than 50 breweries pour a variety of beers, seltzers, ciders and spirits at the 18th annual fest, which also features local food vendors and live music. Noon to 6 p.m. Aug. 16 at 1010 Lake St., Oak Park; tickets are $63-$73, Taste of Highland Park Try a variety of dishes and drinks from more than a dozen vendors, including Cafe Dacha, Pixca, Ordo and Mil Colibris Bakery & Cafe while listening to music from Too Hype Crew and Queen Flash. 5-10 p.m. June 20-21 at Port Clinton Square, 600 Central Ave.; free, Taste of Oak Brook Celebrate Independence Day with food from Oak Brook restaurants, a beer garden tent, music from Sixteen Candles and DJ Speed, a drone show and a fireworks show at dusk. 4 p.m. July 3 at Village Sports Core Fields, 700 Oak Brook Road, Oak Brook,
