Say Cheese Please! The Grilled Cheese Truck rolls into the San Fernando Valley
BY KAREN YOUNG I love cheese. No two ways about it. My basic philosophy is that life without cheese would be bad. Well, let’s just say that life without cheese and tomatoes would really bad. Perhaps it goes back to those childhood memories of grilled cheese with a slice of tomato in the middle or grilled cheese plain paired with a bowl of tangy tomato soup. Good old comfort food. [caption id="attachment_22953" align="alignright" width="350" caption="Marking history: The Grilled Cheese Truck's first day in the 818. I feel like a proud aunt, even though we just met! Photo: Karen Young"][/caption] Whatever it is — ...
Back to the Kitchen: A Valentine’s Day menu mixed in with romantic tidbits
BY GWEN KENNEALLY "There is no sincerer love than the love of food." ~ George Bernard Shaw I know a lot of people want to be wined and dined on Valentine's Day, however, I am not one of them. Aside from the fact that many restaurants are over-crowded and over-priced, I believe that cooking for that special someone is one of the most sensual and giving things that one can do. A special cozy, intimate dinner at home can be ever so romantic. Start off by sending a hand-written invitation (even if you are living together!) And remember, the dinner does not ...
Local Heroes: Sherman Oaks residents Lee and Patty Kagan help to save lives in Haiti
BY JO PERRY For the past two years, Sherman Oaks internist Lee Kagan and his wife Patty, a critical care nurse and nurse educator at Providence Tarzana Medical Center, have visited the Dominican Republic with teams of medical students and faculty from the Mayo Clinic medical school. They haven’t gone to attend a medical convention at one of the Dominican Republic’s spectacular beachfront resorts, but to visit the dusty border town of Jimani and work providing primary medical care to desperately poor Haitian sugar cane workers who live in squalid settlements along the frontier. [caption id="attachment_23009" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Patty Kagan helping patients ...
The Sweet Cookie and Brownie Madness of Xtreme Desserts
BY KAREN YOUNG Have you ever bitten into a dessert that instantly made you smile? Well, that’s what happened when I tasted Xtreme Desserts' Red Velvet Cookie. My face just lit up. To be honest, the perfectly sweet taste of the cookie/cream cheese combination that embraced my palate was a surprise because I’m really not a fan of Red Velvet anything. [caption id="attachment_22747" align="alignright" width="348" caption="Xtreme Desserts "Sweet Tooth" creator Glenn Panitz making his signature Red Velvet Cookies in his North Hollywood commercial kitchen. Photo: Karen Young"][/caption] Frankly, I think it is the most over-exposed, over-done, over-replicated, trend-happy flavor there is ...
Nick Jonas surprises fans at Mark’s Garden in Sherman Oaks
Sherman Oaks — Pop star Nick Jonas did an impromptu concert and gave fans roses at Mark's Garden in Sherman Oaks on February 2. Jonas, who just released his new solo album "Who I Am," performed several songs including “Rose Garden” in front of the store, whose owner is Mark Held, is known as "florist to the stars." Jonas used Twitter to let fans know that he was going to Mark's Garden for a special performance — tweeting “To all the fans I just want to say I love you. From the bottom of my heart. Thank you for a ...
My Daily Find
Say Cheese Please! The Grilled Cheese Truck rolls into the San Fernando Valley
BY KAREN YOUNG I love cheese. No two ways about it. My basic philosophy is that life...
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Upcoming EventsSAVE YOUR BIG SHOP FOR WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10th TO SHOP FOR SHANE’S INSPIRATION! Whole Foods Market on Riverside and Coldwater in Sherman Oaks is donating 5% of all purchases to Shane’s Inspiration on Wednesday,...
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Back to the Kitchen: A Valentine’s Day menu mixed in with romantic tidbits
BY GWEN KENNEALLY “There is no sincerer love than the love of food.” ~ George Bernard Shaw I know a lot of people want to be wined and dined on Valentine’s Day, however, I am not one of them. Aside from the fact that many restaurants are over-crowded and over-priced, I believe that cooking for that special someone is one of the most sensual and giving... (more)
Local Heroes: Sherman Oaks residents Lee and Patty Kagan help to save lives in Haiti
BY JO PERRY For the past two years, Sherman Oaks internist Lee Kagan and his wife Patty, a critical care nurse and nurse educator at Providence Tarzana Medical Center, have visited the Dominican Republic with teams of medical students and faculty from the Mayo Clinic medical school. They haven’t gone to attend a medical convention at one of the Dominican Republic’s... (more)
The Sweet Cookie and Brownie Madness of Xtreme Desserts
BY KAREN YOUNG Have you ever bitten into a dessert that instantly made you smile? Well, that’s what happened when I tasted Xtreme Desserts’ Red Velvet Cookie. My face just lit up. To be honest, the perfectly sweet taste of the cookie/cream cheese combination that embraced my palate was a surprise because I’m really not a fan of Red Velvet anything. Xtreme... (more)
Nick Jonas surprises fans at Mark’s Garden in Sherman Oaks
Sherman Oaks — Pop star Nick Jonas did an impromptu concert and gave fans roses at Mark’s Garden in Sherman Oaks on February 2. Jonas, who just released his new solo album “Who I Am,” performed several songs including “Rose Garden” in front of the store, whose owner is Mark Held, is known as “florist to the stars.” Jonas used... (more)
My Four-Legged Finds: Won’t You Adopt Me?
BY RACHEL WEIL It’s raining dogs and cats…literally. Please adopt or foster and save a life! There are pure breds, mutts and puppies awaiting adoption. Unfortunately, there are not enough people coming to their rescue. If you’d like to foster, please email raweil@aol.com for more information. East Valley Animal Care, 14409 Vanowen St., Van Nuys, CA 91405, 818-756-9323 Everest Impound... (more)
The Weekend Cocktail: Super Bowl Cheers
BY GWEN KENNEALLY Here are some fun cocktails for the Super Bowl. Even if you are not really into the game you can enjoy a Sunday evening with friends and family. Quarterback Sack Drink Recipe 2 oz Gin 2 oz Vodka 1 oz Triple Sec 4 oz Bloody Mary Mix Splash tonic water Suueez of limejuice Fill a mixing glass with ice combine all ingredients except tonic water, shake and... (more)
For Valentine’s Day or Any Day: Spice it Up as an Iconic Pin Up Girl
BY CAROLE ROSNER “We’re reviving the American tradition of pin-up photography,” exclaimed Stacy Lande. As co-owner of Iconic Pinups with partner Carol Sheridan, these two friends can “transform any woman into a femme fatale.” Think Bette Paige, Marilyn Monroe, Jayne Mansfield and you! Lande is the make-up expert and Sheridan is the photographer for this year-old... (more)
Kids’ Book Corner: Celebrating love and animals
BY JO PERRY Think back to your first love and most likely you’ll remember the profound and generous affection you felt for an animal or a pet, and the love that animal returned to you. My Valentine’s Day-themed picks, two classics and one new, celebrate this love: Our Farm by The Animals of Farm Sanctuary, poems by Maya Gottfried, paintings by Robert Rahway Zakanitch... (more)
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