The LA Food Podcast

This week on The LA Food Podcast, we dive into Pete Wells’ provocative New York Times piece on how some of the world’s top chefs are using artificial intelligence to reinvent fine dining. From crafting the perfect sausage to generating entire tasting menus, is AI the secret sauce of the future—or the recipe for a soulless, flavorless culinary dystopia? Luca and Father Sal break it all down.

In Chef’s Kiss, Big Miss, we unpack:

• Evan Funke’s *ahem* sleek new Roman bar
• A spicy Bill Esparza take on Stanley Tucci
• Matt Rodbard’s controversial take on Jonathan Gold
• And McDonald’s getting… a little too online?

The LA Food Podcast is powered by Acquired Taste Media, the studio behind Taqueando with Bill Esparza and The LA Countdown. Explore more at acquiredtastemedia.com and don’t forget to rate and review wherever you listen.

#LAfood #foodpodcast #AIchefs #PeteWells #restauranttech #EvanFunke #BillEsparza #McDonalds #AcquiredTasteMedia

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Go check out The Lonely Oyster in Echo Park! ⁠https://thelonelyoyster.com/⁠

This week on The LA Food Podcast, we're diving into a bold new plan to revive Santa Monica’s Third Street Promenade: open-container entertainment zones. Think Bourbon Street meets beachside retail. LA Food Editor Karen Palmer of SFGate joins us to unpack the potential impact on local restaurants and bars, drawing on reporting from other California cities where these zones are already live. Could this be the key to revitalizing LA’s struggling dining corridors—or just another overhyped nothingburger?

In Part 2, we sit down with Scott Linder and Ryan Gianola of Matu and the brand-new Matu Kai in Brentwood. We get into why they expanded beyond Beverly Hills, how the new spot differs, and what they’ve learned in their first couple months serving steak to the Westside.

Plus, in our lightning round of Chef’s Kiss / Big Miss:

• Bay Cities and its vermin problem
  

• Yelp’s "definitive" ranking of the best fast food burgers
  

• The New York Times takes a swing at one of the world’s most famous pizzerias
  

Powered by Acquired Taste Media. Don’t miss our other show Taqueando with Bill Esparza—this week, Luca takes some friendly fire over his fish taco opinions. And mark your calendar: The LA Chef Conference returns to Redbird and Vibiana on October 6.

#LAfoodpodcast #SantaMonica #ThirdStreetPromenade #MatuKai #BrentwoodRestaurants #KarenPalmer #EntertainmentZones #LosAngelesDining #FastFoodRankings #LArestaurants #ChefsKissBigMiss #AcquiredTasteMedia

Helpful Links:

Karen Palmer on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/karenlpalmer/?hl=en

Karen on entertainment zones for SFGate https://www.sfgate.com/california/article/california-entertainment-zones-public-drinking-20327329.php

Bay Cities’ vermin problem https://la.eater.com/2025/5/27/24438312/bay-cities-deli-temporary-closure-rodent-insect-vermin-infestation

NYT on Lucali’s exclusion from their pizza list https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/22/dining/why-lucali-still-isnt-on-our-best-pizza-list.html

Yelp’s burger ranking https://www.foodbeast.com/news/yelp-reveals-the-top-burger-chains-of-2025/

Bettina Makalintal on influencer trips https://www.eater.com/24433836/food-creator-influencer-travel-tour

Matu Kai https://www.matusteak.com/

Scott Linder on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lindersc/

Ryan Gianola on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ryanzane15/?hl=en

The LA Chef Conference https://www.lachefconference.com/

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Go check out The Lonely Oyster in Echo Park! ⁠https://thelonelyoyster.com/⁠

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Get 10% off at House of Macadamias using code "LAFOOD" https://www.houseofmacadamias.com/pages/la-foods

This week on The LA Food Podcast, we dive into one of the wildest chef vs. critic stories in recent memory: Thomas Keller of The French Laundry allegedly asked SF Chronicle critic Mackenzie Chung Fegan to leave the restaurant. Was it a momentary lapse or a sign of a chef in crisis?

Then: Chef Ari Kolender of LA seafood hotspot Found Oyster and Eagle Rock’s Queen’s Raw Bar & Grill joins us to talk about his gorgeous new cookbook How to Cook the Finest Things in the Sea, the rebrand of Queen’s, and his journey from Kosher kid in South Carolina to one of LA’s most celebrated chefs.

We also get into:

🧾 Congress' push for a No Tax on Tips law and what it means for restaurants and diners

🍔 Questlove’s no-beef burger spot in Westlake Village

🥪 A Katz’s Deli dupe in Burbank

🍕 The unhinged, erm, rise and chaotic fall of Dough Drop Pizza, cyber-vigilanted by the one and only Turk’s Pizza Party in defense of LA’s pizza scene

Hit play for chef drama, seafood revelations, and the latest in LA food chaos.

Helpful Links:

Ari Kolender on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/arikolender/?hl=en

How To Cook The Finest Things In the Sea https://www.arikolender.com/cookbook

Found Oyster https://www.foundoyster.com/

Queen’s Raw Bar & Grill https://queensrawbar.com/

Mackenzie Chung Fegan on her dinner at The French Laundry https://www.sfchronicle.com/food/restaurants/article/thomas-keller-french-laundry-20290670.php

QuestLove’s new spot per Rebecca Roland https://la.eater.com/2025/5/19/24433364/mixtape-burger-restaurant-opening-neighborly-westlake-village-questlove

No tax on tip law https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/21/dining/no-tax-on-tips-bill.html

Katz’s Deli dupe per Matthew Kang https://la.eater.com/2025/5/19/24433481/katzs-deli-jewish-deli-burbank-sandwiches-opening-los-angeles

Dough Drop Pizza lol https://www.instagram.com/doughdroppizza/?hl=en

Taqueando with Bill Esparza Episode 3, featuring Si! Mon chef Jose Olmedo Carles Rojas 

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Go check out The Lonely Oyster in Echo Park! ⁠https://thelonelyoyster.com/⁠

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Get 10% off at House of Macadamias using code "LAFOOD" https://www.houseofmacadamias.com/pages/la-foods

This week on The LA Food Podcast, we’re joined by Claire Dinhut—aka Condiment Claire—cookbook author, flavor scientist, and social media sensation. Born and raised in Los Angeles but now based in Europe, Claire has taken TikTok by storm with her inventive approach to sauces, spreads, and the science of taste. Recorded at Venice’s iconic Roosterfish bar, this episode covers her global condiment obsessions, her viral rise to food fame, and the delicious details behind her new release, The Condiment Book—a must-have for any home cook.

We also dive into Claire’s “Condiment Mount Rushmore,” her hot takes on trending sauce brands, and her go-to LA eats whenever she’s back in town.

Plus: why chefs love and hate burgers, the surprising economics behind oysters, and a major shake-up coming to one of LA’s most beloved French restaurants.

Whether you’re a flavor fanatic, cookbook collector, or just obsessed with where to eat in LA, this episode’s for you.

Helpful Links:

Condiment Claire https://www.tiktok.com/@condimentclaire?lang=en

Julia Moskin on burgers https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/10/dining/burgers-jeremy-fox-birdie-gs.html

Amy McCarthy on oysters https://www.eater.com/2025/5/14/24430156/oyster-cost-dollar-oysters-restaurant?_gl=1*13g3fhu*_ga*NTY3MzcwNDY5LjE2Nzk1MzY5MTc.*_ga_GMSWCRTSTY*czE3NDczMzM3MzMkbzMyMyRnMSR0MTc0NzMzMzc1NSRqMzgkbDAkaDA.

Jenn Harris on Pasjoli https://www.latimes.com/food/story/2025-05-15/pasjoli-santa-monica-french-restaurant-reopen

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Go check out The Lonely Oyster in Echo Park! ⁠https://thelonelyoyster.com/⁠

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Go check out Roosterfish

This week on The LA Food Podcast, we dive into the results of a new survey from Substack favorite The Angel that asked Angelenos what they really want from restaurants. Hosts Luca and Father Sal break down what LA diners say matters most—vibe vs. food, great service, price, and originality—and reveal the surprising (and kind of maddening) contradictions in the data.

In Part 2, we’re joined by Nancy DaSilva and Bits Nicholas from Compliments to the Chef for a Top Chef Season 22 midseason check-in. We talk fantasy picks, emerging food trends, and who we think has what it takes to win it all.

Plus, big news: The LA Food Podcast is now part of the Acquired Taste Media network—home to the new show Taqueando with Bill Esparza! If you're into tacos, regional Mexican cuisine, and the LA food scene, this one’s a must-subscribe.

Keywords: LA food scene, restaurant survey, Top Chef Season 22, LA dining trends, Bill Esparza, Taqueando, LA restaurants, Substack The Angel, Mexican cuisine, foodie podcast

Helpful Links:

Taqueando with Bill Esparza https://open.spotify.com/show/5ZY5gUvBo0Z3pRmCJILM6S

James Beard media nominations https://www.jamesbeard.org/stories/2025-james-beard-media-award-nominees

The Angel survey https://www.theangel.la/p/what-angelenos-want-from-restaurants-survey-results

Compliments to the Chef https://open.spotify.com/show/5ySvTZh0inCpq1SJP9baq6

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Go check out The Lonely Oyster in Echo Park! ⁠https://thelonelyoyster.com/⁠

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Get 10% off at House of Macadamias using code "LAFOOD" https://www.houseofmacadamias.com/pages/la-foods